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. 1551
DEMOPOLIS, ALABAMA, October 28, 1871.
WILLIAM L. KELLY sworn and examined.
The CHAIRMAN. This witness having been called by the minority, will be examined
by General Blair.
By Mr. BLAIR:
Question. State your residence and occupation.
Answer. Jefferson County. I am a farmer there.
Question. Do you live in Jefferson?
Answer. I live near there.
Question. Do you know Dr. S. D. Smith, of Jefferson?
Answer. Very well, sir.
Question. Do you recollect the recent killing of Robin Westbrook?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Did you see Dr. Smith the next morning after that occurrence?
Answer. Yes, sir; I saw him.
Question. Where did you see him?
Answer. I saw him right in front of his house at the gate. I rode up there in the
morning and saw him and conversed with him, talked with him.
Question. The morning after this occurred?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. You heard of it?
Answer. I did not hear of it until I got into town that morning. I was told then.
Question. Did you hear of it before you saw the Doctor?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. How was the Doctor looking?
Answer. He was looking very well; as well as usual.
Question. Any appearance upon him of his having received an injury?
Answer. I did not see anything. He was then on the eve of starting to see a patient down out a piece.
Question. Did you see him start?
Answer. No, sir; I rode off after I conversed with him a while. They said he had to
see a gentleman before he started, and wanted to start as soon as he could.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. How far did you live from Jefferson?
Answer. About two miles and a half east of Jefferson.
Question. Have you any information who were concerned in the murder of Westbrook?
Answer. I have nothing definite. There have been a great many rumors through the
country, but I know nothing definite.
Question. Was it supposed to be by white men?
Answer. There is a variety of opinions there; I think, sir, from what I have heard
expressed in the neighborhood, some thought it was negroes and some thought it was
white persons.
By Mr. BUCKLEY:
Question. Did you hear that they were disguised?
Answer. I heard that they were not. I heard it spoken of, but I did not pay muel
attention no way. I heard them speaking of them as not being disguised.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. What steps did the community take to discover who had perpetrated the
murder?
Answer. I do not know that they took any particular steps. I suppose the coroner
might perhaps; I do not know. The coroner came in about noon, or before, and held
an inquest.
Question. How did he get his information?
Answer. I do not know. I was passing through Jefferson. I did not stop long. I
went on.
Question. Beyond a coroner's inquest were any steps taken to find out who caused
the murder?
Answer. None that I know of.
Question. Westbrook was considered a fair, decerMC colored man, was he not?
Answer. I do not know hardly how to answer that. I do not know what your idea
is about a fair man. Now, Robin, I must say, was under a very bad character. Robin
was a very bad raan; he had the character of being a very bad man.
Question. Bad for what?