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. 1915
Question. Did you not hear he was going to some other place?
Answer. No, sir. He had set in with me in February. He came there and rented
some land. I agreed to furnish him, and furnish him the land and the mules, and he
cultivate the land.
Question. He made an arrangement with you to stay there during the year?
Answer. Yes, sir; and I advanced the supplies and gave the material.
Question. He was not working at his trade?
Answer. Yes, sir; and carrying on farming also.
Question. Did he employ colored men to assist him?
Answer. Yes, sir; he had some negroes working there. If he had money, I don't
know anything about it. I know that he has left me in arrears some $250.
Question. Did his wife live on the place?
Answer. I prevailed on his wife to take the hands and work out the crop.
Question. Was not she frightened nearly to death the next day, when she gave evidence?
Answer. Not at all.
Question. Did not the horrid murder of her husband the night before shake her nerves?
Answer. Undoubtedly it ought to have had its effect; but as to being intimidated, a
great many citizens were there and told her to state if she knew any of the parties;
that they would guarantee protection to her.
Question. Do you think she would have been safe in telling the names of the murderers, if she had known them?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Would she not have been hurt?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. Would she not have been served the same way her husband was afterward?
Answer. No, sir; I cannot say how that would be.
Question. Might she not well suspect that, if she gave the names of the murderers,
her life would not be worth a sixpence for twenty-four hours?
Answer. I cannot state about that.
Question. Is it not natural that she should have felt in that way?
Answer. I do not know, because I was not placed in her situation.
Question. Did she leave soon afterward?
Answer. Yes, sir; within two or three days.
Question. What became of Abe Lyon's property? Did you take possession of it?
iAnswer. He had no property.
Question. None?
Answer. None at all. He had a little Jersey wagon he had contracted for from a
man named Whistler; and a short time after his death Mr. Whistler sent a note to me,
stating that Abe had not paid him for that wagon, and he had a mortgage upon it, and
he wished me to take care of it for him; and the wagon remains there now. He had
left no stock at all. I rented him two mules. He had no mule, nor horse, nor cow,
nor hog. He bought one shoat from a party there-a pig, and his widow sold that
when she left, and got pay for it. And the harness, the plow-gear he bought there,
that he claimed as his own, when she was leaving I paid her the money for it, she
stating that she did not have money to get off upon. I told her I had no use for it,
that my farm was sufficiently equipped, but that they would be no drag to me; and I
said, " I will pay you for them just what they will be worth in a store;" and I paid
her for them, and prevailed on her to stay there and work at the crop, thinking, perhaps, that she could make it profitable.
Question. You are well acquainted within a radius of twelve or fifteen miles as a practicing physician?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Have you no suspicion of any one anywhere engaged in these raids on the
negroes?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. You have no belief?
Answer. No, sir.
Question. You could not lay your finger on any man you suspect?
Answer. No, sir. I would have no authority in doing it, and no belief about it, because a man would be in bad business to do it.
By Mr. RICE:
Question. You say there was no proof before the coroner's inquest as to whether these
men that killed Abe Lyon were disguised?
Answer. No, sir. The testimony on the inquest and the verdict of the inquest states
that he came to his death by parties unknown.
Question. Did you say that Lyon's wife stated that she thought some of them were
negroes?