Letters Received by the Office of the Adjutant General (Main Series), 1871 – 1880

National Archives Microfilm Publication M666 Roll 1

“Statements, depositions, and other records submitted by Gov. William W. Holden relating to crimes of the Ku Klux Klan against citizens of North Carolina, 1869 – 1871”

Vicey Boldin, Col.

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 barn burner 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 18 or 20 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 whiskey, 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.

Vicey (X) Boldin

Sworn and subscribed before me this 21st Dec. 1870
W. Whitaker, J. P.