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.

1948 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
There was a murder case just before our court here-a very outrageous murder. A man
killed his wife and father-in-law, and pursuit was made, and yet that man made his
escape. It is impossible for me to say whether it could or not be done.
Question. Is it not the truth, Mr. Chapman, that just as you multiply the number of
men concerned in the murder, the greater are the facilities for overtaking all or some
of them?
Answeir. Well, sir, I incline to doubt that proposition as a general proposition.
Questio,. Will yoen give your reasons why you doubt that proposition?
An9ser. Whly,'tirce being more persons engaged in it, the greater would i)e the nunmber to be interestedt in conctalilng.
Question. These men wrould noL ridile in a body after daylight?
nswer. Indeeld, I do nrt, kno. I do not know what would be the policy of men
engaged in such a, crime a t2hat-whetlher to ride in the day or in the da;rk.
Question. rYo (do niot
Alnswerm. No, sir'.
Questio'ac. Hlavt jlon nt velr helard that these raiders rode entirely by night, and not in
the day-timlt?
Answ'er. No, silr I have heard that they have come tand gone. Their deeds have generally been committed at niglt.
tQuetion. Did you ever hear that they rode in bodies in (laylight, armedl and equipped?;Asi lwe. Xo sir; I do not know that I ever did.
Qaestiom. Thlen they wvould disperse, separate andl take oiff their disguises before daylight?
Ansrt. ndrteed, I do t l o. I do t kn Io know what their habit would be.
Qwtslion. If these nmen borrowed or hired horses the fatitgue of the horses they had.
rildenl over nighft could be discovered easily?.l.,8sw'er. I think so, if an examination of the horses was mlade.
Question. If they had borrowed guns, or pistols, or disguises, that could be easily
found out?, nsicler. Of course, if you could find out from whom they borrowed.
Question. These disguises are made, of course, from materials purchased at stores, and
it could: be easily ascertained who bought the materials?
Answer1. I slonid think it would be very difficult.
QiuestionI. If they had purchased masks, that could be known?
Aiesw1er. It mighrlt or might not.
Question. If men had been absent from home all night, that might be ascertained?
AJswer. It might be if you ascertained who was absent from home.
Question. I amn speaking of where diligent lprsuit is made right on the track of tho
murdeeres with an earnest disposition to find out-when the whole communiity are
alive to discover the murderers; where would be the practical difficulty of getting on
the track of the murderers and arresting one or more of therm
Answer. Well, sir, take a murder of anybody colmmitted at midnight; give the perpetrators of it the distance that they could travel between that time and tle time
when those that start in pursuit set out, and it would be a very difficult imatter to
overtLafe theml; especially if, as you suggest, they choose to disperse and go any distance in different roads.
Question. The upshot of the matter then is that you think the law is paralyzed in~
all eflorts to ascertain the nathors of these outrages, lwhere they are committed by
combinations of mene disguised and in the nig'ht-time?
Answuer. I d(o niot think it is at all paralyzed; but I think there are circurnstances
surrounding the commission of these crimes, and the escape of tihe criminials, that the
law itself caunot overcome; neither now. nor could it ever be done. There i.are frequeut (cases where crimes are committed where the parties are ascertained.
Questioni. Ias there been a single case in Sunimter County, before or since you y were
county solicitor, where a single na1n concernLLed in these midnight enterpri'es, whose
objects were either whippilor or murder, has ever been discovered(,Altswer. Yes; the case that. I mentioned some time ago, of six or seven inegroes going
at nighlt to wlhip another negro.
Question. There is no trouble in discoverinlg (negroes when they go out Ku-Kluxing,
is that it?
Answelr. Tlle legroes themselves knew them, and reported on them. The negro that
was whipped knew them.
Question. There seems to be some difference in the facility with which these midnight
marauders can be discovered, according to the color of their skin.
Antswer. Not at all.
Question. Let me repeat the question. Do you know of a single white man engaged.r. these midnight enterprises of murder that has ever been discovered and brought to
justice?
A4nswcr. I do not know that I do, sir; I do not remember any now; I mean of late
years.