Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Answer. Yes, sir; some of them were working on the farm under a lease, but they were working for me.

Question. You say they whipped six persons?

Answer. I may say that they whipped Hamp Mitchell; they knocked him about a little; you may say that they whipped six.

Question. What was the character of the people they whipped?

Answer. Tolerably good; one very good.

Question. Which one?

Answer. This Hamp Mitchell, which they punched about; the first they whipped, Harry Allen, is a preacher, and ought to be a good character, and I do not know that there is anything wrong about him.

Question. How do those people behave themselves in the neighborhood; those that were whipped?

Answer. Perfectly well, nothing amiss.

Question. Are they still on your place?

Answer. Those that are not afraid to live there are there; some of them have left. because of fear.

Question. Where have they gone?

Answer. To Decatur, in DeKalb County.

Question. Did there seem to be any leader in that party of disguised men?

Answer. Yes, sir; there was a man who seemed to be doing the talking and planning and ordering.

Question. Who was he?

Answer. I do not know positively; I can only guess at him; I thought it was a man by the name of Matthew Brown.

Question. Where does he live?

Answer. In the same county.

Question. What is his standing?

Answer. Just about like that of Kennedy?

Question. Did you ever talk with him about the Ku-Klux?

Answer. He said to me, "We are going to put down the negroes now, and keep them under, and if anybody opposes us we can make a strong show, for we are forty thousand strong in this State.

Question. Who did you understand him to mean by "we?"

Answer. The Ku-Klux organization..

Question. Did he explain what he meant by putting the negroes down?

Answer. No, sir; I suppose he just wanted to frighten them a little bit; probably

make them leave the country, or to steal what they had, and what others had. Question. To what political party did those men belong?

Answer. This band of Ku-Klux

Question. Yes.

Answer. All that I know of them are democrats, and I think they are all democrats. Question. Are they pretty noisy and boisterous at election times?

Answer. They are, unless there is a military force there. For some time we have had something like order about our elections, and they have been kept under.

Question. Are those men the only Ku-Klux you have ever seen?

Answer. They are all I ever saw.

Question. Did you hear of their being about?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Where?

Answer. All over that section of the country; all around in my neighborhood; below me,, and in Jackson County, and other counties.

Question. What is the feeling in regard to them with orderly good people there? Answer. I hardly know what to say to that; some are in fear and some are not; I think it is from intimidation that any good people are in favor of it; if they are opposed to it I think they are afraid to express themselves.

Question. Has there been any attempt made to arrest any of them for any of their misdeeds?

Answer. Not by the civil authorities.

Question. Why have you not gone to the officers of the law and had these men arrested and dealt with?

Answer. I was afraid that I would be overrun by the balance left behind.
Question. Are you still afraid?

Answer. I am; I am so fearful that I have not slept peaceably in my house for more than a month; not for two months. I would not go back there and stay, only as I can slip in there once in a while; I would not go back there for any money; I could not be hired to do it.

Question. Do you think your sheriff and other officers would be willing to execute process for their arrest?

Answer. I think the sheriff of the county would, because he is working upon the matter now; but he has to apply to the military authorities.

Question. Do you think that if they were arrested they could be held in jail securely? Answer. I do not.

Question. Do you believe that they would be convicted before any jury in that county that was likely to be selected?

**

Answer. I am afraid not.

Question. What is the feeling in that country toward men that are called radicals? Answer. It is very hard against them.

Question. Against the whites as well as the blacks?

Answer. The feeling of the white people is general against the radical party; but the freedmen believe it to be their party.

Question. How many white republicans or radicals are there in the county?

Answer. I would suppose that perhaps one-eighth of them were radicals.
Question. Do you belong to that party?

Answer. To the radical party?

Question. Yes.

Answer. I do not.

Question. You are a democrat?

Answer. Yes, sir.

By Mr. BAYARD :

Question. Have you been before the grand jury here?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. You have lodged there the complaint you now make here?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. You have stated to the grand jury these things in full?

Answer. As fully as I was asked.

Question. You were examined upon the charge of these assaults and cruelties upon the negroes, and the existence of this Klan in your county?

Answer. Yes, sir

Question. I understand that, so far as your personal knowledge is concerned, this single occasion, when ten men came to your house and compelled you to point out the residences of those negroes, was the only occasion when you saw them?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. And of those ten men you identified but one man ?

Answer. But one man certainly.

Question. And was the man of low character, and no social standing, a desperate, violent man?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Did I also understand you to say that the man whom you suspected of being the chief manager of that gang was also a man of similar character?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. You have a general acquaintance in that county ?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. You say that you act with the democratic party?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Is there any difference of opinion or sentiment among honest and respectable men of your party on this subject; do they not all concur in opposing such lawless acts?

Answer. I think they do; I think they are in favor of putting down anything of the kind, but that they cannot get at it properly:

Question. You say that about seven-eighths of the white people of that county vote the democratic ticket, and about one-eighth the radical ticket?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. What is the proportion of the colored vote and white?

Answer. I do not know.

Question. Which preponderates ?

Answer. The white vote.

Question. Is the county carried by the party with which you act?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. The sheriff, I presume, there, is a member of that party?

Answer. I suppose you may say he is; I do not know how he stands. He was brought out as a member of the democratic party.

Question. And was elected as such?

Answer. Yes, sir; and his deputy the same.

Question. Did I understand you to say that the sheriff was disposed to take hold of cases of this kind, and try and do his duty

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Who is the judge of the district?

[blocks in formation]

Question. Is he a gentleman of ability and character, and disposed to do his duty? Answer. I think so.

Question. You say this transaction occurred in May, 1871 ?

Answer. Yes, sir; about the last of May.

Question. With that sentiment which you have described among the white people of the county, I presume that the members of the radical party are opposed to all such lawlessness?

Answer. Yes, sir; I think they are.

Question. The same as the democrats?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. With that sentiment among the white people, are not all your grand and petit juries formed of white men?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Would there be any difficulty in the way of indicting men for such acts upon competent testimony?

Answer. Well, sir, I think there perhaps would be. I do not think the jurors would refuse to hear the testimony, but I think there would be difficulty in getting up the testimony.

Question. I mean, would there be difficulty, upon competent testimony such as would justify a verdict, in obtaining first an indictment before the grand jury, and next a conviction before a petit jury?

Answer. Well, sir, I have my doubts about it; I am afraid the jurors would hesitate, through fear, to give true verdicts.

Question. Has it been tried?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Therefore, as yet, your apprehensions are not based upon any facts?

Answer. Yes, sir. I am afraid that men there are in the condition I am in, fearful of being interfered with by them.

Question. They fear the lawlessness of those men ?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Have you any knowledge of your own of the extent of this band in your county?

Answer. As to how many there are?

Question. Yes.

Answer. No, sir; I have not.

Question. Do you, of your own knowledge, know of more than this one man?
Answer. No, sir.

Question. Is the band made up of lawless characters similar to the one you have mentioned ?

Answer. I think so.

Question. The difficulty of conviction would arise not from unwillingness, but from fear that they might be injured by the lawless men who would be left

Answer. Yes, sir.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. I understand you to say that this organization is so strong as to create a reign of terror in your county?

Answer. That is my opinion.

Question. With all this large democratic majority in the county that you have spoken of, and with all the other side opposed to them, although this occurrence took place last May, no attempt has been made to bring them to justice, and you yourself have been afraid to stay in your own house?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. And you do not believe that it would be possible for the officers of the law to bring them to justice and punishment?

Answer. I do not believe they could do it.

Question. Is there an opinion there that those men who belong to the organization in your county have associates in other counties who would come in there and help them?

Answer. O, yes, sir; there is a general opinion of that kind; I do not know where it comes from.

Question. The general belief is that they are organized all over the State ?
Answer. Yes, sir.

By Mr. BAYARD:

Question. Have you any knowledge of any facts upon which to base such an opinion?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. You mean that there is a general apprehension that such may be the case, although you do not know it?

Answer. Yes, sir.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA, October 26, 1871.

THOMAS M. ALLEN (colored) sworn and examined.

By the CHAIRMAN :

Question. What is your age, where were you born, and where do you now live? Answer. I am now thirty-eight years old. I was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and I am living here at present; that is, my family is here; I am pastor of the Baptist church at Marietta, Jasper County.

Question. How long have you been living in this State?

Answer. I came to this State the year that James K. Polk died, about 1849.

Question. How do you connect your coming here with his death?

Answer. I landed in Savannah at the time they were firing cannon there, and asked what was the matter.

Question. Were you a slave?

Answer. Partly so. My father was a white man, and he set us free at his death. They stole us from Charleston and run me and my brother and mother into this State. He left us ten thousand dollars each to educate us, and give us trades, and for that money they stole us away.

Question. Were you kept in slavery until the time of emancipation ?

Answer. Yes, sir; I was held as a slave; I hired my time.

Question. You never were able to assert your freedom before emancipation?

Answer. No, sir, I could not do it.

Question. Where were you living at the time of emancipation?

Answer At Indian Springs, over in Butts County. I hired my time there at shoemaking. I was on the stand with Doctor French, when the first speaking was there. Question. Have you been connected with political affairs in this State since the war? Answer. Yes, sir. When the constitutional convention was called, I took an active part, and did all I could, of course. Afterwards I ran for the legislature and was elected.

Question. In what year?

Answer. I was elected in 1868; the colored members were expelled that year.
Question. From what county were you elected?

Answer. From Jasper County.

Question. Were you reinstated in your seat in the legislature ?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Have your witnessed any violence towards any of your race, yourself or any others?

Answer. Yes, sir. After we were expelled from the legislature, I went home to Jasper County; I was carrying on a farm there. On the 16th of October, a party of men came to my house; I cannot say how many, for I did not see them.

Question. Was that in 1868?

Answer. Yes, sir. Just before that, I was at home, and two white men came to the field where I was working. I heard them speaking to my children and asking for their father. I came up over the hill, and they told me that the radicals had expelled me from the legislature, and that I ought to take part with the democrats now, and take the stump for Seymour and Blair. I said that I did not consider that I was expelled by the radical party. They were friends of mine; Mr. Phelps was one, and he said that I could do more good by preaching the gospel and leaving political affairs alone. They then went off. I called a political meeting in town to organize a Grant club, or Grant Rangers as we called it. Senator Wallace, who was expelled at the same time, was to come there and help out this meeting. We were to have the meeting on the 17th, but Mr. Wallace did not come to my house until the 18th. Captain Bartlett told some colored people, a day or two before the meeting, that they had better stay away from town; that he did not think I would live to see the meeting. Question. Who is Captain Bartlett?

Answer. He is a lawyer there. On the 16th or 17th I went home; I felt very bad; I felt very curious. The man running the place there said that if any one came there at any time of the night not to open the door. I went home and drove my hogs up, and put them in the pen, and when they brought in the cotton I weighed it. I felt so strangely that I went into a log-cabin and ate my supper, and went back into the house and got a Testament and read a chapter, and went to bed very early. About 2 o'clock my wife woke me up, and said that there were persons all around the house; that they had been there for half an hour, and were calling for me. I heard them call

1

[ocr errors]

.

again, and I asked them what they wanted, and who they were. One said, "Andy Minter;" that was a friend of mine. My wife said that was not his voice. I asked what they wanted. They said they wanted a light; that they had been hunting, and the dogs had treed something, and they wanted a light. I tried to find something to make a light with, but could not. They said, "Have you no matches ?" I said, "No." I had some, but I forgot that I had any. They asked me to come out. At this time my brother-in-law waked up and said, "Who are they, Thomas ?" I said, "I do not know; one says that he is Andy Minter, but it is not." He said, "I will get up and give them a light." I said, “You had better not." I stepped to the side window and opened it and looked out and said, "Emanuel will give you a light." My wife told me to come away and shut the window. I went back into my room and went to bed. Emanuel made a big light in his part of the house. It was a frame house, but the partition that separated my part from his did not go clear up to the roof, and I could see the light. He put on his shoes and vest and hat; that was all he was found with after he was killed. He opened the door and hollered, "Where are you?” He hollered twice, and then two guns were fired. He seemed to fall, and I and my wife hollered, and his wife hollered. I jumped up, and ran back to the fire-place, where I started to get a light, and then started to go over the partition to him. I threw a clock down, and then I thought of the closet there, and went through it to him, and my wife closed the door. I hollered for Joe, a third man on the place, to come up and bring his gun, for Emanuel was killed. He did not come for some time, and then I was so excited that I could not recognize his voice. After a time I let him in. We made up a light, and then I saw my brother-inlaw laying on his back as he fell. I examined him; there were four or five number one buck-shot in his breast. He seemed to be dying very fast. Joe said, "What shall we do?" I said, "Go for Doctor Walker." I just had on my shirt and drawers, and was bare-headed; my boots and everything else were in my room. My wife was looking over into the room. I asked for my shoes, but she would not give them to me, she said I would be killed if I went out. I examined him again. He had on copperas pants, and near the edge a slug had gone through. While we were examining him he died. Next day, as soon as it was light, I got up and went out and counted one hundred and eighty shot in the house, and they will be there until judgment, or until the house shall rot down. The white men who came there the next day and held an inquest over him decided that three guns had been fired, one loaded with slugs, one with buck-shot, and one with small shot. Two of the shot went into the bedstead where his wife and children were in bed. He laid there until we could get a crowd of white men to hold an inquest over him. By this time Mr. Wallace arrived; he got there about 10 o'clock in the day. When Mr. Wallace drove up to the gate these white men who were holding the inquest were sitting under a tree inside of the gate. He said, "Allen, you have had a death out here." I said, "Yes." He said, "Why did you not kill some of those fellows?" I said, "There was. not a gun in the house, and if there had been I could not see anybody." He said, "We do not allow men to come to Milledgeville and do such things." The white men seemed to be excited about it. I took him right into my house, and he took his pistol from under the cushions of his buggy, a bottle of liquor from under the seat, and his carpet-bag, and carried them into my room. Colonel James Wilson came in and said, "By God, Allen, I told you six months ago that we would not submit to negroism in this State; did I not tell you they would kill you?" I said, "Yes, but I did not believe it; I did not think anybody had anything against me; I preached for you all during the war, when you could not get a white preacher, for all had gone into the army; I did not think anybody wonld kill me for my political sentiments." He said, "I told you they would do it; you leave the country now or they will murder you, and your wife and children." Mr. Wallace, who had not said anything, then said, "If I was Allen I would not do it. If I was him I would get a half dozen guns, and some friends and guard the house, and kill the first one that comes up." Wilson then turned to him and said, "By God, who are you." He said, "I am Mr. Johnson ;" he changed his name. Wilson said, "You had better keep still, for if these men hear you they will kill you." Wallace said, "There is no danger of death." Wilson said, "They will kill you." They got through the inquest in the evening. Wilson came to me about sundown and said, "I am going to have that body buried, coffin or no coffin; I am going to have my fee, and I cannot get it without its being buried." I said, "You cannot bury it without a coffin; he has left somes bales of cotton, and you hold on until the coffin comes." He said, "Will you be responsible?" I said, "Yes," and then he went off. That night some of the parties staid up there and we organized what we called the Grant Rangers while the body lay there in the next room. Sunday morning I had my son catch my horse, and I came on to Monticello, four miles from there, and dropped a letter in the post-office to General Lewis and Colonel Sibley here in Atlanta. I then went on to Eatonton, staid there until Monday evening at 2 o'clock, and took the cars and came on to Macon, where I had an account published in the paper. I then came on to Forsyth, and there Mr. Wallace and I organized another club of Grant Rangers. I then came on here, and

L

[graphic]
« AnteriorContinuar »