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. 1577
Question. You understood it to be a very clear case of murder?
Answc'. Yes, sir. I couldn't understand much about it; but from what I heard it
was a clear, straight-out game of murder.
Question. You understood from the circumstances that this baud was composed of
friends of Prater's, who wanted to release him?
Answuer. God knows who they were. I never heard nobody say.
Question. Would that be your conclusion?
Answer. Yes, sir; but not as evidence. I might conclude one thing about you or another; but I concluded from all I saw and could find out that they did not kill him,
and didn't want to do anything of the sort; at least I believe in my own mind that,
unless he has died since, if I was gifted with the all-seeing eye, I could find him in the
great Northwest somewhere.
Questioni. You did not hear that this band inflicted any violence on him?
Answer. No. sir. He never has been seen or heard of in this State or Mississippi
since, that I know of. I saw a paragraph in the paper, eighteen months ago, that WV.
J. Prater, who was taken from the jail in Sumter County, went to Texas and died
there, but I don'; believe he was any more dead than I am, and I am a right sharp living man, I think, though I may be wrong.
Question. Was any effort made to rescue Prater?
Answer. I was sheriff at the time, and living about ten miles from here at Jones's
Bluff. I never knew it until 10 o'clock the next day. I was away on official duty,
and when I got here it was 12 or 2 o'clock in the day, and it was of no use to
start after men who had been twelve hours before; and if I had started I, couldn't have
got anybody to go, unless he was forced to, and when a man is forced to do a thing he
never sees anything, except what he can't get around.
Question. Were the people afraid to follow these disguised bands?
Answer. Let me ask you a question: would you go into a den of lions that you didn't
know anything about?
Question. Your impression is that there was a disinclination on the part of the community from fear.
Answer. From fear; nothing else in the world. They were as true and brave men as
ever mnade a track in the dirt, and when they see anL open enemy they will try as long
as anybody in the world to meet him; but when they are liable to be bushwhacked at
any hour of the night they are not going. That's the fact. It's no use to disguise the
matter; I speak plainly; it's no use to call a - pot by any other name, is it?
The CHAIIMAN. That is a question of taste.
The WITNIESS. It is; but who's to judge?
Question. Have you known any other cases of violence committed by bands of men
in disguise, in this county?
Answer. I have heard of a negro up here in Sumter County that had his ears cut
off. He was severely treated by somebody, but who they were I don't know.
Question. Where was that?
Answer. At Sumterville.
Question. When was that?
Answer. Between this and last spring court-about six months, sir.
Question. What was done to him?
Answwer. He was severely beaten and his ears were cut off.
Question. Who was that done by; was it understood to be by disguised men?
Answer. That was the report, but I never heard how it was done.
Question. You heard whether it was done by one man or several men?
Answer. I know it was supposed to have been done by two or three, or several.
Question. What is the negro's name?
Answer. I don't remember the name, sir; I heard it.
Question. Is he living in the county here?
Answer. I presume he is. I have heard nothing to the contrary.
Question. Has any one ever been punished for that?
Answer. I have heard of no one being punished. I know there is a true bill against
certain parties supposed to be guilty of that offense. I can't tell whether that is the
same case or not. I have a true bill, but I can't disclose that to you. I am an officer
of the law; but it is said that two men are indicted for cutting off that negro's ears,
but I can't tell you about that. When a man is under indictment there is a hundred dollars' fine and imprisonment to it if he tells.
Question. I suppose you would be safe in disclosing any matters to this committee
under the oath which has been administered to you, so that you can speak freely of
the facts.
Answer. I presume; that's my notion. From all I gather, there is an indictment
against them, and I have a capias for them, which may be served as soon as I get hold
of it.
Question. Was the negro who was mutilated before the grand jury?
Anstwer. I can't tell you; I don't know the negro. It is only hearsay with me.