the coroner, Mac Byers has been arrested by the civil authorities, and was lodged in the jail at this place on Tuesday. We have heretofore expressed our condemnation of these inhuman and lawless acts, which, in this instance, we can only reiterate. However obnoxious this negro man may have been, or howsoever grave the charges-real or imaginary--resting against him, laws are provided to meet the exigencies of the case, without a necessity of resorting to mob violence; and the sooner the strong arm of the civil law arrests and brings to punishment the perpetrators of such outrages the better it will be for all."

Question. Are you a member of the "Council of Safety?"

Answer. I am not, sir.

Question. Who compose that council?

Answer. I cannot tell you, sir.

Question. Are you a member of any company?

Answer. Military company?

Question. Military or semi-military.

Answer. None at all.

Question. Have you ever been a member of any organization to provide for the protection of the whites against the blacks?

Answer. No political organization.

Question. Or any organization?

Answer. No, sir. In 1868 we had a little agreement between ourselves, citizens of this town, to protect our own property. We simply patroled our own lots and the streets. That was in 1867 and 1868. That was simply to take care of ourselves. That is all the organization I know of; but to say there was any regular organized body during those years, I do not know it.

Question. What was that organization ?

Answer. That organization was simply an agreement between ourselves. It was not an organization, but an agreement that we would take it alternately, time about, to patrol the streets and watch our lots, because we did not know what mischief might be done.

Question. An agreement between whom?

Answer. Between citizens of the town. I suppose every real estate owner in the town was engaged in that. I think that was in 1867 and 1868.

Question. White and black?

Answer. No, sir; I do not think any blacks were engaged in it. That was a matter of social agreement to take care of ourselves.

Question. Who were they?

Answer. The citizens of this town. You might take up any man in this town and he could tell you the same thing.

Question. Name some of them.

Answer. You may take my copartner, Dr. Barron. He knows that fact, that we had an agreement of that kind to take care of our property by patrolling the streets and watching our lots. We were armed, but simply with pistols.

Question. What was the arrangement for notifying each other?

Answer. The agreement was made in this way: We would notify each other whose turn it was; we had our names down in regular form. The real estate owners here were known, and we took it as our names were called. Certain men would take it one night, and another set another night. We were not able to pay a marshal to do this work for us and we had to do it ourselves.

Question. What was the arrangement to give notice of trouble?

Answer. The only arrangement was that we would announce to each other, in verbal form, if anything was wrong. I know of no other plan.

Question. Had you no signals?

Answer. None at all. No secret signs nor signals.

Question. Who had general control of the arrangement?

Answer. I do not think there was any chairman of the committee or anything of the kind. I do not think there was anything of the kind.

Question. You had no officers?

Answer. None at all, simply a private agreement.

Question. Was any such organization formed in the country or county?

Answer. None that I knew of.

Question. Did you not hear, in 1868, of the formation of clubs or some organization which was supposed by outsiders to be Ku-Klux?

Answer. No, sir; I know of no organization, neither did I hear of any.

Question. Did you not hear of the Ku-Klux in this county in 1868?

Answer. I did not. If they existed I did not know it, neither did I hear of it. I do

not know that I can refer to a single act done by any persons or band of persons in 1868. Question. How did this county vote in 1868?

Answer. The republican party carried this county in 1858.

Question. By what vote?

Answer. A pretty close vote. I think Senator Rose was elected by fifty or sixty majority.

Question. You were not aware, then, of the existence of Ku-Klux here in 1868? Answer. I know of no organization of that kind in 1868. I know of a private agreement between real estate owners, among themselves, to take care of their own property. By Mr. VAN TRUMP:

Question. In regard to this colored meeting, at whose request you acted as secretary, how large was that meeting?

Answer. It was quite a respectable meeting.

Question. Held in the court-house?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. What number of persons were there?

Answer. The benches were full.

Question. What number?

Answer. Probably one hundred and fifty or two hundred. They were delegates from different sections of the county.

Question. A regular meeting by delegates from the county?

Answer. Yes, sir; it was not every individual for himself, but delegates to represent certain sections. I looked upon it as a very respectable meeting, and it was a very decent meeting.

Question. Who were the leading black men who took part?

Answer. There were no prominent men among them. They were simple, plain black men. One old man was named George Byers. I think he was the only black man who made a speech.

Question. What, in your opinion, have been the causes of whatever disturbances have occurred in this county within a year; what are the principal leading causes of any troubles that may have existed, whether breaking out by Ku-Klux acts or any other mode of proceeding?

Answer. Why, sir, my opinion is this: that these burnings of people's houses and barns and gin houses produced this disturbance.

Question. Was that last summer?

Answer. That was last fall and winter, and this spring. I do not know that there were any burnings last summer that I remember. I think it was all this winter.

Question. You have given an estimate of the number of the whippings of negroes, whether by Ku-Klux or other negroes, or somebody else for private reasons, at twelve or fifteen. What is the probable number of burnings of gin-houses in this county in the last year?

Answer. I will have to count them up. Thomason, stables and barn; Warren, ginhouses; Miller, gin-house; Crosby, gin-house; Preacher Castle, barn; my brother's thrashing-house was burnt the other night. A boy confessed it afterward. He simply did it because my brother had told him not to go into his select orchard. He had a large orchard and told him that he and the rest of the colored people might go in there, but not in the garden. He did go into the garden. He caught him there and cursed him a little, and, in a few days, this fire took place.

Question. Go on with your list.

Answer. I cannot think of any more. I have not had these things fixed in my mind. Question. Were you here on the night in which there were five or six or seven ginhouses burning in sight of the town?

Answer. Yes, sir; I do not know that they were all burning the same night.
Question. Did you not see several fires?

Answer. No, sir; I did not get up at all to see. It strikes me that Thomason's house and Warren's were burned at the same time, or Thomason's, or Miller's. It strikes me that two were burned at the same time-I think Thomason's and Miller's.

Question. You have no recollection of seeing or knowing by information of five or six gin-houses burned on one night, and the conflagration being seen here in town at the same time?

Answer. I do not know that they were all burning in one night.

Question. You say you do not know of anybody being arrested for the murder of Roundtree, or Black?

Answer. I do not know that there was.

Question. Do you know that there is a colored man in the Chester jail now on that charge?

Answer. No, sir. I inquired about that very fact and nobody could tell me. Is not he reported among these men?

Question. I do not know.

Answer. I cannot tell you; I inquired about that man because that man was living with Roundtree, was he not?

Question. I do not know; I ask for information.

Answer. The reason I inquired was, the coroner told me the man sent to inform him

of the murder, instead of coming directly to him, stayed here in town a number of hours before he came to him and told him; that excited my suspicion. I inquired soon afterward, "Has that man been arrested?" I never heard he was arrested. If he was arrested and put in this jail I would have heard it. You say he was in the Chester jail?

Question. I have heard so.

Answer. I simply asked that question because the coroner told me that it was strange that the man did not come to him immediately and give him the information. Question. Was it known that Roundtree had money?

Answer. It seemed so; that was the report.

Question. Was it known that the money was missing after the murder?

Answer. So I understood; that is the rumor.

Question. What effect on the public mind had this order of Governor Scott arming the negroes, with not only arms but fixed ammunition, all through the State; and what was the extent of that arming in this county?

Answer. I think there were several companies here; one down below, at Rock Hill, and one below here. There were three in the district. They were well armed and had ammunition, which I was sorry to see; indeed I was.

Question. What effect did that have on public sentiment?

Answer. It depressed and discouraged the white man, and made him feel uneasy; it certainly made the negroes more unruly. They had less regard for peace.

Question. Is it the nature of the negro, when put in power, to become arrogant? Answer. That is so, according to my experience; I have been raised with him. Question. I understand you to say that where a negro has a direct motive in giving his testimony, you have little confidence in it?

Answer. I would question his evidence. I am speaking now the honest conviction of my heart.

Question. You have been raised with them?

Answer. Yes, sir; God knows I speak the truth.

Question. You speak of the mass?

Answer. Yes, sir; in a body of black men you would get now and then at the truth; but I speak of them as a mass; as a nation of people they cannot be relied upon.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. What is your opinion as to the truth and veracity of the men composing the Ku-Klux?

Answer. I cannot tell; I have no experience or information upon the subject. Question. Do you believe they would perjure themselves to deny their connection with an order that commits murder and violence?

Answer. If that organization does exist, and is composed of honorable men in this county, I do not believe they would.

Question. We want to know, taking things as they stand, what is your opinion of the veracity of the men who do compose the Ku-Klux?

Answer. I cannot tell you who they are, in the first place. If I knew these men I could tell whether I would believe them or not.

Question. Have you any opinion as to whether we could rely on the testimony of men who were charged with being members of the Ku-Klux organization?

Answer. I cannot say as to that. I do not know who compose the organization. Question. Would you give as much credence to the testimony of the men who were charged with these murders as you would to the negroes, as a class? Answer. I would question very much men who would kill and whip and disturb negroes. I would question very much their veracity.

Question. Do you think they would be as likely to commit perjury, to get clear of the imputation of those crimes, as the negroes who swear that they suffer by them? Answer. Not if they were white, honorable men.

Question. Do you think white, honorable men go into an organization to commit murder?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Then, who do commit these murders?

Answer. I can give you no opinion; for I have no stand-point from which to reason. Question. You have mentioned six cases of burning in this county. The first is Thomason. Do you know whether that fire was accidental or was caused by incendiaries?

Answer. From what I learned the man ran the persons from his barn.

Question. Did he know who they were?

Answer. No, sir; they never were found out.

Question. Do you charge that to the negroes or white men?

Answer. I don't know who did it.

Question. You have given it as one of the causes for the acts against the negroes. Answer. I have given the burnings.

Question. Which do you say caused that fire-whites or blacks?

Answer. I cannot say.

Question. Is it not as probable that a man who will murder a black man will also commit arson, as that the negroes will do it?

Answer. Yes, sir; men who kill may do anything.

Question. Warren's was the next; when was that?

Answer. I think that was some time in February.

Question. Is there any evidence who did it ?
Answer. None.

Question. The third was Miller's?

Answer. Yes, sir; that is not far from Warren's.
Question. Is there any evidence who did that?

Answer. No, sir; not that I know of.

Question. The next is Crosby. Is there any evidence who did that?

Answer. No, sir; not directly. They ran these persons; and, as I understand, if they had not stopped to roll the cotton out, they might have caught them; but they have no positive evidence, or the persons would have been arrested.

Question. Then the fifth was the Rev. Mr. Castle's. Was there any evidence in that case?

Answer. There is indirect evidence as to it. A negro man was charged with it, and left the country.

Question. Was he arrested?

Answer. No, sir; he left the country. He had a dispute the day before, or a day or two before that, as I heard.

Question. This was charged against one negro-that he burnt it out of resentment? Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. Not against an organized band of negroes ?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Your brother's case was the sixth, and there it was known to be done by a boy out of resentment?

Answer. Yes, sir; he made a confession.

Question. Has he been arrested?

Answer. Yes, sir; he is in jail.

Question. Out of these six cases, is there any evidence to connect the negroes, as a class, with the burning?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Yet you give these burnings as the outrages against the negroes ?
Answer. That is the general impression among the people.

Question. What justice is there in charging the negroes, as a class, with burning, any more than the murderers who are operating through the country?

Answer. Let me tell you. These people are easily excited to action, and when we had the candidates last fall, strange to say, one candidate actually made this speech: "You have to succeed in this county if you have to burn every blade of grass," or something to that effect.

Question. Did you hear it?

Answer. No, sir.

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. And that the negroes did these burnings, incited by that?

Answer. I am more disposed to think that the negroes did it than that white persons did it.

Question. And yet you have no opinion as to the murderers in this county?
Answer. No, sir.

Question. You think yourself an impartial witness?

Answer. I have desired to do justice, and I think I have done a little more than justice to the negroes.

Question. Let me call your attention to a communication from Chester, dated the 27th of March, and published in the Yorkville Enquirer of the 30th of March, to know how far these sentiments find indorsement in the community here. I will read an extract:

"Your correspondent does not, however, agree with Governor Perry, Hon. C. W. Dudley, and with others who have written in regard to the disturbed condition of the country, that the hostility between the races is the result, solely, of the teachings of

the carpet-baggers and scalawags, and that if the negroes had been left to themselves, without foreign interference, all would have been peace and good will between the two races. Those creatures have seized upon the natural antagonism to the white race that existed in the negro mind, and have fanned it into a blaze and intensified it for their own vile purposes of plunder and robbery; but the hatred was there for them to build on, otherwise they never could have succeeded in drawing the line of conflict as sharply as it has been drawn. Palliate it and attempt to smooth it over as we may, there can be no doubt that the hostility between the races is bitter and universal and is permanent. Hollow truces may be patched up, whites may be compelled, under the pressure of Federal bayonets and sabres, to live under negro rule; but whenever the pressure is removed, the natural feelings of the heart will rise to the surface, and the white man will assert his supremacy."

And then, after some other matter, he proceeds:

"The negro is naturally the white man's enemy, and there will be a war between them so long as they are forced to live on terms of political equality."

That is a communication from Chester in a paper published in your town; does that sentiment to any extent pervade the people of this community?

Answer. No, sir; they do not have that extreme view that that reporter gives there. If the negro is left alone, I believe we can live well together.

Question. You do not believe there is any natural antagonism between the negro and the whites?

Answer. Not if left alone; but if such men as Neagle go through the country making such speeches which ought not to be made-because that is not politics, and he should not excite the negro against his domestic peace and comfort-the negro's mind could be excited to commit acts which he would not otherwise do. I say a man should be condemned for making such speeches, for that is not politics at all.

Question. You did not hear the speech?

Answer. No, sir; but I believe those are honorable men in town who heard it and told me.

By Mr. VAN TRUMP:

Question. Plenty of men could be summoned to prove it?

Answer. Yes, sir; there can be no difficulty on that point. I did hear one speech here from Governor Scott's secretary-I forget his name-but in that he did not touch upon any subject of that nature. I think he made a very respectable speech. I think his name was Hayne. I heard that speech-a very sensible speech. Some were disposed not to hear him. I said, "No; if a man tells the truth let him go on." He did go on, but he did not touch upon incendiarism.

Question. You would have been as willing to have believed it of him as of Neagle, if it had been told to you?

Answer. Yes, sir; if an intelligent, truthful man had told me so I would have believed it.

By Mr. VAN TRUMP:

Question. But you would not have as readily believed it after hearing him?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Do you know Joe Crews?

Answer. Only by report.

Question. Did you ever hear him make a speech?

Answer. No, sir.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. Do you still adhere to the opinion that there has been no trial in this county for the murder of Roundtree?

Answer. None that I have heard of.

Question. Do you not know that a man named Seapaugh was tried for that offense and proved an alibi?

Answer. I did not know it:.

By Mr. VAN TRUMP:

Question. If you knew it, you have forgotten it?

Answer. Yes, sir; I have forgotten it, if I heard it.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. It was a small affair, was it?

Answer. No, sir; taking human life is no small affair.

Question. The murder occurred?

Answer. Yes, sir.

Question. And if the trial occurred in the town it attracted so little attention that you did not know it, or have forgotten it?

Answer. No, sir; I would have known it, because it would have taken place regularly in the court-house. I would have known it.