The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1869-01-22
ARKANSAS--FRUITS OF RAD
ICAL POLICY.
Outrages by the Militia---Three Of
Them Hung.


MEMPHIS, January 16.-Last night
nine militiamen, from the forces at Ma
rion, Arkansas, went to the house OF
widow lady, whose name is withheld ut
the request Of numerous relatives here,
and outraged her three daughters, aged
sixteen, eighteen and twenty, after help
| ing themselves to such things as they
wanted. Information of the affair was
given Colonel Watson, commanding the
militia, who this afternoon succeeded in
arresting all the guilty parties. The
greatest excitement exists at Marion.
But for promise of Colonel Watson
that the villains shall have stern justice
mcted them, doubtless the community
would now be in arms. Another party
also went to the house of Jefferson
Beeves, near the same place, and out
ragged his wife. They then went to the
house of Mr. l., Kepron, County Clerk,
maltreated Mrs. Watson, an elderly lady
from New York, living with him. This
party has not been arrested rs yet.
| From the Memphis Avalanche Of January ~
| All accounts from Crittcndcn county
are of similar import, and confirm the
worst that has been told concerning the
conduct of the militia toward the citi-
zen. The negro militia are rowing over
the, country in strong armed squads,
iaking every thing they fancy aud de-
stroying much that they can not carry.
a reign OF terror prevails which is dit
| ticult to be understood abroad. The
worst days of the war have returned
upon the people. All business is sus-
pended, and the people are afraid to
complain or attempt to escape.
Day before yesterday gang of the
militia went to the house of Mr.. Jack
Ware, near Marion, an original and con-
sistent Union man, and sacked his pre-
misses of every thing valuable. He was
well to do in the world. but the work
of nearly lifetime was swept away
before his eyes in an hour. Many 9TH
er citizens in the neighborhood were
treated in the same manner.
On the same day party of the ne
gro militia attempted to outrage the
persons of four highly respectable white
ladies-Mrs. jeff. Reeves, Miss Sweep
ston, daughter of the newly elected
Radical County Clerk, and two others,
names unknown. BY some means they
were foied in their damnable attempts,
and several of them were arrested
The officers threatened to make exam
piles of them, but so far all examples
have been on the other side.
Last Thursday night we learn the five
citizens who have been held as "hosta-
ges' were hung up by General Upham
until life was nearly extinct, to try to
force them to disclose facts supposed to
be in their possession. Nothing, how
ever, was elected, as the victims of this
torture probably knew nothing to tell.
| When cut down it was found that they
were nearly dead, and one of the mum.
Der was restored to life with great diff
Guilty. This statement comes from a
reliable freedman, and is supported by
respectable testimony. Friday night
three of these citizens were spirited
away and have not since been heard
from. Their'fate is unknown, but no
one, knowing the reckless character OF
the militia, would be surprised to hear
that the gentlemen so long incarceratcd
and tortured without cause, except mere
barbarism, had been murdered in the
woods. Two others are yet in Jail al
Marion, and have but glimmering hopes
of liberation or even life.
We are satisfied that the tenth part Of
the many outrages committed daily by
the militia in Arkansas has never beer
published, and probably never will be
The means of violence and oppression
are abundant, but the complaints of thu
wronged people travel on tardy wings
1t was reported Yesterday that thu
negro militia had nearly all left thu
neighborhood OF Marion tor Mississip
pi county, above, where they will, o
course, re-enact the fearful scenes o
plunder and ruin, and personal injury
perpetrated in other portions of the un
fortunate State.
MEMPHIS, January 20.-Three of thu
NEGRO militia were court martialed anC