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. 1547
went Cownl inlto my office, and went to writing. I expected that he would come down
into my office; he did not; I remained there perhaps fifteen minutes; I sent up to him,
sent word to hilm, to come down into my office. He sent back word that he would
remain where he was until his carriage came; he had sent for it, and as soon as it
came he would get into it and leave town. I sent him word I would go over to the
hotel and get ready and go with him, as I was going to Demopolis that afternoon myself. I then passed out of my office, crossed the street, and over to the hotel. That
was all that I know that occurred there. After I got to my room-I had been there.
perhaps. not to exceed five minutes-when I heard a tumult on the street and stepped
to the door, and saw a general tumult-hallooing, cursing, and I heard them say'" Shoot' " "Shoot! " and others, "Don't shoot!" As I was standing in the door there
were three gentlemen passed by me and up the street, apparently going to dinner, just as
that commenced. Some one in the crowd hallooed for John Norwood; then I saw a
white man named Dial call for John Norwood. 1 did not know who John Norwood
was at that time, but one of the whites that passed the hotel, when he heard his name
called, wheeled and drew his revolver, and returned on the road to the crowd, past
my door. I stood there watching it for, perhaps, five minutes. They surged up to the
court-house; I heard them inquire for Drake; they then came back into the middle of
the street and wanted to know where Drake was, and surged up toward my room. I
stepped back amnd shut the door and placed a chair behind the knob, as there was no
lock to the door, and thought to remain there. Finally I concluded to step out the
back wta, and went off back, and that is the last I snaw of the occurrence.
Qtueitio. You may state what Dr. Jones had said of a character to inflame the crowd
np to the point lwhen he ceased speaking.
Aeswi'. I knon of nothing except one remark; he stated that at their primary elections
the democrats tried to get the colored people to help them in electing their nominees.
(tcastioan. WTas that statement true, within your knowledge?
An(,i:'. No, sir; I do not know anything about it. Some one interrupted then; a
gentlemanl asked him if he charged them with trying to get them to elect them to
ofiie. li, explained again and said he only charged them with trying to get their
votes;at the primary election. I do not know of anything he said more inflammatory
than taiit..HiitH Everythiling ell,, tilat, transpired that day, then, rests upon information
Twhich Iyt have di rived fr omn others
};i MrX. ]uCiL'Y
Qiaistb. In tlihe portion ol tilie spec;h whVich you heard delivered by Mr. Jones did'yo1u ha;i;'l.ytlhi'l tiat.-was calculated to excite or irritate or provoke a difficulty
thati t.1
A N,~w'o;'. No, sir.
(Qeows. Firoto the appearance of these white men who stood through the crowd,
frolm wl;t you saw, is it your opinion that they came there for the purpose of actually
listenin: to the speech or to niake interruption?
An4,4','{';'. It was my opinion that they came there for the purpose of imaking interrupioen.
Q(,,lreriho}. They ome.n'l:Ie makin these remarks erl in M Jones's es's peech,
d(id they not?
Alsit'cr. Yes, sir.
(Qutioni,. Did you see Mr. Jones afiter hLe was in tile court-house-after lie went into
the- court-house?
Alt.' r. After I left the co>urt-lnilse,? No, s-ir; except I saw him sitting upon the
stand wheire I left hinm.
(Qucstioo. You were not tlterel when he left the stand and went down in the crowd?
aIs iIr. No, sir.
(Qcstionto. Did yon see any dii:o)siion aml to tihe colored people that day to produce
a riot, or act in a threatening mannier?
AIsweri;. No, sir; I never saw a, m1ore quiet, otderly-disposed assemblage of colored
peopl.
Q,,Ie-s ioi,. Did y oi see a r' of tli ti hL, h;ve guns?
A.nsic'. I do not know t/iat I (lid; I (lo not reliteilber it; but I preslume they did:
they generalily do have' s(oltei galns wlwerever they go, I do not remember any particutlar inlstaniee no-.
By the C( txATIMX:
Qa.cstc. tWhat is the fi el i'g o( the part of thle cllserviat, ive )party of this colunty
toward republican office-1holers; is it friendly or unfriendly?
Answer. I judge it to be unfriendly from lmy experience.
Quzesion. You may state to the conmlittee some of the manifestations of that feeling,
such as have fallen under y-our observa-tion, and such as you have derive ed from reliable
inforImati'.