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. 1947
Answer. I do not know, sir. The sheriff, some months after that, Mr. Dillard, told
mne he had heard who it was, but did not tell me; but afterNward, some one, I forgot
who, mentioned his name. I have forgotten it.
Question. Did he live in this county or Marengo?
Answer. He did not state.
Q(estion. You have no information whether this young man that was killed belonged
to Marengo or to Sumter County?
Answer. No, sir; I do not know it. It was a party I dil not know at all.
Question. IDid you investigate the offense
A.nswer. I endeavored to do it.
Q)eestioi. Did you ascertain where the party came from that killed Coblentz?
lAswcer. o, sir. The evidence as to where they went is what I stated.
Qucesiion. Did the evidence tend to show that they belonged to this county or Marengo
County?
Ailser. The tendency of the evidence was to show that they did not belong to this
county. T'hei evidence did not show any name.
Question. What lmotive had people from other counties to cMinO here to murder
-Choutteau or Burkle?
Answer. Indeed, I do not know, sir. I could not tell.
Qeestion. Did tle evidence tend to show that there was in existence an organization
through the instrumentality of which these murders were committed?
Insiver. No, sir; it did not.
Qesteion. Did yon never ifllow up the investigation to learn what motive there was
for men combining together outside of tlis county to make a raid into this county
iupon one of your citizens and murder him?
Answer. It was impossible to ascertain from the evidence any of the facts in reference
to it, except those I have mentioned-the facts of the way they went.
Question. If fiesh pursuit had been made by a body of men following u? the tracks
of these retreating raiders, was there any difficulty in finding where they went to?
Answer. It was done in this case I speak of by the sheriff. He told lme he had made:an active pursuit.
Question. IHow lmany went with him?
_Answer. Some several; I donit remember the number.
Question. They stopped at Moscow?
iAswer. I think they went to Demopolis. As I stated just now, my impression is that
the sheriff told me he went to Demopolis.
Question. Did the evidence tend to show that they came from as far east as Demopolis?
Answer. They went to Moscow, a landing on the Bigbee River, something south of
Demopolis, not on the direct line from here to Demopolis though; there is a road from
Moscow to Demopolis. -He told me he had mlade vigorous pursuit.
Question. If a horse had been stolen that- night, would there have been any practical
difficulty in the owner of the horse and his neighbors following after the horse-thief,
overtaking him, and recapturing the horse?
Answer. I do not know. It has been frequently done here; they have been stolen
andi not recaptured.
Question. In the old slavery times, befo)re the wvar, when a fugitive from labor escaped
into the Northern States, was it not customary for the owners to pursue the fleeing
slave, and find out where hle was staying and harbored, and recapture him and bring
him back?
tAnswer. I cannot say it was customary; it was sometimes done until that fugitive
slave law was annulled; and it made it more dangerous than the-value of the slave was
worth to get him.
Question. Did not the owner of the slave generally succeed in recapturing his slave
when he went North?
AnSswre. 0, no, sir.
Question. Yc. have heard of frequent instances where he was successful?
Answer. I do not think I have-only one or two in my life. Some gentleman in this
town lost one or two.
Question. You never heard of but one or two instances where the pursuit was successfil?
lAswer. I do not know thllt I have ever known a case in this region of country where
sa slave escaped from this part of the country and was recaptured.
Question. If a prominent citizen of your community, held in general esteem, were to
be murdered in his bed at night by a body of twenty, thirty, or forty men in disguise, would there, in your estimation, be any practical difficulty in making fresh pursuit after the murderers, and overtaking them wholly or in part?
Answer. Well, I do not know, sir; there may or may not be.
Qteestion. W hat is your opinion, now, on that proposition?
Anawer. Well, sir, I am unable to give an opinion. They might make their escape.