Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1868-10-22

nights, pul OhCC VI I"iSc H"sO
heard of them in Fayetteville,
Tennessee. S
{ It's reported that they have
whipped several white and colored
people through the country, and
have hung one or two colored
people. i get this from reliable
sources. They knocked down
the Deputy Sheriff's door, rushed
in and searched his house, both
upper and lower stories. He was
not at home. They charged his
family not to tell that they had
been there. The Sheriff has since
resigned his office.
On the first Monday in. March,
1868, one Damphlin was shot by
them, and killed dead, and one
negro man was also shot and
killed, all in the town of Fayette-
vile, just, before the county cleo
tons. The election was contest
ed, and, consequently, another one
held. And on the day of the
second election, one Louge Con-
nors shot a citizen in the court
house,-just after he had put in
his ballot-twice, through the
body; however, he has since re-
covered. No arrests have been
made for these depredations, by
the civil officers, for fear of en-
dangering their own lives. '2
On Saturday night, the 18th
inst, a band Of disguised Ku
Klux came about midnight, tony
house, some, s or 10 lighted from
their horses, waking me up, com
ing into my piazza, raped on} the
door with their knuckles three or
four times, and hallooing hello!-
Noperson answering, they repeat
led their rapping again; felt the
latch-that the door was not
latched-rapped again immediate
Iy, struck match, and opened
the door a little. The ladies from
my bedroom screamed out. They
Immediately latehed the door, and
said, ''ladies don't be alarmed, we
will not do you any harm, We
want to see the man of the house
and will see the man of the
house, They raped again a
time er two on the door, saying
they would see the man of the
house. They again struck a
match, opened the door, and lit a
candle. The ladies again scream
led out in my ROOM L imme-
diately spoke out, "girls, don't
mind those FOOLS They then
said that they wanted me to.
come out there two minutes. u /
answered that | was in bed; for
them to come up and tell their
names and business. They just
answered me that they did not
do that. They demanded me to
come out there again, if l did not,
they would soon bring me out. /
told them to come to my window,
and I would answer them any
question that they would ask
They said / must come there,
and that soon. They immediate
ly rushed into my room, without
saying word more-two of them
Selling held of my arm, giving a
couple of pulls. The women
screaming in terrific screams. My
wife selling hold of my shoulder,
pulling against them. A third
one catching my right leg, which
| had against the bed-post. j
placed my left foot firmly against
the bed-post, so that it was shiver-
ed to pieces in the struggle. They
Immediately dragged me out
through both doors. While in
their hands, one of their number
rushed up behind them and struck
me on the head with a pistol, !
which caused the blood
to run freely. They Immediately
said to him 1.-THE man that struck
me "don't do that; you shan't do |
that" They sat me down in my
piazza, they standing around me
in their masked, disguised faces.
The women rushing about with
screams of terror. One of them
said to me "negro equality" II
Immediately replied, ''negro equal
ity, just sohat yoas made 1t, and
,rhere yoas left 1t, soith your hands
lifted up to the Most High God,
swearing that you would obey all
the proclamations, laws and ordi-
nances of this Government. l.,
with every man and wo-
man in Lincoln county, that was
able to get to. the Marshal, swore |
tothe same thing, and | have lived
up to it, I further stated to