Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1868-08-28
The Ku-Klux Khan.
THE LATE MURDERS IN TENNESSEE,

w .''Ss "NSn SuNc tAtc DEici paitOu-
lars Of the murder of Union man and
his clerk at Franklin, Tennessee by the
Ku-Klux Klan. Below we give the de-
tails: 1t appears that some twenty-fveo or
thirty of the murderers came into the
town, while the main body are reported
at two hundred to four hundred strong,
and is said to have remained within sup
porting distance outside. The name of
the white man killed was s. A. Bierfield.
He was young man and kept store
in the town, and although an earnest
Union man he was an inoffensive gentle
man. OF all who knew him none say
aught against him. He was quietly
sleeping in his store on Saturday night,
his clerk, who was colored, named Law
renee Bowman, sleeping also in the store.
Robinson's Circus was at Franklin that
day. The evening performance had
been over sometime A number of peo-
pie were still in town, when the masked
horsemen came dashing in. They dis
charged number of shots indiscrimi-
nately, driving everybody indoors. They
then went to Bierield's store and knock
ed at the back door. He asked who was
there. They replied, "friends." He
told them to go to the front door, and he
went to it himself and opened it. They
Immediately rushed in, and secured Bow
man, while Bierfeld ran off, He was
fred upon and wounded. BY the blood
they tracked MIN to an adjoining stable,
dragged him out, placed rope round
him, and put him on horseback. He
struggled to the ground and begged to be
permitted to see his mother before they
killed him. The reply was 6 your
mother. You shall die now." Several
shots were then fred into his body, which,
as those who afterwards saw it say, was
literally shot to pieces. Bowman was
then brought out and shot, and the as
sassins took their departure. Bowman
was mortally wounded, but dragged HIM
self to graveyard and died during the
night.
Another and later account confirms
the above and has the following:
At the time of this tragedy, the streets
were thronged with people returning
from a circus. As above twenty shots
were fred, it is surprising that no one
save those mentioned above was injured.
After the bloody business the horsemen
shouted /" Clear the street." and galloped
off unmolested. 1t would appear that
the citizens were panic-stricken by the
suddenness of the appearance of these
murderers among them and the number
of shots being fred, and fed from the
scene in all directions. Bierield was ex-
tremely radical in his political views,
and very bold in expressing them. He
kept small dry goods and clothing
store, and it is said that his customers
were almost exclusively negroes. The
negro man who was murdered was his
| clerk. About three weeks ago negro
who had been accused of rape upon
| Young white woman, was taken from the
all at Franklin and hanged by party
of Ku-Klnx. The next day a report
was circulated that the negroes intended
| burning the town. Intense excitement
prevailed, and large numbers came in
from the country to assist the citizens in
preserving order AS party Of these
men were returning home they were fired
upon from the roadside, and one Ezell,
brother of the girl upon whom the al
eyed outrage was perpetrated, was kill
ed. 1t is supposed that Bierfeld was
.hought by the friends of Ezell to be in
ONE way connected with this killing
hat he had supplied ammunition to ne
,roes, and had urged them to commit the
Iced. OF this, however, there was no
other evidence than the fact that the
greater part Of his patronage was de-
rived from that class.
, This affair will more than Offset all the
Z speeches recently made by the Confeder-
: ate Generals to the Legislature in oppo-
9 bition to the proposed calling out Of the
, militia for the preservation Of peace; and
. there can be no doubt that the Legisla
ture, which adjourned yesterday until the
: Dist inst, will Immediately on its re-as
Y sembling pass the pending& Military bill
: The cry for "peace" which was sent W
y from conservatives from all parts Of thu
1 State had had considerable influence OF
n members, and it was thought that tn
t fact Of the Legislatures being in session
it would have a restraining influence Of
e lawless men; and that it would be mucl
y less expense to prolong its session, thai
r to call the militia into active SERVICE
'e The only hope of peace in this State
n in the election of Grant and Colfax.
$, the election should result in the success
of Seymour and Blair, the rebels woul