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. 1843
Question. You have heard the description of the disguises of the Ku-Klux Klan?
Answer. Yes, sir; I heard them very minutely described by the witnesses before the
grand jury in regard to the Boyd case.
Question. How did the disguises of these men that appeared at Pleasant Ridge, as described to you, compare with the descriptions given by the witnesses before the grand
jury?
Answer. I did not inquire into what the disguises of these Pleasant. Ridge men were,
I merely heard they were disguised, and their horses disguised; 1 did not inquire into
the character of the disguises.
Questinn. The people who were your informants gave you, I suppose, their opinions
of what the object of this body of men was.
Answler. No, sir; they did not give me their opinions of the objects, but seemed to
wonder what the object was, as they did nothing and said nothing.
Question. Was this a trial that arrested much attention that was in progress at the
time?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Was it supposed that that trial had any connection with their appearance?
Answer. No, sir; not that I know of.
Question. Have you heard of any acts of lawlessness or intimidation that followed
their appearance?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Neither that day nor the night following, nor at any future time?
Ansi'er. No, sir.
Question. Where was it conjectured that this body of men came from?
Answer. I never heard any conjectures as to where they did come from. The wonder
was where they came from, and where they went to.
Question. Was it so difficult in the day-time to ascertain the fact where these men
came from?
Answer. I should not think so; it seemed to me it would have been very easy to have
followed them and seen where they went to.
Question. Did it excite much talk at the time?
Answer. No, sir; not much.
Question. Was it not a very unusual circumstance in a peaceable community that so
large a body of men should appear in disguise, and armed, and with their horses disguised so they could not be recognized?
Answer. Yes, sir; it was unusual.
Question. Did it create a good deal of talk and speculation?
Ansswer. No, sir; not much where I lived, which was twenty-five miles off; by the
time anything of that sort travels that far, through a dozen-odd mouths, it gets exaggerated; but still I did not hear very much talk about it.
Question. Have not the people got rather used to the fact of bodies of men appearing
in disguise, so that it had become rather a matter of course?
Answer. No, sir; I think not; I do not; I never saw any body of men in disguise.
Question. You have heard it said that this Ku-Klux organization was formed for political purposes, have you not?
Answer. I never heard it said what it was formed for.
Question. Have you never read any speculations in the newspapers?
Answer. I have read in the newspapers that it was formed for several things.
Question. What were the purposes for which the newspapers said the organization
was formed?.Answer. The newspapers seemed to convey the idea that it was formed to put down
lawlessness and prevent thieving.
Question. Lawlessness? I understood. you to say your community was generally in
a peaceable and orderly condition, and the laws observed?
Answer. It is, as far as I am aware.
Question. Then no organization of this kind was necessary to preserve the peace?
Answer. No, sir; not at all; but I was stating the idea I had gained from reading the
newspapers. There certainly has been no necessity for any organization of that sort;n
our neighborhood, to execute the law, if we could find out whom to execute the laws
on; the trouble is to catch the offenders.
Question. Have you heard it said that this organization embraces'a large number of
men who are either parties to it or sympathize with its object?
An.ser. No, sir; I never did.
Question. Have you no opinion of your own as to who compose this organization;
whether they are reckless, lawless men, or whether they are good, substantial citizens,,
organized for purposes of protecting the community?
Answier. Put that question again.
Question. Have you no opinion of your own, whether these bodies of disguised men
that have appeared from time to time are composed of reckless, lawless young men,