New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-24
Lice IN NORTH CAROLINA.

For several months past the mails nave oeei,
burlened with reports of outrages by orgaliNeu
gangs of thieves and murderers III NorVh Caio-
| lima. Horses and mules have been run OH from
the farms of the freedmen and white RepuDii-
cans DWELLINGS, have been pillaged, houses nave
beon burned and numbers of men have been
shot down by the roadside, or otherwise de-
I;horatelv murdered. The Democratic papers
If the North have affected to disbelieve the
| stories or at any rate to deny thaI
the crimes were committed by secret
| oroanization. So earnestly, however, have
| the State authorities pursued the desperadoes'
that twenty have been captured. many more
have turned States evidence, and in prellm-
mary examination of the prisoners at New
berno the secrets of the league have been 80
clearly exposed that no doubt of its character
and purposes can any longer be entertained.
It seems that last January five cOlored men
and one white man, confined III the Lemon
County jail at KinstOn on charge OF desecratihg
graveyard. were taken out and shot by
company of regulators, and their bodies thrown
into the Neuse River A special officer was
appOnted by Gov. Holden to trace out the
perpetrators of these murders, and at the same
time to detect the band of outlaws who had
long infested LcnOir and the adjacent coun-
ties For a long time bis efforts were unayail-
ing. The citizens were terrified into silence,
and the local magistrates were AFRAID 10 rehder
any assistance. Sheriff Colgroye OF Lenoir'
who had caused the arrest of one Hines, q
member of the band, was murdered Several
negroes were killed, andmany other persons were
threatened. AT last, in August, sufficient tcs-
timony was obtained to justify the arrest of
eighteen persons. and others were taken after
ward.
(, The preliminary examination began before
Judge Thomas at Newberne on the 3lst of
August. Some of the prisoners were charged
with murder, others with robbery, Others with
arson; but it was proved that they all be-
longcd to regular secret band. Three men,
bers of it, George w. TillOu, Joseph p. Par
rott, and Joseph Lassiter turned States evil
dence and testified that the name of the or
ganizaton was the Constitutional Union
Guards though it was popularity called the
Ku-Klux klan. The first officer was styled
the South Commander; under him were
North, East, and West Commanders,
and various lower subordinates. The
members at initiation we've asked, Do you
"belieye in white mans governments Do
YOU promise TO labor faithfully for the over
" throw of the Republican party 2" They were
sworn to resist clcroachment upon their rights
If necessary 10y force of arms; TO obey I'M
plcity the commands of their officers even to
the extent of murder; and never to diVulSc
what was said or done at their meetings. OF
any other secret of the order. They were
bound to rescue any of their comrades who fell
=. Al, Js NJ ba laW elf
them out of jail or breaking them out, or swear
ing to an abb, or by getting on the jury and
standing firm for acquital whatever the evidence.
In their secret meetings they sentenced Sheriff |
Colrrove TO death and planned the manner OF
his assassination. They voted the dea'h Oh u
detective named Wilic, magistrate named |
Shepard, and Goya loldcns special oihccr' |
Capt. Mowers, though fortunately their bloody |
designs were not carried out III iuil negro |
named Grant who was expected to TESTIFY |
against some of them was killed by order OF |
he South Commander. Two of the gang who
got into Jail at Kiuston were forclby released |
,y their companions. About forty Union men |
ire supposed to have been as'aSslnatod by them
since the close of the war.
Whatever absuIdty there may be in The |
rips and passwords and secret ceremonies OF
icse Ku-Klux gangs, there is horrible real
ty in their work, and we cannot afford to
augh at their grotesque antics. Most OF the |
have been held for trial at the next
erm of tho County Court, and one Of the
most conspicuous-a lawyer named Monroe-is'
meanwhile committed without bail on charge
Of murder. The trial will very probably
result in further development OF
he extent and political affiliations OF |
he organization. 1T present we know that it
comprises about 100 members in Lcnor and is
llso spread over tie adjoining counties; that
no chief objects OF its hato arc freedmen and
prominent Republicans; and that its watch
words are death to the niggerm and down
with the Radical party~
TIE FAT MOVEMENT