Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-06-29
How Conservative Citizens are Treated In
East Tennessee.


| A gentleman from Athens, Tennessee
furnishes the following statement OF iacts
which may be relied on as correct II
every particular, the facts having beer
proven before the magistrates who hao
cognizance OF the affair:
The eastern part OF McMinn county
which extends into the mountains, is in
tested by band Of desperadoes number.
ing from fifteen to twenty-rufiians Of
the basest sort, who, with the exception
OF some OF the younger members, pre-
tended to belong to the Federal army
during the late war;. and who have in
the last three years made several raids
in the darkness OF night upon the
peaceable families in the neighborhood,
generally defenseless, helpless widows
and orphans, breaking into houses, whip
ping and otherwise maltreating women
aud children, destroying furniture, and
making bonfres Of the scanty clothing
found. These midnight assassins are
connected in marriage or consanguinlty
with quite numerous circle OF families
who agree politically with themselves.
A few nights ago these villains visited
the house Of Mr.. W. II. Wetmore, a
peaceable citizen, and as inoffensve a
man as lives. After failing to entice him
out, they gave his house terrible pelt-
ing with rocks, thrice threatening with
horrid oaths to take his life if he did not
leave in ten days, and yelling with much
emphasis: "Yeu are the id rebel that
went South"
Last Sunday night, the 18th instant,
supposing that Mr. Wetmore was at
home and in bed asleep, though he hap
peued TO be absent at the time, they again
approached his house. Four of them,
with heavy fence rail, very suddenly
burst open the front door, and, with de-
moniac shouts and yels, rushed into the
room where Mrs. w. and her three chill
dren we're asleep, and Immediately com
menced throwing rocks and other missiles
upon the bed occupied by Mrs. w., be-
fore she could possibly get out OF it, baw-
ling at the top of their voices repeatedly
and with oaths too shocking to leave
here No such rebel shall stay here I'D
live here. We have come to take your
life; we have come to kill you, and we
are going to do it," besides uttering
many other threats of violence and blood.
At the same time some of the party
outside broke in the window, which was
protected by an outside shutter. The
shattered glass fell in upon bed, and
was followed by tables turned upside
down, sticks and stones. Mrs. w., though
severely bruised, succeeded in getting
herself and children under another bed.
The fends hurled an AK through the
room, caught up from the fireplace a
heavy andiron and sent it violently
against little boy az he was scramblng
under the bed, burning and bruising
him considerably, discharged Firearms in
the house, cut up chairs, broke up glass
ware, beadsteads, and other articles of
furniture, made two piles of clothing
upon the floor and set Ere to them, evil
deatIy intending to burn the house and
inmates. AT this juneture the oldest
son, lad OF seventeen, fired musket
through an opening in his sleeping room
above upon two of the party outside,
and wounded badly both of them,
knocking out an eye, and causing the
blood to flow so freely as to plainly indi-
cate their course to house more than
mile distant. Three of the parties have
been arrested and identified, two Of
whom have been bound over to appear
at the ensuing term of the Circuit Court
in August next; but the third one ar
rested is too badly wounded to be taken
from his bed at present
Another party, standing behind the
scene of blood and fire, will be found to
be involved in this great crime, for very
paltry consideration, and the aspect of
political persecution was put upon it for
a blind. KnorriHe Press and Herald.