The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-09-23
TIE TROUBLES II NORTH CAROLINA.
Disclosure OF Ku-Klux Secrets-Trials
a... In NeHbeTn

A correspondent of the Springfield
Republican writes from Newbern, n. c.. .,
Sept Sd as follows This has been a
lively week in Newbern for lawyers and
ncwsmongers, and so much talk of murder
and bloodshed is seldom heard A few
months ago Sheriff Colgroye of Jones
county was killed while quietly riding
along on the public highway. The mur-
derers were concealed behind blinds
made of bushes, brush, etc., set up by
the road away from any occupied
house. His body was completely riddled
Both before and since that time, in
Jones county, and Lenior. county adjoin
ing, men, both white and black, who
have expressed Union sentiments boldly,
have been foully murdered Horses,
mules, etc, belonging to colored men
who were trying to make a CROP for
themselves, have been stolen. In fact,
the exceptions in those counties are
where the stock of such people are not
stolen. 1t has always been vaguely un-
kIux nlan, whoever they might be and
men were often arrested and as often set
at Liberty by the verdict of jury. The
lst of last April, Capt Mowers, carpet
bageer, and citizen of this place, was
commissioned by Governor Holden as a
special detective, and ever s,i;ee he has
been working up the case, and endeav
oring to find the guilty parties, and ac
last has been amply successful.
SO close was he at the heels of the vii
aims that three men, Joseph Z. Parrott,
q. W. Tanow, and Joseph Lassttee,
turned states evidence, and exposed
the whole Klan. will give you some
of the princal rules, oaths, and oblga-
tions, together with the signs and grips
of this fendish band. as given to the
public during the present trial. They
call themselves Constitutional Union
Guards" Regulators. and ssKu klux
Klan. The principal officers are as fol-
lows; South commander, north COM
mander, east commander and west com
mander. The first ceremony is to bind
fold the ca 1ddate outside the room, he
being first asked, ''Do you believe in a
white man S government He IS then
taken inside caused to kneel, and with
the hands on the Bible, take the follow.
ing oath: Il solemnly swear that will
never reveal anything that has transpired
| or NAV transpire in the Order that L am
about to ioin, even should | not identify
myself Herewith +" Each officer admin
| istraters a different oath, Or exacts an OBJ
| legation if the person is about to join the
| Order. some of which are as follows: L
pledge myself if any of our number get
| in jail to bail him out if possible, if not,
assist in taking him out. If one ol
our number comes to trial, | promise to
get in the way Of the sheriff. to get sum
moned on the jury. and promise TO aequit
] the prisoner Il promise to assist q
member if he gets in trouble, even to the
risk of my life - Il promise to resist
any attempt of an officer to arrest one OF
our number, with force of arms if neces-
sary" In open meeting it was voted to
kill Sheriff Colereve of Jones county,
and Mr. NJ. L. Shepard. a magistrate
| because they had tried to arrest some
| of the Ku klux members. A commit
tee was appointed to do it, and both have
since been fotil!y murdered. 1t was voted
to kill other men, who are not yet dead
but have been warned TO leave the coun
! rv. and left. 1t is the duty of mem
! Der to obey orders. even to numbering g
fellow man, said witness. Il was order
ed to kill man, and | did it. The man
4 was named Grant and he was bad man,
and was going to testify in court against
oue of our members" The above is tie
testimony of witnesses who turned state 5
/ evidence. Grant was to have been wit
Iness in a case of illicit distilling, but he
lis not to be found Five men were taker
from che Leonora County jail. mouths