Q. Was it some time prior to this difficulty—outbreak?
A. Yes; certainly it would be prior to this.
Q. How many of them had been suspended?
A. That I cannot say—a large majority of them, I think, that were on the road were suspended.
Q. Were there a large number of them suspended, and were without employ in and about the city of Reading?
A. It was generally so supposed.
Q. And the first dissatisfaction was among that class of men, was it?
A. Yes; and those who sympathized with them. There were differences of opinion among the citizens here. Many sympathized with the railroad company, and many, also, with these employés, and the feeling during the day of Sunday was very much against the Reading Railroad Company.
Q. That was Sunday, the 22d?
A. Yes; the 22d, and on Monday the general impression was here, with those that I had interviews with, that property and shops would be set fire to that night.