Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-03-19
RILIEDN MASK.

TragicaI Result Of a Practical Joke
shrouded BTasker Shot Dead by a
Negro.
A startling sensation report was current
upon the streets yesterday morning TO the
effect that one of the Ku-Klux Klan had
been shot dead by negro, near McWhirt-
ersville, on the night previous. A sum-
mons reached Coroner George w. Nor
veil, who at once left the city for
the purpose of holding an inquest upon
the reported dead man, and upon arriving
at the point where the tragedy was
said 10 have occurred, found a portion
Of the story true. The body had been re-
moved 10 McWhirtersYille after an in
quest by Esquire Jerry Bowen, who had
at first objected TO take upon himself what
was really the duty Of a Coroner.
The testimony taken by Esquire Bowen
was entirely that Of negroes, who were On
the premises where the shooting occurred.
II ran TO the effect that about o'clock
Tuesday night, man wearing mask and
enveloped in a sheet, had knocked for adj
mittance at a house one mile and half
this side of McWhirtersville, occupied by
a negro named Bob Anderson, or Bender,
or Gillem, all of which names he answered
to. Anderson refusing, the visitor de
clared he would force the door if it were
not opened, saying he had business there
and wonld kill the last one of them. At
this, Anderson got down an Enfield rifle,
the barrel of which had been smoothed,
and opening the door fred upon the intru
der, who fell, pierced by fifteen buckshot,
and died in half an hour, grooming 10 ter
rible suffering from the wounds. The shot
all entered his chest, and tore and mangled
the fesh in a shocking manner.
The negroes about the place were too
much frightened TO ascertain the extent of
the unfortunate mans injuries, and all
night long he lay at the door of the house.
In the morning, when the mask was re-
moved, to the astonishment of all. the fea-
lures of Henry c. Blair, young man re-
siding at McWhirtersville, and who had
always borne an excellent character at that
place, were disclosed.
Bob Anderson was Immediately put I'M
der arrest, but as soon az the testimony
was heard, Esquire Bowen ordered his re-
lease. He is a negro said to be of vicious
nature, and not at all liked in the neigh
borhOod where he lives.
The mask and garments found upon
young Blair were not the mask and robes
worn by the Ku-Klux Khan, and, indeed,
no branch of that organization exists at or
near McWhirtersyile The mask was one
OF the kind to be seen every day in our
shop Windows, and bore no resemblance
whatever 10 the dismal cowl of the Ku-
klux. Ii is supposed that the design Of
Blair was simply TO brighten the negroes.
There Is nothing to indicate that his inten-
tons extended beyond this. The stories
of the midnight wanderings of the Ku-
kluX, and the universal terror of the blacks
probably put it into his head to play the
practical joke which terminated so fatally.
Some of the negroes testified that several
persons who were with Blair ran away
upon the discharge of the gun, but this
story was not credited. The following is
the verdict of the jury which held the in
quest:
We the jury, empanneled TO inquire into
the cause of the death of Henry c. Blair,
do state from the evidence introduced be-
fore Us, that he came to his death from
gun shot wound from an Enfield rife in
the hands of Bob Anderson, alias Bender,
alias Gillem. o. B. Mershon, G. I. Stan
field, Robert Edwards, E. B. Graves and
James Buchanan. J. Bowen, ]. P.
Though this tragic affair created great
deal Of excitement at McWhirtersville,
where the relatives of the deceased reside,
it was the general opinion that the negro
Anderson was, under the circumstances,
justified in the act, and little disposition
was shown to moles. him.