The New York herald., 1869-09-14

Discovery Of the Secrets and Organization Of
the ku Klux kIuns-Arrest OF a Band Of
Murderers, Thieves and Assnssins-Tlree of
Them Turn States Eyidence-Several Muir.
ders and Ontrnses Unearthed.
- - -. sS-.. SEYHERs, sept {. 1859,
During the past four months the counties Of
Lenoir. Jones, Greene ana Duplin, have been the
scene Of !aylesspess and crime, embracing every
species Of outrage known TO law. Gaugs Of fitr.
derers, assassins ana horse thieves roamed at will
over this section, committing depredaons upon the
citizens, without regard to race or color political
complexion. Among the most noted Of these out
RACES was the lynching Of white man and 1--WE ne.
sroes who had been iorc!ey taken from kins.c. TO-.
Jail, where they were confined On the
alleged charge OF desecra.ing grave
yard These prisoners were conducted by the
lynchers to bridge over the Neuse river ana
were there shot and their bodies thrown into the
river. Next followed the murder OF the radical
Sheriff Colgrove, OF Lenor county, while riding IN
bis carriage lrom his residence 70 the county seat
Several negroes were Killed, about which but little
mention was made at the time; and horse stealing
and house burning were OF such common occur
renee as scarcely to excite more than passing re-
mark. SO terrible was the condition OF AFFAIRS
throughout the country tina, the property person
Of no citizen safe, and the local civil authori-
were utterly powerless either to bring these out
laws 10 justice or 10 afford the people any protec-
ton. To-day gang OF negro desperadoes would rob
and burn the house OF white man or steal his horse
and tomorrow the Ku kluX would shoot or hang a
negro IN retaliation. such was the manner 10 winch
law was regarded, and reign OF terror constantly
existed among the peaceaby disposed, VINO were lI-
variably the victims Of either band OF outlaws.
In view OF the prevalence OF such crime and out
rage II became necessary for Governor Holden TO
adopt such measures as would speedily bring the
Accordingly "A
accompanied by iorce OF the state militia, were
despatched from Raleigh to Lenoir county, with
Instructions to ferret out the gangs OF desperadoes
who infested that section OF country to arrest them
end hold them for trial. After an arduous cam
paign this gratifying result was at length accom-
pshed, but only In q one-slded way. While the
detectives, who were radicals, and the militia, who
negroes, bent their energies TO effect the cap.
ture Of the white outlaws they permitted the negro
bandltu to escape unmolested, and thus in part de-
feated the ends OF justice.
In one OF their midnight haunts however, gang
OF men who had as they afterwards admitted.
banded themselves together as avengers Of blood
eighteen, and called themselves the &c. U. G.'s, y
Constitutional Union Guardsl better known as tha
ku Klux Klan. number OF them turned States
evidence, aud upon this and other testimony since
obtained the entire week has been occupied In a
this city Eight were brought into the court room
among them several citizens OF good standing II
Lenoir county Their ma names & were;IM n M9nroe paHe
son and Jeferson Perry, and they wer
etiohhcp ou Wmrhlts issucu Wy AHVhiup
charglng them with conspiracy, jail breaking
ana murder. on the sworn afidavts OF Joseph Par
rOtt and others, said TO be members OF the same or
ganlzaton The prisoners severally pleaded mot
guilty. Munroe, who Ii q lawyer, adding, ~ have
never consplTed against the laws Of my cOuntry.p
George W. Ihlow, Northern man, being sworn
tesuhea that ne had lived in Lenoir since th'
close OF the war; that he was one OF the frs
ten VINO assisted In forming the organization o
which the prisoners were members, in April O
he present year; the organization was called
the constitntl9,ns Union Guards, popularity known
aommondants-the South Commander being III,