the cause of the trouble in the county. They claimed that. Whether it was so or not I can't say, but he was not liked in the county at all.

Question. You say there has been a great deal of whipping done in this county?
Answer. I do not know. I have heard of it.

Question. This thing has been transpiring since the close of the war?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. That is what you said.

Answer. I do not think so.

Question. Do you want to correct that statement?

Answer. If I said so, I want to correct it. I said there had been such a thing as Ku-Klux organization since the war, but never such whipping until recently.

Question. You said there had been a great deal of whipping, as you understood it, in this county, and it had been carried on ever since the close of the war. Did you not say that?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. If you did, you want to correct it?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. What you want to say now is, that ever since the war there has been more or less Ku-Kluxism?

Answer. They were said to be; I do not know it.

Question. Was not the first violence by a band of men called bush-whackers, instead of Ku-Klux?

Ansiber. I do not know.

Question. Do you say you heard of these men named Ku-Klux band immediately after the war in this county?

Answer. Not immediately after the war, but not very long-in a threatening way, but they did no harm.

Question. Did you hear of them as bands roaming the county?

Answer. Not over the county, but in the woods near the village.

Question. Did you hear them called Ku-Klux?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. How soon after the war did you hear them called Ku-Klux?
Answer. I can't say positively.

Question. Was it the same year-1865?

Answer. I can't say.

Question. In 1866?

Answer. I think so.

Question. As early as 1866 you heard of roaming bands here called Ku-Klux ?
Answer. Yes, sir; I think so.

Question. You did not hear of bush-whackers immediately after the war?

Answer. I do not think I did. I may have heard many things, but I do not remember

now.

By Mr. STEVENSON:

Question. What is the full name of Major Avery?

Answer. It is E. and another letter; I forget what. He is in Washington now, I think, sir.

Question. Is it J. W.?

Answer. Yes, sir; J. W. Avery.

By Mr. VAN TRUMP:

Question. You say you read those pamphlets Rose had called the "Council of Safety ?” Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Was that the name of those papers?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. It was not Ku-Klux?

Answer. No, sir; it was "Council of Safety," but said to be something after the same. Question. It was something after the same pattern, intended to be a secret organization?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Do you know whether it ever went into existence?

Answer. No, sir; I have heard of bands of men here.

Question. Did you ever hear of a council called the "Council of Safety" organized in this county?

Answer. Not to my knowledge.

Question. But after reading this pamphlet you thought it was about the same thing as Ku-Klux?

Answer. Yes, sir; it was stated to me to be so, but I do not know.

By Mr. STEVENSON:

Question. Does this Major J. W. Avery live here ?

Answer. Yes, sir. There is Dr. Avery and P. T. Avery.

Question. J. W. Avery was the one summoned some time ago to Washington to appear as a witness?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Do you know where he is?

Answer. I do not. He is said to be in Washington or somewhere in Virginia with his uncle.

Question. He has not returned here?

Answer. No, sir; a man that went with him returned.

Question. Who was that?

Answer. Mr. Herndon.

Question. You say Major Avery quartered these North Carolinians?

Answer. A great many of them staid there.

Question. At his house?

Answer. No, sir; at his store that night. They staid here.

By Mr. VAN TRUMP:

Question. That was an open store for anybody to go in there?
Answer. Yes, sir.

By Mr. STEVENSON:

Question. Were their horses there?

Answer. I do not know that. I do not know where their horses were. there.

Question. Were they lodged there?

Answer. Yes, sir, I suppose so.

Question. Was Major Avery there with the men?

Answer. Yes, sir; I noticed him there that evening.

Question. You say they proclaimed themselves as Ku-Klux?

The men were

Answer. They did the next morning as they started home. They would halloo on the streets, "Here's your Ku-Klux.".

Question. They staid here all night?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. And went home next day?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. What county did they come from?

Answer. Mostly from Cleveland County, I think.

Question. Do you know how they happened to come here?

Answer. No, sir. I heard they were sent for, but how that was I do not know. They had to have some news, or they could not come. But I did not know anything about them until they were here.

Question. How did you hear they were sent for?

Answer. I heard it rumored about-I do not know just how that they were notified in some way.

Question. Who is this Major Avery?

Answer. A merchant in this place.

Question. How does he get his title?

Answer. He was in the army.

Question. Rebel army?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. How old is he?

Answer. He is some forty years old, I suppose; an older man than I am. I have known him for years.

Question. To what party does he belong?

Answer. I could not tell you; the democratic party, he claims, or reform party, or something.

Question. They called themselves the reform party last year?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. That is, the democrats operated under that name, did they?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. He is a leading citizen here?

Answer. Yes, sir, to some extent. He is a man of great wealth, and so on. I have always considered him a very good citizen. I have never had any difficulty with him. Question. He is considered a respectable citizen?

Answer. Yes, sir.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. You mentioned about the muskets which were shot off in this building; do you know why they were shot off?

Answer. No, sir; but I think this, from what I learned from my clerk at that time

By Mr. STEVENSON:

Question. You did not hear the volley?

Answer. No, sir; I was in the country. I heard of it next morning. I did not know until I came in the next day, that it was shot off.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. How far off were you?

Answer. A mile and a half.

Question. You say it could not be heard that far?

Answer. It could be heard, but I did not hear that. They were shooting all around here.

Question. Did Johnson give you a reason why they were shot off?

Answer. No. He only said that Rose got to drinking in the bar-room, and he went over with him to his own room, to get him out of here, and that night about ten o'clock he took his sixteen-shooter and poked it out of the window and shot the loads out of it, and loaded it again.

Question. That is all you know about it?

Answer. Yes, sir. I was told that; I was not here.

YORKVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, July 24, 1871.

JOHN A. BENFIELD sworn and examined.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. Where do you reside?

Answer. At Mr. Romulus Hopper's.

Question. Where is that?

Answer. In this township, about six miles from here.

Question. How long have you lived in this county?

Answer. About ten or twelve years, I suppose, since I came in this county.

Question. Are you a native of this State?

Answer. I was born and raised in Catawba County, North Carolina.

Question. What business do you follow?

Answer. Farming.

Question. Do you remember the night of the raid upon the county treasury here? Answer. No, sir; I don't remember it.

Question. I mean hearing about it; where did you hear first about it?

Answer. The first I heard about it was, the old man Hopper's son, Romulus Hopper's brother, came to York the next day, and he came up that night and told us.

Question. It was the next day?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. What day was that?

Answer. I don't remember the day.

Question. Was it Sunday or Monday?

Answer. I can't remember now what day it was.

Question. What day was it that you heard of it?

Answer. It was on Monday, I believe, as well as I recollect; I know I was at old man Hopper's that evening.

Question. Where were you the previous Sunday night?

Answer. What Sunday night?

Question. You heard of this Monday evening; where were you the previous Sunday night?

Answer. The Sunday night before that I was at Hopper's. I was at old man Hopper's that evening.

Question. Did you hear nothing of it until the next evening?

Answer. No, sir, nothing at all; never heard a thing. I was out in the field at work. I just came in from plowing.

Question. Sunday night before this where were you?

Answer. At Hopper's.

Question. Were you there all the evening?

Answer. No, sir; I was here that day. I came in Saturday all day and staid with John Hunter here, and staid until next evening in the evening, and went home. Question. Did you come in Sunday morning?

Answer. No, sir, Saturday evening, and staid with John Hunter and Cal. Parish, Mr. Dobson's clerk, Saturday night.

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. At how much per month?

Answer. Ten dollars a month.

Question. How long have you known Hunter?

Answer. Ever since I been in the country. I lived close to him and his brother and knew them.

Question. Who else?

Answer. Cal. Parish, and Nick Dobson, and John Colcock.

Question. Had you been in the habit of staying here at night with those men?
Answer. Yes, sir; I have been here a time or two before at Dobson's store.

Question. What time on Sunday did you leave?

Answer. About the middle of the evening.

Question. What do you mean by that?

Answer. The middle of the afternoon-Sunday afternoon.

Question. Where did you go to?

Answer. Home-to old man Hopper's first, and then home. There I heard this man, Rom. Hopper's brother, say he was going to York next morning on business.

Question. You say you went to old man Hopper's?

Answer. Yes, sir. They all live on Frank Brown's plantation.

Question. And then you went home?

Answer. Yes, sir; to Rom. Hopper's, on the same plantation.

Question. How long did you remain at old man Hopper's?

Answer. I staid there along by times.

Question. But that night how long did you remain there?
Answer. Not more than half an hour, and went home.

Question. Was it before or after dark?

Answer. It was about dark then at old man Hopper's.
Question. Then you went on to Romulus Hopper's?
Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Did you stay there that night?

Answer. Yes, sir; and went to work next morning.

Question. What time that evening did you meet Anderson McElwee?

Answer. I don't remember of meeting him.

Question. Try to think, now.

Answer. I don't remember of meeting him.

Question. You are sure you did not meet Anderson McElwee that evening?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Did not he and you put in a part of that night on the same business? Just think a moment.

Question. That is all you can give of where you were the Sunday night the treasury was broken open?

Answer. Yes, sir; all I can tell is what I have told you.

Question. Has your attention been called before to where you were that night?
Answer. No, sir.

Question. Do you recollect the night the rails were torn up on the road out here between this and Chester ?

Answer. No, sir; I don't remember about it; I heard of it afterward. I made a mistake in that to Major Merrill. He asked me about it. I heard of it next day. I told him I didn't hear of it until next day, and it was the raid I heard the next day. I told him it was that I heard next day.

Question. You told Major Merrill?

Answer. Yes, sir. He was asking me about it.

Question. When it was?

Answer. Yes, sir. He was asking me if I heard of it, and I made a mistake and said I heard of it next day; but you see I was here that day, and heard it that very day. Question. You mean it was not the tearing up of the railroad that you heard next day?

Answer. No; it was this I heard of on Monday. The railroad business I heard next morning. I was right here in this place.

Question. When did you hear of the railroad being torn up ર

Answer. On Sunday. I was here at the same time, and staid with these fellows that same night.

Question. Was it Saturday night it was torn up?

Answer. No, sir; it was the same time I was here.

Question. What do you mean by introducing what you said to Major Merrill? Answer. I made a mistake, telling him I did not hear it until next day, while I was here on Sunday evening; that would be Monday. I really heard it on Sunday when I was here. He was asking me about this, and I told him I never heard it. He says, "You say you never heard of this railroad business until Monday?" and I said "Yes;" but that was a mistake. I heard it Sunday, for I was here Sunday.

Question. Were you in the store the whole Saturday night?

Answer. I was right there, and went to bed with those fellows at bed-time, and we were there all night.

Question. What time Sunday morning did you hear of the rails being torn up between this place and Chester?

Answer. It was up in the day a good while; I don't remember what time it was. Question. What time in the day?

Answer. I don't remember now.

Question. Who told you about it first?

Answer. I can't tell you that; I don't mind. I just heard it, but that I can't remember.

Question. Had you heard anything before you came into town about the troops being expected here?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Did you hear anything of it when you were here?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Did you hear anything about the troops being expected here?

Answer. No, sir; I didn't hear it in no shape or form. I haven't been in town for a month or so.

Question. Did you hear the purpose for which the rails were torn up?
Answer: No, sir.

Question. Do you know whether the troops did get here the next day after the raid? Answer. No, sir. I can't tell a thing, except by this man Hopper. He told us next day that the troops had come in that day.

Question. Had you no knowledge from anybody of the design of tearing up the railroad that night?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Before you left Sunday night, did you hea! of any trouble about the county treasurer?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Have you at any time been asked to join any organization in this county called the Ku-Klux?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Do you know anything about them?

Answer. No, sir; not a thing. I don't know anything only just the reports I have heard, and what little I have seen in the newspapers.

Question. Have you any knowledge of an organization here called the Invisible Circle?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Were you ever sworn into any such organization ?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Do you know any of its pass-words?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Or signs?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Or grips?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Do you know whether there is such an organization in this county?

Answer. No, sir. I couldn't tell you that more than I have expressed yet-what I have heard or read in the papers.