Question. Which party did you act with?

Answer. The republican party.

Question. Which party was Rose identified with?

Answer. The republican party.

Question. Was anything said on the night of the raid indicating any specific reason for wanting Rose?

Answer. Nothing that I remember, only they just wanted to have hold of him; that was the common talk here on the streets.

Question. You spoke of Rose procuring a pamphlet in regard to the "Council of Safety ?"

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Was that on the Monday preceding this?

Answer. No, sir, it was before that. Withers came to me, and this thing occurred in my own bar-room, and he says, "Russell, you have been a friend to me," he claims to be a republican—“I have got up with a trick, and it is for your good and safety. I would like to let you see." I paid no attention to it. He told me this several times. Finally, I told my clerk to see what it was, and he got it, and I got it, and Ed. Rose. Question. What did he tell you?

Answer. He told me he was one of the party. His life depended on me if I divulged a secret, but he did it to save me and Ed. Rose.

Question. Did he say this organization of the "Council of Safety" had any connection with these Ku-Klux operations?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Where is he now?

Answer. He is right over the way there, sir.

Question. Is his name Springs Withers?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Then on the Monday before this raid you say there were two hundred and sixty or two hundred and seventy-five men here?

Answer. Yes, sir, I think it was on Monday.

Question. Said to be from North Carolina?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. What were they here for?

Answer. Supposing there would be a row between the whites and blacks, Major Avery had them quartered with him up here.

Question. He is a North Carolinian?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. What ground was there for expecting a collision?

Answer. They were threatening on Chester below here.

Question. Was there one expected in this town?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Had there been any armed collisions between the races here before that? Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. In what manner?

Answer. We had colored militia here armed.

Question. Had there been any fight?

Answer. No, sir; there was perfect quiet.

Question. Had there been any fight between the militia and the citizens?

Answer. No, sir, none at all, not in this county, but they said they were in Chester. Question. Did you understand that these men were here from North Carolina in anticipation of trouble here or in Chester?

Answer. Right here. I was summoned down with the sheriff to help arrest eighteen or nineteen colored men with arms, and brought them through Captain Christopher's camp to the jail and lodged them there.

Question. What time of the week was that?

Answer. It was some time after the raid that that happened. It was some time after the raid on this house.

Question. But before the raid?

Answer. Nothing at all happened before that. Everything was quiet.

Question. Those North Carolina men left without doing anything?

Answer. Yes, sir; nothing was done whatever.

Question. On Friday and Saturday before the raid, you spoke of there being an apprehension that Rose was to be attacked?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Was that the time Withers came and told you ?

Answer. No, sir; it was before that.

Question. He first gave you notice on Saturday night?

Answer. He first gave me the pamphlet and afterwards told me it was Saturday night,

10 o'clock.

Question. On Sunday you saw groups and heard conversation that Rose was to be attacked?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Who said so?

Answer. I heard it in a room among many-I could say McCaffrey and Avery and many in this town-that they expected he would be attacked.

Question. Did they speak of it as absolute knowledge or what they expected?

Answer. No, sir, they said they expected it. A man asked me the question, if that house was attacked, would Ed. Rose shoot; and if so, how many shots he could shoot. Question. Who asked you that?

Answer. H. F. Adickes.

Question. Did you tell him how many rounds Rose had?

Answer. No, sir; I could not do that. He asked me if I staid here every night, and if I roomed with Rose, or if I had my family here. I told him no. He said he understood I rented the whole house and had rooms here. I told him it was a mistake. Question. Is that all you know about this affair?

Answer. I know a great many things that probably do not amount to much. I could talk to you for half a day, but it would not be worth much.

Question. Is that all you know about the operations of the Ku-Klux in this county ? Answer. That is all I know. A great many have been whipped and a great many killed-not a great many killed, either. Persons have lost a great deal on farms by the running off of the colored people, not being able to work them.

Question. How long has that been going on?

Answer. More or less since the war.

Question. Has that ever assumed the form of actual violence, killing and whipping? Answer. Not until lately. Five or six or seven months ago-since the election. Question. Since the election it has assumed that form?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. In what way was it done before that?

Answer. It was a mere matter of threat-electioneering scheme; putting coffins at men's doors, and pouring paint to represent blood, and many different things to frighten colored men.

Question. Are the persons who have been whipped and killed in this county all of one political party; and if so, which one?

Answer. Yes, sir; of the republican party.

Question. Have there been any persons convicted here for any of these crimes? Answer. Not one. I have had, I do not know how many before me, but I could never convict one.

Question. You have had them before you as trial justice?
Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. What was the reason they were not convicted ?

Answer. The evidence was too strong. They had all the evidence they wanted. They could prove by just as many men as they wanted that they were at some other place. I turned over many cases to the court which I could not act on, but they could not find the party guilty-a mere matter of circumstantial evidence and threats, &c. I do not see how I could use that here.

By Mr. VAN TRUMP:

Question. You can use enough. You will use all you have. Do you wish to volunteer anything further

Answer. I do not wish to detain you, gentlemen. You have a good many to examine. It is a locked-up concern, but there is an organization of Ku-Klux in this county which has done a good deal of injury.

Question. Have you anything further?

Answer. I have heard threats upon myself in person, but that is a mere matter of information. Some time ago Major Briggs up here and a partner of mine and myself, were discussing matters, and I rather worried the other man, Dr. Lowry, in talking, and he jumped at me and pulled his pistol out. I was going to shoot him. As he went out of the door, Major Merrill was standing there, and I went out after him, and he says to me: Russell, you are a damned bully man now. You don't forget the night you were pulled out of that back door." Says I, "I have not." My clerk said, "I suppose you saw it done."

Question. Who asked that question?

66 I

Answer. Mr. Porter asked Dr. Lowry, "I suppose you saw it done," and he says, did." That can be proven by seven or eight men, but it is a mere matter of inference whether he is a Ku-Klux, I do not know. He afterward threatened to have me bucked and whipped.

Question. Is that all you want to state on your own motion as a witness?

Answer. Yes, sir, that is all; and really, in myself, I do not know anything positive. I could go on and tell you rumors for a whole day that would not amount to anything, and it might be the bringing of somebody else into testimony, but you find enough of that.

Question. You did not object to bringing Dr. Lowry into testimony?
Answer. I did not.

Question. Is there anybody you want to bring in?

Answer. Porter can give you a better sketch, from the fact that they had him all night with them, from the time they came from half past 12, until nearly daylight. Question. You say you are a republican, and have been electioneering largely in this county?

Question. This house is the headquarters of Major Merrill?
Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. How are you doing business?

Answer. Selling liquors.

Question. Who has the supervision of this house?

Answer. I have one part of it and Major Merrill the other.

Question. Who else any one besides you and Major Merrill?

Answer. No, sir; but W. E. Rose rents to me and Major Merrill also.

Question. Who is he.

Answer. The father of Ed. Rose.

Question. You spoke of Ed. Rose as your particular friend.

Answer. We were particular friends here.

Question. What has become of him?

Answer. I can't tell. Some say he has gone to Canada, but I do not know it to be so. Question. Is not that the general impression ?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. With a lot of money?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. This Ku-Klux that night did not get any money?

Answer. I do not think they got a dollar.

Question. You are selling liquor in this house, and this is the military headquarters? Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Do you sell to soldiers, or to whom?

Answer. To any one who behaves and takes it civilly and goes out.

Question. You spoke of two hundred and seventy-five who came from North Carolina; how did you get the number?

Answer. That is only rumor--what was said to me to be the number.

Question. Those men were not disguised?

Answer. Not a bit. I did not see the disguise.

Question. You say they were quartered with Major Avery?

Answer. Yes, sir; and with John Tomlinson and others.

Question. Several of them were here in front of the place?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Mounted men, in arms and disguised?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. They came here because of a threatened collision of races?
Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Was that after or before the Chester fight?

Answer. Before it.

Question. Finding there was no trouble, they went back quietly?

Answer. Yes, sir; with the threats that "Here's your Ku-Klux.”

Question. Was that in a laughing, sort of way?

Answer. Yes, sir; it was in a laughing sort of way. They surrounded me in the

upper end of the town, and gave me three cheers and went away.

Question. Did they know you?

Answer. Yes, sir; I suppose so. I had been pointed out by some one.

Question. How surrounded?

Answer. With horses.

Question. And they gave you three cheers and went away?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. And that is the last you have seen of them?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. You say your friend Rose had a lot of pamphlets called the "Council of Safety?"

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. They were Ku-Klux pamphlets?

Answer. They are termed that. He says so.

Question. You say they were Ku-Klux?

Answer. I might have said it in that way. I do not know.

Question. Do you not know you said as a witness they were Ku-Klux pamphlets that you had read?

Answer. I said they were "Council of Safety" and said to be all the same.

Question. You said they were the Ku-Klux, you knew, because you had read them. Answer. Yes, sir; I did, sir.

Question. When was that?

Answer. That was some time in the last of January or the first of February.

Question. Where did Rose get them?

Answer. From Withers; or my clerk did.

Question. You say Withers claimed to be a republican?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Is he not known to be a republican?

Answer. No, sir; I think not.

Question. How old a man is he?

Answer. Some twenty-five or twenty-six.

Question. How do you know he is not a republican ?

Answer. I did not say he is not.

Question. He has always claimed to be?

Answer. In certain parties he does and sometimes he don't.

Question. On both sides?

Answer. A milk and cider man.

Question. A drinking fellow, too?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. He got drunk the very night he gave you this information ?

Answer. Yes, sir; on the night of the raid he was drunk. I do not know whether he was drunk on the night he gave the information.

Question. He told you they would come Saturday night at 10 o'clock precisely?
Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. And they did come?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Then he told you they would come Sunday night. You say there was great excitement several days before that?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Sunday morning was the morning before the night of the raid?

Answer. Yes, sir; the raid was on Sunday. I went to church on Sunday morning and it rained, and I came back here.

Question. You saw several groups of citizens on the streets?

Answer. Yes, sir; I mingled with them, and a great many of them came down here, and I opened the saloon, on the back side, and they went in and drank.

Question. And they were talking about a raid?

Answer. Yes, sir; expecting it.

Question. On what ground?

Answer. I do not know.

Question. Was it on Withers's report?

Answer. I do not know.

Question. Withers had reported to you some time before that?

Answer. Yes, sir; but I never said anything about it.

Question. But could not this intoxicated man have talked it about town?

Answer. I have not a bit of doubt that these parties who were here speaking of the raid knew all about it, that it was to come.

Question. Tell us who those parties were?

Answer. I could tell a good many.

Question. I want them.

Answer. Do you mean the persons who spoke to me?

Question. Yes, sir; the persons who spoke to you, or in your hearing, who expected

a raid on the treasury. You say there were groups all over town, although it was raining?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Had they umbrellas?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Answer. No, sir; but in conversation this thing was mentioned.

Question. Those two groups were talking of it?

Answer. It was named in my presence.

Question. Give the names of the persons.

Answer. J. J. Hunter, Dr. Tomlinson, E. E. McCaffrey, William Snyder, William Colcock, Calvin Parish, and that old gentleman, Bloodworth-I do not know his initials. Question. Go on.

Answer. I can't remember any more now.

Question. Was that one group?

Answer. That is a part.

zing.

They were mixing backward and forward all day buz

Question. It seemed a common apprehension of the people of the town here that that night there would be à raid?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. And those are all the names you can give?

Answer. I do not remember the men I conversed with on that day-the number of them.

Question. All those seven individuals said there would be a raid?

Answer. They spoke of a raid. They did not say there would be.

Question. Did they expect it?

Answer. They let on as though they feared it. They did not say there was to be, or that they would have anything to do with it.

Question. Who were the two others besides yourself and your friend Rose, who were present when Spring Withers notified Rose of the raid Saturday night?

Answer. Myself and Porter and Horace Johnson. He was then doing some writing for me.

Question. Where does he live?

Answer. He is at the upper end of the town.

Question. Where is Porter?

Answer. He is doing business for me right below, sir.

Question. You say some

cated with the burning of the people in this county charged Rose with being impli

gin-houses.

Answer. Yes, sir; that he was knowing of the fact; from what fact they suspected him I do not know.

Question. Can you recollect the night when six or eight gin-houses were discovered to be on fire?

Answer. I do not remember the night, but I remember the fact.

Question. There were six or seven gin-houses within sight of the town burning on one night.

Answer. No, sir; I do not remember but one in sight, but I might, if I had been up, have seen it.

Question. Was the night you saw one on fire and did not endeavor to see the balance the night of which you learned afterward that five or six had been burning? Answer. I do not remember.

Question. Do you not remember of hearing of five or six gin-houses being burned near this town?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Do you remember that that was the night you saw one burning?

Answer. No, sir. I saw a gin-house, said to be Mrs. Tomason's, burning five or six

miles above.

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. You were in town that night?

Answer. Yes, sir; I staid in town every night.

Question. Did you hear a volley of musketry that night?

Answer. My clerk did. He was in the room when it was done.

Question. Where was it?

Answer. In the treasurer's office. Mr. Johnson was doing business for me.

Question. How many muskets were fired that night?

Answer. He says he thinks there were thirty rounds-a sixteen-shooter. That was in Rose's office, where the commissary's office is now. Johnson slept in the room with him that night.

Question. You say it was not only the common talk that there would be a raid on the treasurer's office on Sunday, but also common talk that they would have Rose? Answer. That was the threat that night, and in talking I have heard them speak that, if Rose would leave, this thing would be quieted; that it seemed that he was