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Records of the Assistant
Commissioner for the State of Texas
Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, 1865 - 1869
National Archives Microfilm Publication M821 Roll 32
"Miscellaneous Records Relating to Murders and Other Criminal Offenses Committed in
Texas 1865 - 1868"
Brazos Bottom
Burleson Co., Tex.
Dec. 18th 1868
Harriet Echols, Freedwoman
Testimony in relation to the killing of her husband Kit by his former Master John
Echols
Harriet Echols (Freedwoman) being duly sworn testifies as
follows ----
On Saturday morning before daylight (Dec. 8th)
Mr. Echols came to Phoebe's (my mother-in-law) house where I was in bed & commenced to
beat me. My husband was at the gin house baling cotton. The old man (Mr. Echols) went to
the corn crib & started to the house with a sack of corn. My husband Kit followed
behind him which I saw from the corner of Phoebe's house. This is all I know about it
until I saw the old man shoot my husband.
Harriet (X) Echols
Witnesses
Robt. (X) Graham Co. "B" 37th Ill. Vol. Reg.
W. T. Grant
Examined by the Agt. of the Freedmen's Bureau the
witness testifies as follows ----
Q. How long before daylight on Saturday morning did Mr.
Echols come to Phoebe's house.
A. About half an hour.
Q. How long had your husband been then gone to the press.
A. I do not know.
Q. Do you know that your husband had gone to the press.
A. No I do not --- I only heard so.
Q. When your husband followed behind Mr. Echols --- from
the corn crib towards the house --- do you know whether he had any weapon.
A. Yes he had a knife.
Q. Did you see the knife after he was killed & if so
where.
A. When I got to him after he fell the knife was lying
under him.
Q. Was it out of the headband.
A. Yes.
Q. In what part of the body was your husband shot.
A. In the right shoulder.
Q. Had you previous to your husband being killed heard him
or any other of the servants on the place make any threats against Mr. Echols or any of
his family.
A. No sir.
Q. Did not Mr. Echols frequently tell you & your
husband after you were made free that he did not want you to stay on his plantation. That
he wanted you both to leave & would not pay you for staying any longer. And did he pay
you or not.
A. Yes he often told us to go away & offered to furnish
wagons to move us. And he also paid us for all the labor we performed for him.
Q. State what your mother said about the wages Mr. Echols
paid you.
A. I don't know anything about that.
Q. How long did you belong to Mr. Echols before you were
free.
A. He raised me from a child.
Q. During the time you were his slave was he in the habit
of treating you & his other slaves kindly, supplying your wants in food, clothing,
nursing &c.
A. Yes he was.
Q. Since you were made free has he treated you or them
differently.
A. He has not.
Q. Was he ever in the habit of whipping you or others.
A. Not much.
I certify that the foregoing answers were given under oath
& are correct.
Harriet (X) Echols
Witness
H. Cooper
W. F. Grant
Freedwoman Phebe Jones recalled
Q by the agent of the Freedmen's Bureau. At what time in
the morning did you hear did you hear in the morning Mr. Echols in the house. (transcribed
exactly as written)
A. About sunrise.
2nd Q. Is the knife now in my possession the
knife Kit carried the morning that he was killed.
A. It is.
Phebe (X) Jones
Test.
Thos. L. Goodwin
J. C. Goodwin
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