Sayyiduna Imran bin Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) says that a man of the Ansar died and left six slaves, and he had no other wealth; he had freed all of them at the time of his death. The matter reached the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) divided them into three groups, and by drawing lots he freed two and kept the remaining thirds, that is, four, in slavery.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب العتق / 21406