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. 1659
were. I saw, I know, two out of doors, and from the talk it looked like there was
three or four in the house, apparently.
Question. They were all awake, and talking were they?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Only these two men followed you?
Answer. Just these two followed me, that I saw.
Question. Neither of them could read the letter?
Answer. They could not read it. They read a little of the print. They say, "I see
here where you are commanded; what is that to do, sir?" I told them I didn't know.
He says, "Yes, you do know;" and I said I didn't. He says, " You tell a lie," and you
know I did know sure enough. I had got a gentleman to read it for me, and I was on
my way here then, to get here in peace, as I ought to have done.
By Mr. RICE:
Question. Was it then daylight?
Answer. No, sir; it was about 4 o'clock. I staid a good ways from here, and I wanted
to get here in time. The subpoena called me here at 10 o'clock.
By Mr. BUCKLEY:
Question. Ten o'clock to-day?
Answer. Yes, sir.
By Mr. BLAIR:
Question. They could not read?
Answer. If they could they made a mighty bad out of it. If they could have read it
they could have told where I was going to, but I wouldn't tell'em; though they beat
me unmercifilly, I wouldn't tell. If they had the paper in their hands and could not
read it, I wouldn't tell'em. If they had shot me I wouldn't have told'em.
Question. Was it dark? Was that the reason they could not read it?
Answer. Yes, sir; it was dark. The moon gave light. They had a light then; they
had a good light; and that was all I could ever hear them say, " I see that you are
commanded," and that was about as much as they could make out.
By Mr. BUCKLEY:
Question. Did they have a torch-light?
Answer. Yes, sir; they had matches. They always carry matches with them, and
just as they kill a man they build a fire right on him.
By Mr. BLAIR:
Question. Is that the reason they carry the matches?
Answer. I reckon so; they use them that way.
Question. How do you know? Did you ever see them use them that way?
Answer. I never saw them do it; but I heard when they killed Mike Dunn, they
struck a match and built a fire on him, and it seems very reasonable for men to use
them in that way.
Question. How many men were engaged in the killing of Abe Lyon?
Answer. I couldn't tell you, sir, exactly how many. They never were known. It is
said that there were sixty men. They shot forty-six balls through him, and cut his
head off nearly.
Question. You were not at home on the 22d of April, the second time they came?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Did you not recognize any?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Your wife did not?
Answer. My boys did. There was a couple of Irishmen; they got them, and started
to jail with them, and they got away from them.
Question. Two Irishmen were caught?
Answer. Yes, sir. They convicted them there, in Tompkinsville, before the squire.
Question. Before what squire?
Answer. Squire Canon Johnson.
Question. Your children recognized them?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. They didn't recognize any others?
Answer. No, sir, they didn't know any others.
Question. What were their names?
Answer. I don't remember their names; I never heard their names called.
Question. Were any of these men disguised that were there the second time?
Answer. No, sir, I understand not.
Question. Of those men who came to your house in February, how many were there?
Answer. There were seven.
Question. You only knew three of them?