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.

1488 CONDITION OF AFFAIRS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.
might come under the denomination of Ku-Klux, or some like them, within the last
two or three years, perhaps I may say within the last year; but my impression, sir,
now is, as far as I can form an opinion, that no such organizations are in existence.
Question. How did you derive your knowledge of the organization you have described?
Answer. From what I heard of parties passing to and fro on horseback in disguise;
I never saw one in disguise.
Question. You have heard of parties riding in bands, in disguise, at night?
Answer. Yes, sir; and these I have mentioned; parties passing through the town
in the direction of Marion, and this one going after Blackford.
Question. How many instances of the kind do you think you have heard of in Hale
County?
Answer. Well, sir, I have heard of the instance of the parties going to Marion; I
have heard of the parties who came to release McDonald; I have heard of the disguised party that killed Harvey McCann in the edge of Perry, and the one that visited
Blackford, if I have not mentioned that. I think that those are all.
By Mr. BUCKLEY:
Question. The case of McGrary?
Answer. I cannot say whether they were disguised or not. I have heard of the party
going there, and what they did; but I cannot remember about their being disguised.
My impression is they were disguised.
By the CHAIRMAN:
Question. I would be glad to have the benefit of your knowledge or information as
to the specific objects for which this organization was created; what they aimed to
accomplish, and did accomplish.
Answer. 1 hardly know how to go about answering that question. As to what their
objects were, I could only infer from what they attempted. I can make no inference.
I should think that their object was primarily something like that of the masonic
order, only that the masonic order is restricted within the limits of law, and that imposed no restriction upon them-the defense of each other through thick and thiu;
standing up to each other through all emergencies.
Question. Were not all their demonstrations acts of violence, either committed o:
meditated?
Answer. All that I know about were such as I would characterize as unlawful; I do
not know anything else.
Questim/n. Then it was an organization whose purpose was to violate the law?
Answer. I cannot say that was their main purpose; that might have been incidental
to their main purpose. But I think that their purpose was, as I have said, something
analogous to that of the rmasonic order.
Question. Did it not so happen that all their raids, so far as your information extends,
were made upon republicans?
Answer. The raid upon the jail was not upon a republican. The sheriff of Hale
County is a democrat; at least he passes for one.
Question. I suppose the raid was not against him; was it?
Answer. I should say it was; he was the officer in charge of the jail.
Question. They were after the prisoner, I understand.
Answer. They may have been after him, to hang or release him.
Question. He was a republican, was he not?
Answer. No, sir; I do not know what his politics were; I think McGrary was a
democrat, if he had any politics; I do not know.
By Mr. BUCKLEY:
Question. Their object was to release McGrary?
Answer. Evidently that was their object.
Question. They did not hang him?
Answzer. No, sir.
By the CHAIRMAIN:
Question. WTill you give any instance in which they have visited a democrat with
the purpose of committing, violence on his person?
Answer. I cannot say that I know of any instance.
By Mr. BLAIR:
Question. Werp the men who were assaulted in their houses, of whom you have
spoken, when a negro was found dead lying outside, democrats?
Answer. Yes, sir, they were democrats. I did not think of that case, but I do not
know whether they were disguised or not.
Question. Whether the negroes were disguised or not?
Answer. No, sir. In the case of McCann, his dying declarations were that they were