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. 1943
Question. Were you in the war during the whole time?
Answer. Yes, sir; I entered the service in June, 1861; I believe that was tire date of
my enlistment.
Quetstion. Did you oppose the secession of the State?
Answver. No, sir.
Question. You were in favor of secession?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Then, when you speak of the community as having been.orderly and quiet,
law abiding, and the laws well executed, you wish to be understood as speaking of it
in a comparative sense?
Answer. Yes, sir; I do not pretend to say there have been no offenses committed. I
am aware that there have been; but I speak of it comparatively.
Question. Will you please enumnerate the offenses which have been committed within
the last twelve months or two years?
Answer. It would be impossible for me to do so, sir.
Question. They all came under your cognizance as the county solicitor?
inwer'. Yes, sir.
Questiot. Do you keep no register?
Ainswer. They'are recorded, sir.
Qluestion. YWhenever an offense comes to your notice; do yeoa make a note of it T
Answcr. Yes, sir.
(Question. Do you institute an investigation to learn the particulars?
Answler. I do, before the grand jury, as far as it can be done.
Question. Do you before the grand jury sits take measures to lay all of the evidence
attainable before the grand jury?
Answer. Yes, sir; that is mly general course, as far as I can; to ascertain the facts of
anly offense that occurs during the interim of court, during vacation, and instituting
investigations during the sitting of the grand jury. That is my habit.
Questio,. You cause subpcenas to be issued to witnesses to be brought before the grand
jury?
Ains1Cer. Yes, sir.
Question. Do you keep any record of your investigation?
Answier. None except the grand-jury records themselves-the grand-jury docket; it is
a part of the record of the grand jury.
Question. Do you carry it all in your memnory?
Answer. No, sir; I make lmemorandai during the vacation of court, all of which are
put upon what is known as the grand-jury docket, and the investigation is had upon
that docket.
Question. That docket shows, or should show, all the offenses against the law which
have been brought to your notice?
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Have you that docket here?
Ans'wer. I have not, sir. It is in the circuit clerk's office. That docket, I will state,
however, the law requires shall be kept secret, except where the parties are arrested.
There are sometimes bills found against absconding parties.
Question. Is there any law on the subject of the private memoranda you keep yourself
for the purpose of bringing offenses before tie grand jury?
Answer. None at all.
Question. Is the record you speak of now the private memoranda you keep?
Answer. For better explanation I will state that along during vacation I have the
grand-jury docket itself, and upon that I make a statement of the cases that come to
my knowledge during vacation. That book itself, when the grand jury meets, is made
the grand-jury docket, and then becomes a private book; it is private; I keep it, of
course, secret. Prior to the sitting of the grand jury no one knows what is on it, except myself.
Question. Does it become private unless the grand jury find bills of indictment?
Answer. 0, yes, sir. Investigations of that kind have frequently from one grand
jury been continued to another. If I cannot get sufficient testimony before one grand
jury to find the bill, I have the case continued in hope of getting testimony before
some subsequent grand jury.
Question. You add frioml time to time any information you acquire?
Answer. Yes, sir; any information on any particular case, or the name of any witness
I may ascertain to be important; I add his name to the list of witnesses, and endeavor
to get him before the next grand jury.
Question. I will ask you to state to the committee what acts of lawlessness committed
by two or more men, by combinations of men, have occurred in Sumter County during
the last two years. If you have not that docket present to refresh your memory, state
in the best way you can what cases have occurred.
Answer. Well, sir, I can recollect some of them within the last two or three years.
Question. Very well; state them.