Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1868-04-15
Fr0m INC Memphis I0sI.
THE POLICE FERRET OUT THE MEN
PHIS KUKLUX.
Some Of the Outlaws Arrested but Re
leased.
The Constitution and Oath IN FuI
They Propose TO Welcome White and Col
ored Radicals with Bloody Hands
to Hospitable Graves"

city have for some time been watching the move
ments of the Kuklux in this city and following its
members TO their den in Ferguson Hall, at the cor
ner Of fernando and Beale streets. The other
night the police Of the lower station made descent
upon the Klux. As the Grand Cyclop and his fol-
lowers began to disperse between ten and eleven
o'clock, the police, awaiting their coming upon the
street. quietly nabbed them up, singly and IL squads
as they presented themselves, and hustled them OFF
to the lower station. Some twenty were thus cap
tursd 1t was so happily managed that the "gbosts,
" inhabitants of the moon' resurected rebelR' or
whatever they call themselves, scarce knew what
up until they were ushered into the presence of
the Grand Cyclops of the police az the lower station
house. The prisoners joked freely about the wealth
en- but forgot their usual reference to the tyrants
"usurperz and the " fatal moon" They were de-
tanned until about one o'clock this morning when
they we're released. Upon the person Of all was
found mask of black cloth with holes fer the yes
but conceaing the remainder Of the face In the
pockets of one was found the constitution of the
order as given below. We could not obtain the
of the parties arrested from the police, but
are informed that Jack Campbell, late of the Ava-
lanche, was Grand Cyelops of the order. On the
table in the center of the hall was found human
skull, which required in the administering of
the oath given below. The following Constitution
betrays clearly the hellish purposes of the order
ORGANIZATION.
The name OF this den shall be thu Supreme Cy-
clopean Council, and lie officers shall consist Of
Grand Cyclops Vice Grand Cyclops and Secre-
tary. All funds coming into the association shall
be under tho control Of the three officers above
named, and two directors to be elected who shall
act as supervising council and their decision upon
all questions shall be final. The meetings shall be
called by the Grand Cyclops when he deems it
cesssry and shall be done through tho papers in the
cipher of the organization.
OBJECT.
The object of this organization is for the purpose
of oft no nd
of murderers and robbers now preyiDg upon them,
even tothe last we pledge
ourselves one to the other That nothing shall be al
lowed TO deyiate US from this noble object.
ENTRANCE
Entrance to the lodge room will be obtained
through the medium of two raps in quick success
sion TO be followed by two slow ones The Inside
will answer, is in God lie will then be admit
ted and upon giving the grip as detailed in another
place. he can take his seat.
INITIATION.
All candidates shall be bslloted lJr IA open eoun-
ell, and if any applicant receive three black balls,
he cannot be admitted. As soon as candidate is
elected, he shall be introduced by brother appoint
ed by the Grand Cyclops. The members OF the
lodge, all shrouded, viii rise and receive him and
conduct him into the middle of the room. Each
member OF the order shall have drawn dagger or
other weapon 10 his hand, pointed toward the can
presence of the candidate 70 swear that should said
candidate prove recreant to the oath which he Is
about take, that he will kill him, aud make it his
especial duty TO do the first safe opportunity
As soon the shFouded brothers have taken the
above oath, the following charge and oath shall be
administered by the Grand Cyclops, or, in his alb
sonce, the Vice Grand
" Here, in the presence Of this skull and The mem
bers here assembled, solemnly swear to be true to
the Order to its members individually and collec-
lively, and should ! ever, by sign, word, or deed
! betray q secret or member OF the Brotherhood.
that the skull upon which I now look may be
counterpart Of mine, aud hope that all The social
relations which now enjoy may be suudor Cd, that
honesty IN the men virtue in the females may not
be known in my family and generation and that all
who own my name shall be branded as dogs aud
harlots ] further TO obey implicitly tbs or
ders Of the Grand Cyclops regularly issued through
his Council, and IS soon as received an order ~
! fulfll il ] again swear that should member OF
this order be in danger that, even a. the risk Of my
life, / viii defend aud endeavor 70 save hin. That
viii give outward sign OF hint that persons may
/ know Of the existence CT the X. x. h unless au-
thorized BY TIE Grand Cyclops and that each mem
beT Of this order As soon the sign Is given i VIII
recognize, defend and protect as a brother. far
Their swear that / will, under and IN SIT cIrcUm-
stances, bear true allegiance o. the South and Der
Interests as interpreted by the Supreme Cyclopean
Council, and when / receive Ii5 ordera, should Be
even IN the en- brace Of my WIFE Will leave hei 70
| obey them. further swear that ali Radicals and
negroes wbo have placed themselves opposite 10 The
/ interests Of the owners IF the soil Of Fennessee
shall forever be my enemy, and thai under cir
cumssanos viii have other connection with them.
/ II can help IT, than ~ welcome them WITH bloody
hands to hospitable graves. That my family and
tie family OF Radical shall never interchange via
It's; and further pray hat Tie sod q ne South
/ land whom now invoke, shsil strike nas dead
should ever either IL letter OF IN sptri intsiage
upon the things set forth in tails cath. I2 al 81
which swear in honesty II hesgt sHd sincerity 1i
I purpose. So help me God.
In regard 10 the grip, your co-nnittee NoHia ~
port that the simplest plan and 81 the same time
? bost would be common meeting OF palms, AZ the
same time using the interlocsing Of iit-49 hngers'
and pressure OF the thumbs on The tseE o. tae
hand. Iour COMMITTEES viii practically explain ll.
The word Of danger We would suggest y o'slor ne
/ present Eii LON. Sa5acllGHi, which Ws would
recommend 70 ell members to commit - tner mem
ory. In regsrd to other things submitted e. your
committee We would rex foT further tI.nc and
w8uld excuse oGTseives upon the plea thgt ore %
our members has been sick.
The police deserve great credit f1r tkc manage
mens Of the affair Why the prisoners we're r.
loasad and not held 10 answer % the State law
against such conspiracies We do not know
-----%--s--.-------
The 18th Of April, three years ago, President
lincoln was sssassinate1 BY desperate play actor
who had sssoc'ated with him few members Of The
Catholic faith the conspiracy contemplated the
murder Of Seward and stanton bat f,i'ed in both