New-York tribune., 1868-06-29
HU-KLUX KLAN IN TEXAS.

II
OFFICIAL REPORT OF LIEUT.. D. L. STILES, U. S. A.
An abstract of the report of the officer di-
rected by Maor-Gen Reynolds, Commanding, to nvesti
gate and report in regard to the alleged outragcs Of the
Ku.Klux Klan in Texas Is as follows on the 2Oh Of
Nay proceeded TO Waco NcLennan County, and there
Mrs. Dial, q widow. Mr.. Crouch informed me, under
oath that on or about the night Of April - 1865 the
came into Ills house and forced his wife to open the door
Three men-Wm. Eritt, VIM. Pruitt, and Joseph Webb
searched the premises. They presented their pistols III
Mr. Crouch's face, and threatened 10 shoot him
II he ever fed or harhored any OF ms ITenuS,
may OF whom lying out in fear Of the mob. Ater
ordering Mr.. Crouch leave the county they left the
house, and joined band OF dozen men VINO Waltcu ou
side. Fearing violence Mr.. Crouch left his home and
moved TO McIernan County He afterward returned TO
ms place for the purpose Of getting his stock ana some
cotton he had left in his fight hut could find nothing
He was informed that the property taken possession
OF by the mob The Lee Observation-Disclosures OF vi
Croucl-were lying ont at the time, and thus escaped
they afIerward fed to Arkansas. Mrs. ba
accompanied the lieutenant as far as GalesVlhea e
in search Of her younger brother who had been reor'd
killed On the 2lst Lieutenant stiles proceeded TO Perry
and took the statement Of Mrs Jnlia T. EelngtOh, u.
o'clock several to her house about six miles
north Of MOOwu, I'm Bell County and ordered her nus
band 10 Get M and make light which he did. He
then ordered come " doors until they could search
the house Mr.. Eclngon refusing to come out they re-
tired for about 80 minutes and then returning, two men
went into the house Mr. Eelingon told his wife to sit
on his lap which she did At this moment one OF the
on the night of April o. 1863 about IL o'clock number
OF men came to the house of Mary Shackeford at
Perry aud insisted entering Mrs Shackeliurds son
George young of y, proceeded To open the door
when ho shot and Instantly Killed on the threshold
younger son, Albert Shackelford, seized lille, and
firing into the crowd caused them To nee. At daylight
in the morning the body Of Edward s. jackson, one OF
the mob found near the house. The body 0 te man
was taken away shortly after sunrise, by John Bazze
Rebel captain, and said 10 be leader OF the mob
Mr.. 4. WeahcIford. under oath, said dslOva men in
the county say that they viii not allow Union mhn to
live there neither viii they allow loyal man TO dispose
Gacsvilc Corycll County, where Mr.. Erzcnsh schoon
overs statement was taken on the 2ith Of May, rs fo
lows viz: That at about o'clock p M on lhe ~ Gi
April crowd OF men came to her fathers house in bs
County about three miles souih oi ferIy r d Petrr
Benjamin schoonoyer and ms sons ntoIEo obad nu tbe
ont OF tie house; six men then entered ana Fc,cIo ~
place after which they went ont ana hrcd eva IL @
at the schoonoyerS killing the ou r Ir"n "''
George. Peter was fired at bni 81 ~, Wm w Allen
CoTniy J,d~a - t6ryt County, was taken at Gates
D',, in rs follows That on the st of May, l. H.
brotherin-law. W. II. Lce. Judge Allen says that lac
acted n a suspicious manner aud locked MN up. No
complaint was entered against Mr.. D-l, nor were the
proceedings OF the examination entered upon MS "Oike'
lli- confinement WAS made IN an Informal ana Illegal
manner on the same night the unfortunate man was
taken ont of ja and hung to tree by mon supp3'td
10 bc the ku-kluN. Al the Information mat coud De
obtained IN regard W. II. Ice, that hc was seen
about 10 miles south of Gatcsve on the day before al
was arrested and on thc next uA{ ms H"l,, di @ Sp P
eight miles north 0f Gatc,,ile In his shirt and drawers
will his rcyolycr I'm hi. hand.
sheriff Hammock had possession OF Dlal's and Lees
hOr-Cs. Sc. the Lieutenant went 10 his house Tor inc
unrpns of rcroyriine fbc property for Mrs Dial when
HE sbrn aid he lad sold Lees horse for S5 currency,
by order Of Judge Allen. and that Diars horse had
citcrani could learn from tht freedman that Lee
shot and murdered while ON horseback, and that the
shcrH's sou had gone 70 Kansas with DAhs horse Inc
following is the exact language Of the report:
Judge Allen and Sheriff Hammock were both very
much alarmed at the questions asked thrm' aud urea
every way clear themselves. IL Is my opinion mat
the Judge IS . dupc, aud that Hammock twhom have
known over yelI, aud always considered hHiuei9u'
vlaD was q willing assistant m a the murders ~ Cor.
yr County. lie is rioous Rebel aud lied TO me several
David srs,uns was chased from The lower part OF Bel
County 10 CoryeIl County where De was killed and
Eivcr Tie fanilies Of both these men have Ned from
that part Of the state aud no Particular coul Be Hd;
II was also reported to me that man name % hHi4aII
had been killed. but the family having lci conld ect
A ~ the men killed by the mob are charged wl,hbcns
horse-theves hut could not tnd man who could cay
word against tlcm or charge them Win any unlawful
acts.
John Bszze said obe tho leader of the mob very
loud Ia his dcuuucaiions Of the murdered men "d lhe
kgd his dog, which alcrWaid asccrtain,d wac pui-
1u,s ,e Ih vas Eiurd at saciriforis house was
leading the stolen from Mr. Dal few days before
this horse afterwards branded In Jacksnns brand,
and while In Bell County found Bazzc riding him and
wearing Jacssons revolver. also saw revolver ~ to
s,r II had me initials n IT, T. cut ON the handle r.
gel accounted for this, saying he purchased II or man
There appears be regularly organized band in Bcn
County for the oppression and eNtermiuatiOn Of the
Union element By referring 10 the statement of Judge
Allen n Wi be observed that tc0c words are erased VIZ
"JoAu Barr the Revenue Collector, INFORMS me that the
friends of Jackson said that would take Elk of iEc-o
hoIsc-thcycs 20 pay for Jackson Ih" judge Is positive
that tis was said but would not swear io H. or allow u
10 be- known that he or Barr had mentioned he subject,
for fear Of beng mohbCd by the party and thus u was
with everybody with whom cOuycredthey aIc ~ such
dread Of This mob that 10 with the greatest difficulty
that ! could get any facts whatever.
From an at could learn, o. is very evident that the
Rebel, in Bel County have determined 10 klH or dnyo
cvery loval Union man from the county. Thi. they
doing every day and after they get rid of Tire men, they
seize an their stock whatever they can 10y their hands
on 20 that instead II killing h0rsctcNos they prove 10
Jo thieves aud nurdCrcrs themselves.