Q.  Did  you  hear  them  talk  ?  A.  Yes,  sir.  I  didn't  hear
them  talk  till  they  had  taken  me  out  of  my  house.
Q.  Did  you  form  any  impression  that  you  could  rely  on  as
to  who  the  men  were  ?

Mr.  MERKIMON.     May  I  ask  a  question  ?

The  CHIEF  JUSTICE.     Certainly.
Q.  [By  Mr.  Merrimon.]     How  do  you  know  they  came  from
towards  Alamance  ?     A.  I  told  you  I  did  not  know ;    it  was
supposed  that  they  came  from  that   way,   because   they  came
from  that  course.     That  is  the  reason  why.
By  the  Chief  Justice  [resuming].
Q.  Answer  this  question.  Can  you  form  an  idea  from  the
sound  of  their  voices  who  they  were  ?  A.  Well,  sir,  I  formed
an  idea,  that  is,  after  they  had  taken  me  out — at  the  time  they
had  me  in  hand  I  formed  an  idea.
Q.  "What  ?  A.  To  know  them  personally  I  didn't,  but  I
had  an  idea  who  they  were.
By  Mr.  McCorkle,  [resuming.]

Q.  Give  that  idea  ?

Mr.  MEREIMON.  He  has  not  laid  the  foundation  for
stating  an  impression.
The  CHIEF  JUSTICE.  The  presiding  officer  does  not
think  the  foundation  has  been  laid.
Q.  Did  you  hear  the  sound  of  the  voices  ?  A.  Yes,  sir,  I
did  when  they  took  me  out.
Q.  How  long  were  you  with  them  ?  A.  They  had  me  out
sorae  hour  and  a  half,  I  reckon.
TEIAL   OF   WILLIAM   W.    HOLBEN.  1209

Q.  Did  you  hear  them  talk  much  ?  A.  Yes,  sir,  they  talked,
but  they  talked  point  blank  like  a  parcel  of  geese.  It  is  hard
understanding  what  a  parcel  of  geese  say.
Q.  You  say  they  remained  an  hour  and  a  half  with  you.
