as the crowd had the prisoners, and after cheering in front of Richard King's house they left Kinston between 12 and 1 o'clock, going to their several homes. He saw no citizens out during the time. There were in the crowd at the jail Captain Harper, Henry Croom, Samuel Perry, Reddin Hines, one of the Hill boys, two of the Harpers, brothers of the captain, Joseph Parrott, Alexander Dawson, Mr. Tillen. The others he does not now recollect. On a Saturday, at Croom's distillery, some two weeks after the jail was broken open, he was at another meeting. There was present Kenady, James Perry, Jeff Perry, Sam Perry, Henry Croom, Smith, Alexander Dawson, Ashly Vaughn, Kit Davis, James Hines, Reddin Hines, three Harper boys, and a good many others whose names he does not recollect. Kenaday, at this meeting, told the members that Colgrove, the sheriff of Jones County, ought to die; that he, Colgrove, had just got loose from the penitentiary, and if they didn't kill him they were not true to their clan. Reddin Hines said it was all right; that he, Colgrove, "should go up." The camp determined then to raise a certain sum for Colgrove's scalp, and subscriptions were then made. Kenady said he would give $10, and, if necessary, 850. One of the Davises said he would give $5, and Croom, Smith, Reddin Hines, Jeff Perry, the three Harper boys, and others, also promised. It was understood that at the next meeting it would be decided who and how many should go and do the deed. At the next meeting he, Williford, was sick and did not gò. The Monday after the meeting he saw Jeff Perry in his field, and he, Perry, told him the arrangements were made, that Colgrove had to "go up," remarking that some of the best of the boys had to go, and if they did get him there would be one of the biggest barbecues ever given in Jones County." This conversation took place about two weeks before Colgrove was killed, and about some three or four weeks a big barbeene was given at Farm Valley by Jesse Kenady, Joe Parrott, and Jim and Jeff Perry, and others. He, Williford, went to no more meetings. He understood that the order was brought to Lenoir County by one Temple, of Wake County, who was a brother-in-law of Croom. After Colgrove's death Kenady told him there were but ten of the camp who were in it, or who were with those that killed Colgrove. Soon after Grant was killed, Ash, DeNanger, and Joe Parrott told him, Williford, they were present and helped do it. It was his understanding from the by-laws, and the charges given in the meetings, that the members were to do everything in their power to break up the radical party, even to burning their houses, killing them when ordered by the camp, destroying their property, &c. Test: T. F. WILLIFORD. QUENT BUSBEE. Affidavit of F. U. Blanchard. F. U. Blanchard, a citizen of Alamance County, North Carolina, being duly sworn, deposes and swears as follows: I was initiated as a member of the organization of White Brotherhood about two years ago. I was initiated by George Mebane; there were about six present, all in disguise, save Younger. Mebane was in disguise until after I was initiated, then he took off his false face. The others I did not know. After Younger and myself were initiated we were asked "what we came there for." I answered, I did not know. They said "we had you brought here to make something in the shape of a coffin for to put at Joseph McAdam's door to scare him." I told them that is something I cannot do. Some of the party told me that if I did not do it I would be hanged, and put a rope around my neck, and one of them run up a tree with a rope in his hands, and some one said "hold on." There the matter stopped. I assisted in making the coffin or box. I did this, fearing that if I did not, I would be punished with death, as I thought. After making this box it was left in the shop, which was an open one. On the next morning the coffin was missing. This coffin was finished on Saturday. The next I heard of this was that the coffin was placed at Mr. McAdam's door. I did not know the parties that placed at the door of Mr. McAdams this coffin. I never afterwards had anything to do with the organization, because, from the above, I was led to believe that its purpose were wrong, I would have exposed the whole thing at the time, if I had not been afraid being punished by death by the organization. I do not think any man could have been convicted by the civil authority, for the reason that we were bound to swear for our comrades, even to the extent of an alibi, and no power but the military could have broken it up. I never had a gown; I was never in disguise. This organization was for the purpose of the advancement of the interests of the conservative party. Sworn and subscribed before me, August 17, 1870. F. U. BLANCHARD. W. A. ALBRIGHT, C. S. C. J. J. Younger, a citizen of Alamance County, after being duly sworn, deposes and says: I joined the organization of Constitutional Union Guards about two years past. I was initiated in the woods near Sellars's mill on Haw River in said county. There were present five men, three of whom I knew, to wit, John Long, George Mebane, and F. W. Blanchard, the others were in disguise. George Mebane made a motion that a box imitating a coffin should be made to put at Joseph McAdam's door, but intended no damage; which motion was carried. Then F. W. Blanchard and myself were designated to make it, we both being mechanics. I insisted that I would not do it, as McAdam was a brother mason. I was told by George Mebane, "You will have it to make or you will be punished," and my understanding was that that punishment would be death. I assisted in making the box at the time I was ordered to do so. I was ordered to do this within two days after the meeting referred to. I made the coffin at F. M. Blanchard's shop, one mile from Big Falls, in said county, and left it in said shop; said shop stands about half open-no doors one end-entirely open half of one side. On the next morning the coffin was not there. The next I heard of this coffin, or one similar to the one I made, was put at said McAdam's door at his dwelling. I would have informed Mr. MeAdain of this had I not felt sure that I would be punished either by whipping, hanging, or drowning. I had a gown, but on reflection I destroyed it the day after the coffin was placed at this man's door. I then thought the organization was wrong; the purposes of the organization, as I understood them, were being perverted. I had nothing further to do with it; and I believe if myself and Blanchard had been arrested by the civil authorities, the parties who ordered us to make the box would have sworn falsely in the matter, and my impression is that it was generally understood that the organization or the members of it should do all they could to keep comrades from being punished by any authority, even to the extent of swearing an alibi. I never was on a raid; never was in any meeting but the one named above, and know none of its members, as I had nothing to do with it after the making of the coffin. J. J. YOUNGER. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th of August, 1870. W. A. ALBRIGHT, C. S. C. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, County of Alamance: Before me, a justice of the peace, personally appeared J. C. Whitesell, who being duly sworn, deposeth and says: I was taken into the society known by the name of White Brotherhood by John E. Clapp, in the month of April, 1869. Andrew Kuffman was sworn in at the same time: Thaddeus Ingle was sworn in at the same time; Jacob Kufinian at the same time. I don't now recollect all of the oath, but we were told that if ever I revealed the secret I would be punished by the order of camp. J. H. Albright is the first man that ever named it to me, and conducted me to camp. I was where they met, at Baulding's shop, Macon Apple was chief, and once at Cable's school-house, William Tickel was chief that night. John Wagner, and Jacob Wagner, and Lewis Huffins, and Peter Michael, and Joel Tickel, and Calvin Tickel, and J. H. Albright, appointed a meeting near the railroad last September, to elect a chief, at which meeting I was elected chief of the camp. The next meeting was near George Whitesell's, and I, as chief, administered the oath to George Whitesell, and Daniel Patten, and William Swing, and Joel Swing, and William Huffman, and John Curtis, and Alfred Whitesell, and John Huffman. Macon Apple's camp ordered that a negro man was to be whipped at a certain time, living at Robert Thomas's. Myself and Daniel Whitesell, and Rankin Lewey, and Patterson Whitesell, and Rankin Whitesell, and J. H. Albright, and Macon Apple, and Alson Burr, and others that I don't recollect-Macon Apple ordered that we should give so many licks. The next raid I was in was at Lewis Tickel's; the whipping of William Long, black man, myself and Rankin Whitesell, and Jeremiah Whitesell, and Daniel Whitesell, Rankin Low, and William Low, William Tickel, William Smith, Phillip Boon; we gave four or five licks apiece. It was ordered by the camp that met at Joshua Boon's still-house that Carter Cansey should be whipped. Myself and Rankin Whitesell, and Jeremiah Whitesell, and William Geringer, Joel Spring, David Thomas, Robert Fobish, and Jacob May carried the order into execution. J. C. WHITESELL. Sworn and subscribed before me this 6th day of September, 1870. J. A. NEESE, J. P. ROXBORO, PERSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, October 7, 1870. DEAR SIR: The first victim to Ku-Klux violence was Mr. S. L. Wiles; lived four miles south of Roxboro; an industrious and, in his dealings with persons, strictly honest man. The alleged charge against him was that he was living in adultery with a colored woman. (Can't say as to the truth of the charge.) The woman's name is Harriet Bran, who also, with Wiles, was cruelly whipped, and both of them driven from the farm he had rented for the year. The next and only other instance I can call to mind was against Wm. B. Hudgens; the supposed cause was that he was living on land the title of which is in dispute. The party not in possession had ordered him to leave the premises, threatening at the same time if he failed to do so within a certain time he would be Ku-Kluxed off. He failed to leave as ordered, and was afterwards cruelly and most terribly beaten by disguised men, (26 in number,) and forced to leave the premises he had leased for two years. Hudgens has always voted the democratic ticket; Wiles the republican. I don't think politics had anything to do with either case. Most respectfully, &c., Governor HOLDEN, Raleigh, N. C. P. S.-I had liked to have forgotten to mention the case of a Mr. Thomas, United States detective, who visited Roxboro on business pertaining to his duty, and, during the night, had a coffin placed at his door, with the following inscription tacked on it, to wit: "You and all other damned radicals had better leave these parts or else you will fill this furniture." A true copy of original letter on file in executive department of North Carolina. J. B. NEATHERY, Private Secretary. LINCOLNTON, NORTH CAROLINA, October 17, 1870. DEAR SIR: According to your request we send you the below list of names of persons that have been maltreated in Lincoln County: There are a number of other cases, but we cannot get their names. I certify on honor that the above is a true copy of the original report, on file in the executive department of North Carolina. December 20, 1870. J. B. NEATHERY, I believe this infamous order of Thugs existed here in the fall of 1867. Tobacco traders and distillers who were in the habit of evading the revenue laws, and more especially the tobacco peddlers to South Carolina and Georgia, were the first persons to become acquainted with the concern, and to initiate others in this region, and to practice the diabolical edicts of the order. Just before the Presidential election I had information that three councils of Ku-Klux existed in the county. One act of theirs was to attack and beat Stephen Bynum, a colored man, near Germantown. A number of masked men took him out of his house late at night, and whipped him on account of his being a republican. About the same time a number of masked men rode through the town of Germantown, and, while a party of colored people of both sexes were dancing, fired into the house and badly wounded a colored man in the knee. Various other acts have been committed at different periods, (of whipping.) Parties of masked men have been seen in many localities, and men of prominence have received letters containing threats of violence to them on account of their political opinions. Threats of violence have frequently been made to colored men who lived on the land of rebels, that they would be dispossessed if they voted for republicans. The proper authorities, who have been informed of these facts, were either afraid to move in the matter or did not care about it. Nothing has been done more than to make some little pretense. Please do not use my name. I certify, on honor, that the above is a true copy of a letter from Stokes County, on file in the executive department. December 20, 1870. J. B. NEATHERY, ASHEBORO, NORTH CAROLINA, October 28, 1870. DEAR SIR: Yours of the 30th ultimo is to hand. I am sorry to have to inform you that Randolph County is almost entirely governed by the Ku-Klux. I supposed before the election that there were a good many in the county, but I had no idea that they were half so well organized; but I am proud to say that my township gave a large republican majority. The Ku-Klux have not committed many gross outrages in this county, like they have in some others. Their object seemed to be to decoy as many as possible into the organization by making them believe it was not a very bad thing. They paraded through several neighborhoods just before the election, in order to terrify the most timid republicans, and by their threats, &c., make them stay away from the election. They knew very well who was easily scared. They have not been so bold since the militia was called out. If the republicans had not (some of them, both white and colored) been so easily intimidated and staid at home, we could easily have carried Randolph. It is very hard to know whom to put confidence in. I know a great many men who laid out during the war, who were whipped, kicked, and handcuffed by the rebels during the war, who are now among the Ku-Klux, and voted for the men that abused them so badly. I don't know that any person in this county has been murdered by the Ku-Klux. I only know of two that have been whipped; one was a colored boy, I think, by the name of Cheek, who was taken to Franklinsville last spring, in the night, and tied up and whipped in the village. James Brookshire, a colored man, was whipped at his own house last spring, and his gun taken away, and be forced to leave the neighborhood. One school-house was burned in 1869; it belonged to the colored people. A great many, both white and colored, were visited by the KuKlux, and severe threats made against them if they voted the republican ticket. Respectfully, yours, Governor HOLDEN. JOEL ASHEWORTH. Wyatt Prince, colored, being first sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, says he is a citizen of North Carolina, and a resident of the county of Chatham. In the month of July, while at home with my family, and all in bed asleep, a company of white men, masked, approached my house, and without giving any warning, burst the door in, and one of the number struck a match, and from the light thereof saw where I was lying, and exclaimed, "There he lies; come in, boys, come in ;" and immediately the house was filled with these men, who gathered around him. I attempted escape, when one of the number exclaimed, "God damn him; shoot him, boys, shoot him;" whereupon they commenced shooting with pistols, and wounded me in the right arm, left side, left thigh, and below my left knee. During this time I had moved from my first position, and they missing me, they endeavored again to strike a match, and not succeeding, I made my escape through a window and fled to the woods. For several weeks I was bedridden with my wounds. I am now a refugee from my home, and cannot return for fear of losing my life. These Ku-Klux frequently visit my house of a night, and have declared that if they ever catch me they intend to cut me open and fill my body with rocks and sink it in the river. My family are still in Chatham. I cannot go to them, nor can they come to me. My corn crop still stands in the field ungathered, and my cotton has been gathered in part by one of my enemies and appropriated to his own use. I believe I know four of the persons who made the attack upon me. Alvis Nash, colored, who brought the information of the outrage upon me to Raleigh, has been persecuted for the part of friendship he showed to me. His liberty has been taken from him, and he is under arrest under false charges. I am not sensible of having done any one a wrong. I attended to my own business, and only have given offense by being, as I believe, a true republican. WYATT PRINCE. Sworn and subscribed before me this the 21st day of December, 1870. his mark. W. WHITAKER, J. P. Vicey Baldin, colored, being first sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, says she lives in the county of Chatham, State of North Carolina; that about three weeks ago, at night, a mob of some thirty or more white men came to her house and arrested her husband, charging him with being a barnburner, and when they called him up to say what he knew of the barn burning, he said he knew nothing about it, whereupon they pointed their pistols and guns at him, and, with an oath, threatened to blow his brains out. My husband, with some eighteen or twenty others, are now held as prisoners in a house in the country, guarded by armed men, without the poor privilege of a trial, and contrary to the laws of the State. These white men, in order to torture from them a confession of guilt, give them drugged whisky, and then place a gun to their breasts and tell them to tell all about it or they will be shot. These colored men are told that they shall not go to Raleigh for trial, nor to Pittsboro, for if they do they will get clear, and that they shall have their trial in Chatham County of a night. Sworn and subscribed before me this 21st December, 1870. her VICEY BALDIN. mark. W. WHITAKER, J. P. Cilla Norris, colored, being sworn to tell the truth and the whole truth, says she is a resident of Chatham County; was at the home of Wyatt Prince on the night of the attack upon said Prince by the Ku-Klux; that she recognized, and is certain that she is well acquainted with, some of the said Ku-Klux. She is a witness against them, and they have notified her that she must leave the county and never return, and if she does, they will kill her; that she is now a refugee from her lawful home, and cannot return. She cannot state positively as to the number present on the night of the assault; the house was full, and the yard around the front of the house was full. They were all masked, but in the general confusion in the house the masks of some of them were removed, and she identified them as well as recognized their voices. She further testifies that the evidence given by Wyatt Prince is strictly true; that his wounds, though flesh wounds, were severe, and that he has now the scars on his body. her CILLA NORRIS. Sworn and subscribed before me this 21st day of December, 1870. STATE OF NORTH COROLINA, Wake County: mark. W. WHITAKER, J. P. I, John N. Bunting, clerk of the superior court of the county of Wake, certify that W. Whitaker was, at the time of taking the foregoing depositions, a justice of the |