Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-03-10
HIGH COURT OF IMPEACHMENT.
TWENTY-NINTH DAY.
SENATE CHAMBER. March 4, 1871.

SENATE CHAMBER. March 4, 1871.
James f. Boyd. a witness for the re
epondent, testified.
[ live in Graham, Alamance county. TIL
first initiation into the White Brotherhood
in the county that know of was a day O
two before the Presidential election il
November, 1868. I joined day or TIVE
after. j. A. Long initiated me. He came
to ne on the street and asked me if knew
anything Of the Ku-KIux. I said nothing
but what had heard. 1 went to his room
he asked me to hold up my hand. did sc
and he administered the oath of the
White Brotherhood to me, (which was
similar to that published. I was not in
favor of the political and civil elevation OF
the negro, and that I would resist, 10y
force if necessary, the efforts TO elevate the
negro.) He told me the penalty. if [ di-
vulged any of the secrets, was death.
! (Witness gave sign of recognition; rub left
hand down lapel of coat returned by
rubbing right hand down. Upon q mem
Der giving sign of distress other mem
bers were to go to his aid they were to
aid each other under all circumstances. I
understood our obligation to be such that
| if member knew another member had
committed crime he could not say so either
on jury or as q witness without FORGETTING
his obligation. It was not in the oath, but
the understanding of the order, that its
members were TO be protected in all things
| by all means and under all circumstances.
1t was part Of the oath that no mem
Der should give States evidence
! against member, even to swear
falsely. The obligation was attended with
an explanation relative to our duties to
eaoh otLcr, the object of tho order, our
| manner of conduct. &C., &c. There were
ten camps Ill the county, SO [ was told by
Mr.. Long, tho chief of the county The
organization did not exist in the county
b. fore November 1868, that know of.
l was initiated into the Unconstitutional
Union Guard" Ill 1869 by MIR. J. A. j.
Patterson-l never attended any of their
meetings. The oath was similar to that
of the Brotherhood, and understand its
object to be to preserve the constitution
as it was before the 14th and 10Th amend
ments were added. That was part of the
oath. The colored people were not allowed
to join. j. A. j. Patterson was the chief
of the county of the Union Guards, SO he
said. James Bradshaw, member told
me he was one of the crowd who helped
to kill Outlaw. He left the county when
Kinks men came to Alamance. Bradshaw
was the chief of camp in the vicinity
OF Oaks bordering on Orange county
He lived some ten miles beyond Gilbreth's
L
of the drowning Of Puryear Some time
during the adjournment of the Legis-
lature at Christmas, 'G8, [ learned that
ShOffner was to be killed on a certain
night. On the day of that night [ saw
Dr. j. A. Moore in Graham. | told him
what heard, and both agreed to prevent
1t. lie agreed TO go thai night and meet
the parties and have it stopped. He after
ward told me that he did go. and that he
nt
and that he succeeded in turning them
back. However, l suggested co the Doc
tor at first, TO say that Shoffnor was in
Greensboro, and that Mrs. Shcffner was
III very precarious condition, and if they
went they might commit two murders, in.
stead of one. He Stold me that he saw
Mr.. f. nj. Strudwick. Abe Hedspeth, and
James Bradshaw in the crowd. This
question was objected to, as Mr.. Moore
had been examined, and the question wont
be put to him.
Witness, DIR. Moore said he met them
in the road at Bradshaw's house en- route
for Shoffner's, and these three persons
were in command-Strudwick Hedspeth
and Bradshaw-they were leaders.
[ don't know myself about whipping,
but | know from members of the order
that great number of whippings took
place. j. A. Long told me that Trollin-
gers camp whipped Caswell Holt. Also
that George Anthony's camp whipped Joe
Harvey. [ was at home, at my fathers
the night Outlaw was hung. I heard no
noise, did not know anything about it
until next morning.
was Conservative candidate in my
county for the Legislature, but never can
vassed. I don't think the Invisible EN-
pire" existed in my county. I don't know
that l ever took all oath as o member,
though had some connection with it. It
was stated In the explanation that the or
der was called the White Brotherhood 80
that If person was put on the stand and
asked if he was member of the Ku- Klux,
he could state with truthfulness that he
was not. The order was generally known
as Ku-klux. The witness was handed q
list OF the names of the parties arrested by
Kirk, twenty of whom he recognized as
having been members of the order. ALI
know of the Stevens murder is this. His
body was found on Sundey morning, I
think. The next day. Monday evening, I
went over to Jacob Longs, in Graham,
fore, that Mr.. Joseph Long had come from
the Shops, and said that he had heatd that
Stevens was dead. Jacob Long, in this
conversation, told me that Mr.. Dickie-
who was at that time reading law with
Judge Kerr at Yanceyville-was at Ora
ham about eight days before, and told him
that it had been arranged-the plan for
Stevens death had already been agreed
upon.
Dickie was O member of the Ku klux,
Joined In Alamance. The witness was
asked to give a conversation that took
place between himself and MIR. Josiah
Turner, Jr., relative to Ku-klux.
MIR. Graham objected, as Mr.. Turner
had been examined, and no such question
had been asked him. .-...
Mr.. Boyden said he was asking the ques-
ton to contradict the testimony Of Mr..