Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-02-10
EIGHTH DAY.
SENATE CHAMBER. Fe

EIGHTH DAY.
SENATE CHAMBER. Feb. 4, 1871.
The point under consideration at the adj
Journnent yesterday was the admissibility
of the Hotel registers of the National and
Marlborough Hotels was taken up.
Mr.. Graham insisted upon its compe-
tency, and cited authorities to sustain
him in his position.
Mr.. Smith insisted upon the admission
of tie other signatures referred to as well,
and cited authority.
The argument was lengthy, participated
in by the counsel on both sides.
The Chief Justice decided the evidence
offered inadmissible.
Mr.. Manager Sparrow asked the sens
of the Senate.
Senator Graham called for vote of the
Senate, on the ruling OF the chair; yeas
and nays were called by Senator Robbins,
of Rowan.
The opinion OF the chair was sustained
by a very large vote.
Isaac E. Reeves, witness called ON be-
half of the Managers, being duly sworn
testified:
1reside in the State of Tennessee, Wash
ington county. Am lawyer by profess
sion. I have known George w Kirk.
knew him during the war by reputation
! only. Kirk has been residing il the same
town in which 1 reside, Jonesboro', for
about two years I think. He resided in
| the county before that time, bat moved
to Jonesboro' about two years ago. He
has a family. He resided there last sum
mer. He removed his family from Jones'
! boro' about the Both of June. l do not
know to what point, but understand it
was in the country. He left the village
! and went into the country in the State of
Tennessee. He left Jonesboro' for Wash
ington City, so he reported, about the
middle of June. He and two or three
| so they reported They returned In
! the latter part of June, and remained
a day or two, think L remember Kirk
was very busy making preparations to
move his family into the country. L saw
them when they started. He was absent
from then until some time III December.
saw him when he got off the train, and l
spoke to him. He told me he had re
turned. When he left in June he did not
tell me where he was going. When he
got off the train had a conversation with
him in reference to where be had been.
[ said to him that he had got his name
connected with the newspapers good deal
since he lett, and he laughingly remarked
he had. l only talked with him about five
minutes. He said he had been in North
Carolina. I don't know that he said he
what were talking about. 1 know we
mentioned bis being over there. That was
the understanding that he had been over
there. but [ don't remember his exact
statement. He has resided in Tennessee
since his return, and think in Washing
ton cOunty-the same county he reside d
in before he left. He has resided in that
county since 1868.
The question was asked whether he
fCJIf no nho onfn IF
Kirk.
Here a long argument followed by
counsel on both sides as to the admissi-
bility of evidence touching upon his
(Kirks) character.
The Chief Justice decided the evidence
competent to be confined to the character
as would be likely to be heard OF by the
respondent when he sent to employ him.
Mr.. Reeves testified
know the general character and repu-
tation he made during the recent war. I
have known him since personally. His
general character there was of being des-
perate man-notorious-m erciless. Hewas
criminal-that is, while he was military
officer am speaking of. He had the rep
utation of being violent man. His repu.
tation was notorious.
I know B. G. Bergen. He came to
Jonesboro' sometime during the winter of
December or January. He came there as
an attorney and was admitted to practice
at the bar. He brought his family with
him. He made no investment there of
real estate, but claimed Jonesboro' as his
home, and said he would make it his flu
ture home. He remained there until June
sometime, and left, leaving his family. He
left about the middle of June and was alb
sent several days returned and remained
kwv0 Iofk
absent until December. He returned in
December, and then removed his family
from Jonesboro'. I do not know where he
now is. He is not there now.
I know III. @. Yates. He is known as
Clay Yates don't know exactly his age,
but / suppose he is about % years of age.
He is voter. In May, I think it was, he
announced himself as q candidate to rep
resent the county of Washington in the
Legislature. I supposed him to be of age
from that. He resided in Washington
county. know him personally. I know
another Kirk, one 8. s. Kirk, when I see
him. Have only seen him twice. had a
conversation with him in July, about the
10th, and he then told me he was going
around to his brothers command in North
Carolina. do not know his place of res
idence, but / have always understood that
he lived in Washington county. I don't
think ever saw him more than twice.
have known George ". Kirk four or five
years. Did not know him personally be-
fore the war. Did not know his general
character before the war. The character
I give was acquired by him during the
war I understood he was Colonel of a
Federal regiment during the war. His be.
hsviour since the war, go far as have seen,
has been that of a comparatively quiet cit
izen. except few months when he was in
the militia service. Then he roade a rep
utation during that time for cruelty. The
times there then were rather turbulent. /
only refer to his character when he was in
the service.
He was in the militia, after the war;
His reputation there accorded very we'll
with what il was during the war, while he
was in the Federal service-except I do
not know of any murders perpetrated. I
know he was terror to the people of mid
die Tennessee. / mingled with them q
good deal there, while he was in the ser
vice.
Senator Moore submitted a question to
witness, as to whether he (witness) knew,