The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1870-08-10
[From the Raleigh IN. c. Sentinel.l
'.KIRK,s LAIBS.1
DOings Of the North Carolina Militia
Arbitrary Arrests and OutraEes-
Whipping a Railroad Agent.

The following letter sets forth in detail
the brutal manner in which Kirk and his
| desperadoes are executing the Governors
orders 1t is from one Of the highest re-
spectabilGy:
GREENSBORO, N. c., July 49, 1870.
GFNTLEAIEN-On Sunday night Kirk
eamped SIX miles from Yanceyville, with
his Alamance prisoners, seven in number.
One of these, old man Henderson Scott, is
about sixty-five years of age, and for many
years cripple. Yesterday (Nonday) was
the appointed day of General Leach and
Mr.. Scott, candidates for Congress, to ad-
dress the people of Caswell, Kirk, with a
portion of his command, ABOUT $50 in
number, reached Yanceyville about half
past one o'clock in the afternoon, lust as
Mr.. Scott had commenced his speech; filed
his men into the enclosure and around the
Courthouse, then filled with people, and
| then placed his guard at the entrance of
the square, with orders to allow no one to
pass out. He then proceeded to arrest
Sheriff Grinth, the Hon. John Kerr, Hon.
Samuel P. Hill, DR. n. Nj. Roam, J. NJ.
| Neal, the former Sheriff Wiley. and ten
others OF the most respectable, law-loving
and law-abiding citizens of the county.
No cause assigned, and no warrant of au-
| thorty gwen IN any single instance. These
men, as they We're arrested, were confined
IN the various rooms of the courthouse,
! the Alamance prisoners having been con-
lined IN one of the rooms when the COM
maud first arrived Colonel Withers, who
is an officer of the county, occupied room
IN the courthouse, was forced by Kirk to
vacate his room for this purpose, and to
remove his bed and baggage. While
Leach was speaking, a squad of soldiers
was sent into the court room to arrest one
OF the oldest and most respectable citi-
zens Of the county, w. B. Bowe. The
| officer in command asked him if Bowe was
his name. Upon his replying that it was,
| he was told to consider himself under ar
rest. by what authority ?' asked Bowe.
In a much louder and more insolent tone,
| the same thing was repeated Consider
| yourself under arrest, sir, and at the same
time the officer put out his hand as if to
take HIM by the collar, when Mr.. Bowe
put oat his hand against the officers breast
stepped back and desired again to know
by what authority. The man in command
OF the squad then raised his pistol to
Bowe's face and attempted to fire. The
cap exploded, but the pistol did not 90 off
As the hammer fell, Colonel Pinnix, who
was standing by, knocked up the muzzle
of the pistol-a large sized navy repeater
The soldiers then commenced yelling the
cries, "Shoot tae damned rascal, kill the
damned rebs, kill the last damned one ot
them" These cries were taken up on the
outside, and for a while it seemed as if all
bedlam had broken loose-officers and
men alike shouting and cursing-the
whole command on the outside with mus
kets cooked and pointed at the windows, de
claring their intention to shoot the first
man who appeared at the window. Oh
course there was no appearance" Fl
nally the squad returned to the outside
having deposited their prisoners in con.
tinement in one of the rooms below, wher
quiet was restored, though the whole COM
mand remained with cooked gnns in line
on the outside for a considerable time
thereafter. The entire crowd of citizens
was kept in the court room until five
o'clock, with two or three exceptions, who
were passed out by the special order o.
Kirk. The Coroner and every man who
had been in any way connected with the
CoroneTs inquest upon the body of Ste,
phens We're made prisoners, except the ne.
| gro Jurors.