Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-02-24

acknowledged it was so. There was liter
ally no discipline among them. Kirk said
in my hearing that he could not control
his Imen. Kirk came up and said 10 a
that he was going to be attacked, and
then said what has been stated about kill
ing the prisoners, &c. told him that
such attack did not accord with our wishes.
and that surely he did not intend to make
us responsible for what others did. He
hacked about and bullied q good deal
threatening again to shoot the prisoners.
Mr.. Hill then replied, il he wished 10
do so, to shoot. and take the consequen.
ces, that If he attempted to kill the pris.
oners, and women and children, he would
have q lively time of il. Kirk did
not drink at all. He frequently charged
Us with having killed Stevens. met Kirk
one day, and he remarked that he was
treating me better than lis orders would
justify. Repeated that 81 am disposed to
treat you kindly know how to treat Q
gentleman, and particularly man with a
sympathize with you. I treat You very
much better than my orders direct me TO-"
Remarked also that he was not the inhu-
man man he was reported to be, and that
if ever had occasion, TO please do him
justice. 1 will here say, that with the ex-
ception Of the times when he would curse
prisoners generally, his treatment to me
no charge against me. and did not believe
there were any. Repeatedly stated that
the prisoners would be tried by court
martial, and know he was fretted on
several occasions, because the court did
not come, as he said he had been prom
iseds The week before the prisoners
were brought to Alamance, Kirk paroled
DIR. Roam, Mr.. Bowe. myself and one
Oh two others. After arrival at the Shops
we were informed of having to come to
Raleigh; we were turned over to Bergen.
Got to Raleigh about 3 r. m. At the de-
pot Bergen made us quite q handsome
little speech-said that if any of MS tried
to get away-Mr. Hill interrupted him,
and said, with much emphasis, We won't
leave; all the troops you have could NOT
drive us off now ? Bergen told him
sit down, aud again commenced his speech
similar as before, when Mr.. Hill again in
terrupted him. We were then Informed
that we were to be turned over to Colon
Clarke. When Bargen heard this he be-
came very angry, cursed Col. Clarke,
Holden and all hands. Maj. Miller took
charge of as and conducted us to the
hotel. All the officers have treated US
with kindness and respect. L was carried
before Judge Pearson, but discharged by
Judge Dick. Was in prison five weeks.
was present at Caswell Court when
Messrs. Wiley, Roam and Jones were up,
having been bound over by Judge Pearson
to appear for the murder OF Stevens.
recollect distinctly that what has been
heretofore stated about Mr.. Solicitor Bulla
and Judge Tourgee said is correct. The
feeling between the races in the county was
very kind. don't believe there is q % ,ra
law abiding people in the world, than q
the people of Caswell.
The cross examination by Mr.. Smi''
elicited no new facts.
Mr.. w. B. Bowe sworn in behalf of the
managers, testified
live in CasweIl near Yanceyvile. Am
q farmer. On the 18th of July the Con-
gressional candidates were speaking, and
was up in the court house listening to
them. I don't know when the troops en-
tered. The first knew of their presence
was little before J. was arrested. l did
not know they were arresting ar
one. I afterward learned I was tb.4
one arrested. / was sitting dow
Col. Kirk came up and stood right be
me. / thought him rather impertinent
He asked me if my name was Bowe. told
him il was. He said was his prisoner.
asked him to show me his authority. Said
never mind. I again demanded the au-
thority. He cursed and commanded his
men to take hold of me and take me off,
AS many took hold of me as could. was
taken by men and officers. who cursed and
abused me, putting pistols to my head.
and saying they would shoot me. never
heard such yelling and shouting, the whole
crowd seemed like maddened demons
crying ''shoot the damned old Ku Kiux. I"
and such remarks. They asked for my
pistol. told them had none. They
then commenced dragging me down tho
stairs. resisted, and in so doing tore
| L. oF 4R a ma
nearly all the way down, while the others
were holding me. I asked them to turn mo
loose and letme have fair play. or make him
stop beating me. They pushed me into the
room down stairs at the point OF bay
onets: A crowd got In the doorway.
pointed their guns at me cooked, and
said they intended to shoot me. I moved
out of sight. About night we were ell
carried up stairs. From that time for
about three weeks there was o little cool
ness between me and Kirk and his men,
About three weeks after, the county COM
missioners were summoned together. l
was one of them, and MIR. Roam and Mr..
Jones, all prisoners--were others. After
we were through business, Kirk told
Messrs. Jones and Roam they could 60
home ON parole if they wished. He turn
ed TO mo and said that you don't seem to
want any favors. 1 replied that was
under no obligations to him. He stopped
a moment, and then said that might go
home until tomorrow evening, il l wish
ed to. I asked if I could 60 without
guard-that never would go under guard.
He permitted me to do 30, and after
that treated me quite respectful. Staid IN
prison about three weeks, was under pa
role another week.
was brought down to Shops. and on
to Raleigh. was discharged without be-
ing brought before judge. The witness
then described the conduct of the troop-
as compared to the Federals, who wer.
there OF the same time, and corroborated
what had before been said about their gen.
eral conduct.
Kirk ordered US County Commissions IS
to receive election re- urns. we declined
| 10 do it, being under duress. He then
appointed us military commissioners, and
we counted the votes and made returns.
The day before the election there was q
very large meeting of negroes in town.
Yates and Kirk both spoke, making very
infamntory speeches. Kirk told them that
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