Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-03-10
HIGu COURT eF IMPEACHMENT.
TW ENTY-BlXTH DAY.
SENATE CHAMBER. March l, 1871

twenty there, enjoying and behaving them
selves. Some disguised men came. bursted
open door, run in, shot off guns and PTS
tolls. Asked for Damon Holt. In running
after him they Knocked my little baby Out
of my wife's arms, it fell on the floor cad
they ran over it, stepped on it. and injur-
ed it SO that it died in about week. They
took Damon Holt, Green freeman and
Jerry Lynch out and whipped them. Trou-
bled no one else.
On Cross examination ny Mr.. Merrimon,'
he stated that he saw one of the men put
his feet on the baby, but don't know
whether he mashed on it or not. The
babv was Injured inside from the fall and,
running over by the men, and died IN
week. Never was sick before. Did not
have doctor to SEQ her. ~.
Polly Gappins, a witness for the respon-
dent, testified.
Questioned by MIR. McCorkle. i.
I am forty-six years of sge, live in Ala
m ance county. A little over year ago.
s 1me disguised persons came to my house
and pulled it down. have six In family.
Seven men came, dressed in white pants
and robbine, with horse hair beard. L and
my daughter Julia were sitting up by the
FIRE. It was the coolest night of the win
ter, though d dn't get cold, [ Vas so mad
I could not. We heard a noise out doors,
and Caroline looked out and said the Ku-
Klux were coming. They came up and
knocked. Julia said "come in, or SCI atch
under" They told us to come out. that
they were going to pull down the house.
We went out, and they pulled down the
house to the bottom log. l said ''pretty
every one. David Foust. John and George
Bsrbee, CASTOR Stafford, Joseph Petty,
land others namely all white.
| CrOss-examined by Mr.. MerrlmOn.
Question. What is your occupation.
| Answer. [ staid at home and attended
to my own business. [ was never married.
Have had seven children.
Q. How many negro children?
A. Not but one, L thank you. [ did
not keep common brothel kept decent
house, my neighbors will testify SO. If any
body slys anything else. they say false. l
got out q warrant against the boys. before
Justices Strout and Holt, but it seems like
they were afraid to do justice they dis
missed the case. | had four Of them
bound over to keep the peace.
VIM s. Bradshaw, witness for the re-
spondent, testified.
! Questioned by Mr.. McCorkle.
am fifty four years Of age, lived In Ala
nance, near Graham, was magistrate OF
the township. Have been magistrate
about two years. know Matilda Puryear.
The day after her husband was taken OF,
she came to me to get advice. She told
me about their taking him off, and asked
her why it was done. She said she did nj
know, unless it was because OF his treat
ment to her. I was member of the White
brotherhood, joined early in 1869. John
+, Stockard came to my house one day
and said to me that be had heard members
of the order were going to make raid on
the Mayor Of Graham, wv. =. Albright,
Bad
James Bradshaw. and stop it. L did so,
and that was the last beard of it. Stock
ard vas mem Der. [ can't tell how many
belonged to the order. I never attended
but two meetings. Jasper Woods was chief
Of toe camp. Don't know what has be-
come of Woods; he left the county Tbs
witness here mentions number OF per-
sons who belonged to the order. and de-
cribed dr~guises, Last meeting ! attended
was n April or May. No orders or DEGREES
made that light. At first meeting 1t was
proposed to go on demonstration towards
Greensboro, but the chief said if any Of
them did go, and any violence was done,
tho order would not be responsible for 1T
COlored people were not allowed tt
Join the order. Jacob Long was the chic
of the county. Don't know how many
camps there were in county. knew O.
some who belonged to the order outside
Of my camp. Some of the men Kirk ar
, rested belonged to the order. / can't say
that all did. Some others belonged to the
Constitutional Union Guard. The wit
| ness here mentions several of the personI
, arrested by Kirk who belonged to th'
! order.) I don't know of any iudictmen
against any of the members. I lad ne
, connection with the order when [ ha(
qualified as Magistrate. Never saw bu
, one man disguised, and that was the nigh
= was at meeting, when some persons were
initiated.
3 Gross examination by Mr.. Merrimon.
3 The Leagues existed before the Ku Klux
3 I took no oath to commit crime or violat
. the laws. 1t was no part or design OF tn
4 organization to overthrow the State o
Federal governments, or to deprive tn
q colored people of their rights under tn
Law. Obligation would not bind me no
4 to discharge my every duty as an officer
would issue a warrant 10 any one Whe
! applied to, to black as we'll as wbite.-
Would grant q warrant to arrest memoe
of the order as soon as any one else.
never attended but two meetings, bat ha
have been an active member my Obllgt
b ton to the order would by no means pre-
/ vent ne frGni doing my duty as an Office
> to all men and the government AS
= lPuryears wife, when she came to me an
s said they had taken her husband away,
- asked her why they did 1t, and she al
Iswered she did not know. unless 1t wa
q because of his treatment to her: 1 aske
9 what was tho matter. She said that b
q had whipped her severely last Monday
IS and had loaded his gdn, and eaid that !
n was loading it specially 10 shoot her Will
1 told her to go back and treat her hu
j. band we'll, and live like a man and wi
j. should. She said she was afraid to 6
" back, and asked me TO go over there an
10 do something for her. [ got several ge
d tIemon and went on over. Before gettir
le there told Der to 60 on to the house, an
Or we would go around through the wood
l. SO as to search about for him. aha aga
lg said she was afraid TO go, for fear he wou
Of kill her. But she told us at my hoase, IN
when he had whipped her. she threaten
TO him with the Ku-Klux and the JaW-haI
8, kers, saying that she would have him II
al ed for his treatment TO her we went
re- up to her house, but did not find hing.
asked the men what should do, and,
a. some federal troops were then at the Shor
an they suggested that I write to the OHIO
It, relative to the matter. That was the la
4 t%b;nn 1id ahouk IL Had il not ha