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.

1602 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
As to Reynolds, he was not a citizen of this county. I only know his character is bad;
very bad.
Question. There have been witnesses before the committee who stated that he was
not a citizen of Greene County-that he was a waif there.
Anster. I understand he is there charged with offenses. I wish to make one statement here in regard to the position I took on the stump last fall, that may have some
bearing as to the change of votes in this county. So far as I am concerned, I took an
open and bold stand against all Ku-Kluxism, and all disguised men, and denounced it,
and denounced all secret political organizations, from one end of the district to the
other; not only denounced them, but told them I was ready at all times, and under
any circumstances, to put down any lawlessness whenever and wherever found.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. Did all the other candidates do the same thing?
Answer. I canvassed by myself, Senator; I was alone all the time; I heard but one
other speech.
Question. You probably have information whether the other candidates did the same
you did?
Answer. I don't know that they did, but that was the position I took.
LIVINGSTON, ALABAMA, October 30, 1871.
JOHN C. GILLESPIE sworn and examined.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. State your name, residence, and occupation.
Ans8wer. John C. Gillespie; Livingston, Alabama; clerk in the probate court is my
employment.
Question. How long have you lived in Livingston?
Answer. Since December, 1834-longer than anybody else.
Question. Are you the oldest inhabitant?
Answer. Yes, sir; I have been the eldest inhabitant since September, 1862. A gentleman died in 1862 who was here when I came here in 1834. The town was very new
when I came here, though there were many persons here-perhaps as many as there
are now. I helped to grade the court-yard here; to clean it off and make a public
square.
Question. Mr. Gillespie, the committee desire to learn from you how the laws are executed in this part of the State of Alabama, and how far the lives and property of citizens of the United States are respected; and you may proceed to give the committee
such information as you have upon these subjects.
Anstser. Well, sir, I don't know scarcely how to answer the question. I don't see
any resistance made to the execution of the laws here; I haven't heard of any nor
seen any. The laws of the county have been violated very frequently, and the offenders have gone unpunished. It has not been because there was any indisposition on
the part of officers to execute the law, or citizens to assist the officers to execute the
law, so far as I know.
Question. If the laws have been violated in a flagrant manner, and the men concerned in their violation have not been punished, you may state to the committee in
what class of cases this state of things exists.
Answer. I have not seen any violations of the laws; I have heard of them.
Question. The committee do not restrict you to what falls within the range of your
personal observation, but you are at liberty to state any facts which have occurred in
the community which you have information of, which you deem reliable.
Answer. There have been several persons killed in this neighborhood, from the information I have fron others, which I regard as reliable information. I have seen but
one dead man. That occurred in town here, I believe, two years ago. That was a
short distance outside of the corporation of the town.
Question. What case do you refer to?
Answver. To the case of Mr. Coblentz, where the attempt was said to have been made
to kill Dr. Choutteau, and, I suppose, from all the circumstances, the parties, by mistake, killed the man who was living with him, and who had been guarding him.
Choutteau had been expecting an attack before.
Question. The real purpose was not to kill Coblentz, but to kill Dr. Choutteau?
Anvswer. I think so. That was the general impression.
Question. What was Dr. Choutteau's offense?
Answer. He was charged with having undue influence over the negro population here,
tamd exerting that influence for evil, as was supposed by the citizens of the country