Report of the Joint select committee appointed to inquire into the condition of affairs in the late insurrectionary states, so far as regards the execution of laws, and the safety of the lives and property of the citizens of the United States and Testimony taken.

ALABAMA-SUB-COMMITTEE. 1545
Answer. I would not be surprised; if he had staid there they would probably have
hurt hin; they had asked him several times to let the captain alone, and said that he
should not interrupt him.
Question. He testifies that when at Linden these parties that surrounded him with
pistols punched them against his face and body and hurt him some; you say your
attention was not attracted to that?
Answer. No, sir; not at that time. When I first came up to him there I noticed
these negroes off the other way.
(Question. That might have occurred without your seeing it?
Answer. Yes, sir; but I saw no bruises on him.
Question. Dr. Jones has, heretofore, exercised a great deal of influence over the
negro population?
Answer. Yes, sir; in voting.
Question. They have great confidenlce in him as a leader, have they not?
Answer. Yes, sir; him and our judge and clerk-they control them pretty much.
Question. That fact itself is not very well relished by the democrats?
Ansswer. I do not know that it is; about relishing, of course they do not.
Question. Personally he was a very popular man before he took such an active part
for the radical cause, was he not?
Answer. He was very young when he went to the war; he never had been much of
a politician; he had been at school most of the time.
Question. You remember when he was electioneering?
Answer. I recollect hearing him make a speech about the commencement of the war,
Question. You recollect when he electioneered for the Seymour and Blair ticket?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you hear him make any speeches that year, 1868?
Answer. I do not think I did.
Question. You heard of his speeches, did you?
Answer. For Seymour and Blair? No, sir; I do not think I did.
Question. You never heard of those for Seymour and Blair?
Answer. I heard he was voting for them; I have heard him say he voted for them; I
never heard that he made a speech for Seymour in this county.
Question. Did lie anywhere?
Answler. I think it was somewhere between here and Selma; I do not know whetlfer
he did or not.
Question. Was he very well liked by the conservative party at that time?
Answier. No, sir; I do not think he was; they never took him in as true; I heard a
good many say, if he held out, it would be all right, but it depended on which way the
election went.
Question. Did they think that in his secret sentiments he was a radical?
Anlswier. Yes, sir; they did.
Question. So they did not credit his conversion?
An swCer. Not much; I never heard anybody.
Question. But if he had stuck, it would have been all well?
Anlswer. It might have been by this time; but he did not stick; nobody had any
confidence in his change. He may have made speeches in this county; but I took very
little interest; if he did, it was in the upper part of the county; he never went in
the lower part. I have heard him say in his speeches since that he had made such
speeches, but I did not relmember it.
DEIMOPOLIS, ALABAMA, October 28, 1871,
CHARLES L. DRAKE sworn and examined.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. Will you state your residence and occupation?
Answer. Demopolis, Marengo County; Linden is properly my residence; I am register
in chancery.
Question. Iow long have you lived in AIarengo County?
Answer. Five years.
Question. Have you held this office during that time, or what portion of the time?
Answer. About two years and a half or three years.
Question. Did you hold any official position in this county before that time?
Answver. As circuit clerk for a short time previous; I held them both until quite
recently; I resigned the clerkship. I was connected also with the Freedmen's Bureau
while it was in existence.
Question. You may state to the committee what occurred at Linden, I think it was:wo weeks ago last Saturday; at all events upon the occasion when Dr. Jones addressed,
or attempted to address, a political assemblage at that place.