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. 1837
Questionl. I do not mean about your knowing it at the time, but have you not heard
that fact stated by men whose integrity you do not doubt?
Answer. I heard of this thing, that the negroes came here armed; that is all that I
heard. I heard that it was reported in the neighborhood.' I heard this from men, and
fiom those telegrams that were reported to me by every one, that these negroes
had been told to come here with arms, and the rumor had gone out that I had done it,
but I am satisfied that the democratic party had put that out, just as well satisfied of
it as that I am sitting here, for the purpose of breaking me down in the canvass, to
excite the white people against me. I had carried this county by a very large majority.
I had carried Pickens County, which had never gone republican befoie-and it was
almost a white county-by 400 majority. They wanted to break me down in this canvass in order to defeat the State ticket. They wanted to begin that raid against me,
right here, and defeat the State ticket.
Question. You say you were not here at the meeting when these gentlemen spoke?
Answer. No, sir; I did not come over.
Question. You know nothing that occurred at this meeting?
Answer. No, sir; only what I heard afterward.
Question. We have already had testimony in regard to it here, and it is not necessary
for me to ask you.
Answer. I only want to state this in connection with that matter-I do not know
that it is worth stating: that I understood from friends of mine here, from Major Herndon, Judge Abrahams, and other friends, that there was a regular mob down there to
assassinate me the very moment I got off the train. I heard that afterward; that if I
had come here I would have been killed instantly. If I had been, I would have been
killed innocently.
LIVINGSTON, ALABAMA, November 2, 1871,
J. McKEE GOULD sworn and examined.
The CHAIRMAN. This witness having been called by the minority, General Blair will
first examine him.
By Mr. BLAIR:
Question. Will you please state your residence and profession.
Answer. I reside in Greene County, Alabarna. I am at present connected with the
Alabama and Chattanooga Railroad as assistant superintendent and civil engineer. I
also have a farm in Greene County. That is the reason I give my residence from
Greene. I have been a farmer since the war. I have only very recently, since about
three months, been connected with the road. Several years ago I was connected with
the road; that was before the war.
Question. How long have you lived in the county?
Answer. Forty years. I was born in Greene County. I have been away a good deal
during that time, but I have never had any other residence but that. I have always
called that my home, and since the war have lived there entirely, except the last three
months I have been connected with this railroad, and have been up and down the road
all the time.
Question. What is the condition of the county of Greene, so far as regards the peace
and tranquility of the county?
Answer. The condition is very good now, sir.
Question. Have there been any recent disturbances of any kind in the county?
Answer. No, sir; no recent disturbances.
Question. Do you know a colored man by the name of Ben. Leonard?
Answer. Yes, sir, I do.
Question. Was he arrested for murder in your county some time since?
Answer. He was last summer, sir.
Question. What was the charge against him?
Answer. Well, now, I speak rather too fast there. He was arrested; I think it was
for firing into a house, though; I do not remember his being arrested for murder. He
was suspected of having fired into a house; and he was arrested as being implicated
in poisoning a man's wife.
Question. He was not arrested, however, for firing into the house, was he?
Avnswer. I am not positive whether he was or not. He was suspected of having fired.
into this man's house.
Question. What was the evidence, if any, upon which the arrest was made?
Answer. I do not know, sir.