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.

1636 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
Answer. Yes, sir; he had been a soldier from Missouri in the confederate army. He
was a young man living with Mr. Geo. Thornton, and it is stated that this negro attempted to kill him, or do him some violence there on the place. He lived there. The
citizens got very indignant at him. He got to drinking, and became very turbulent.
I don't think he left on account of this murder. It was regarded as an act in selfdefense. Thelprecise facts I don't remember.
By the CIAIIIMAN:
Question. You remember no other acts of violence now?
Anlswer. No, sir; not that I recollect now.
Question. What do you know of any meeting of the lawyers or ex-judges at Meridian,
Mississippi, to devise ways and means to get rid of men holding office under the constitution of 1868, and elected at the time it was adopted?
Answer. I never heard of such a tjIing.
Question. What do you know of any meeting held at that place for any such purpose?
Answer. Nothing at all.
Question. What do you know of any consultation among the lawyers to get rid of
the judges of the courts?
A2nswer. I never heard of it.
Question. W-hat do you know of any fund being raised on subscription, to purchase
arms and ammunition, and to pay for the hire of horses, saddles, bridles, &c., to be
used by a secret organization of men whose operations jere to be conducted in a clandestine manner, and which looked to the employment of violence, if necessary, to accomplish its purposes?
Answer. I never heard of such a thing.
Question. Have you any information whether any fiud was ever raised, or attemnpted
to be raised, here or elsewhere, to defray the expenses of a secret order of men organized or to be organized to correct certain grievances, or what were esteemed grievances of the community,
Answer. I never heartd of any, sir.
Question. Have you:nly information of the existence, here or elsewhere, at present,
or in the past, of a secret combination of men organized and banded together to redre;ss
whait were supposed to le evils or grievances in the community?
Ansier. I have not, sir; I have never heard of such a thinlg.
Qliestion. Do you know of any case v'r:here a horse, saddle, bridle, pistol, or gnu, or
mask, or disguise of any kind was hired, borrowed, or procured for the purpose of Ibelng
used in an adventure bv men banded together for any secret enterprise, or where yosiuispecte(d these articles, or any of them, were to be used for such lpurpose?
Answcr. I do not, sir.
Question. Have youn any information that there now exists, or has at any time existed in this commu:ity, or elsewhere, any combination or organization of men with
signs and pass-words by nwhich they recognize each other, formed for any of the following purposes: First, to drive from the country objectionable persons; second, to
harass or molest persons odious for any cause; third, to punish negroes suspected of
theft or other crimes; fourth, to influence negroes in voting or abstaining froml voting;
filth, to proiote tlh succtsi of the conlservative or democratic party; and sixth, to
(obtain for the conservative or democratic party the political control of the State, and
posessioni of the offices
Answecr. I lkow nothling of anything of the kind.
Question. You have never received any intimation whateveertha t there has existed
at any time anl organization for any one of those purposes?
Ansiver. I never have, sir; nor do I believe there is suchi1 an organization in this
county. I believe anything that has been done by organized men here was exteumporized for the occasion by mien governed by their owiin feelilns at the time.
Question. You havec heard of the riot at Meridian last March?
Answcer. Yes, sir.
Question,. H-ave you also heard that a considerable party of men went from Sumter
County to Meridian, and participated in that riot?
Answer. I heard thlat a fewv went-not a considerable party.
Quiestion. 1What part of the county were they said1 to have gone from?
Answer. I don't Iknow, sir-along the line of the railroad.
Question. Did you ever hear the namnes of any of the party mentioned?
Answer. I have not, sir.
Question. You hav e heard of this Ku-Klux organization?
Adsuwer. I hrave heard of it in the newspapers, sir. You mean have I heard of it?
Question. Yes, sir.
8Answer. Yes, sir, I have heard of it.
Questioni Have you ever heard it charged to have existed in this county 9
Answver. No, sir. Well, I may have heard it charged by persons in speaking of it in the