The New York herald., 1870-03-07
Lynch LAW In NORTH CAROLINA.
A Negro Hanged by the 1ku Eluz
Klan.
Mysterious Midnight Operations Of the Gang
The Victim Taken from tho Bed With
Another Mans Wife-He il Hanged
to a Tree With Warning Pla-
card on His Back-Indig-
nation Of the Citizens.
GREENSBORO, N. G., March ., ls7o

GREENSBORO, N. G., March q, ls7o
Intelligence has reached here OF most diapoicai
outrage at Graham In Alamance county, supposed
to nave been committed by that Infamous secret
organization known as the Ku Klux Rlan From
the accounts received o body OF men, numbering
from seventy-nve to one hundred, wearing masks
and being otherwise disguised, appeared at Graham
about midnight q few nights since. Shortly after
their arrival secret consultation was held BY the
band. carried on In an undertone, and this con-
cluded they moved on towards the house OF one
Henry Holt, negro Of some prominence, living in
the vicinity.
IL was now about one O'Clock A. n. Upon arriv-
Ing at the house portion Of the band, gang,
tered and, after making light, they searched the
premses Holt was evidently the object Of their
search; but fortunately for himself that individual
was ,aoa est. In his place, however, they found
another negro, named White, equally obnoxious to
them occupying the conjugal couch with Mrs. Holt.
White, without further ceremony, was dragged nom
the bed out Of which o cord was cut, which was
fastened around his neck. In feigned tone OK
voice one Of the gang demanded OF the terror.
stricken Mrs. Holt the Whereabouts OF her nus
band. Being informed that he had gone on pusl-
ness some distance in the country, she was then
given TO understand IN the most unmistaK-
able terms that II found Holt to be hanged thas
night but If not tnat would be hts fate should he
remain in the country one week from that date Az
her peru Mrs. Holt was ordered to make no noise or
even to cross her threshold until after daylight, and
with similar iorcible injunction to White 70 make
no alarm, they departed, leading tnat unfortunate
wretch with them. a. n
body the negro White, now aDlect with terror, was
then placed astrde mule. Noiselessly the midnghs
assass,ns mounted their horses and With their VIC
! Tim securely gualaed, they formed procession
and moved In military order towards tue Court
] House. The citizens at this hour were all
l n
| mysterious proceedings WHICH were transpiring
their midst. Haltng directly In front OF the Court
House the negro Wnite was marched beneath the
overhanging bows or q large OAK tree. Here the
| victim iinpored mercy In low and solemn tone,
| when he saw and fully understood the purport OF
| the silent but terrible preDarat0ns for MS death.
But his suppcations and entreatles fell upon ears
as deaf TO them az these OF The dumb brute he roae
He was sterniy and brutaiiy commanded 10 snIt up
his id moutn' and as II OOedience 70 tns lmpora-
tive order was to merit some cemency the victim In
utter terror ceased TO arcula Q, even 10 hfnseli.
One two Of the disguised rdlnans tnen ciimea up
| the tree, crept out one OF Its limbs ana ~
| their combined weight lowered 1t some three ieet
when II seized and held by those on the q ound
The BEDFORD attached to the neck O WhiIe was th6i
handed to those on the lllnD, by whom u was MADE
fast and all now being In readiness the branches oi
the Tree We re let go ana White was Jerked fron toe
| back or the mule into mid-alr
| After their mu,derous work was accomplished tho
gang to the residence OF Mr.. AlrghL, clerk u
the Superior Court and endeavored Co decoy him
out, but he, suspecrng their devlsn intentons re.
the mayor Of The town was awoke by the noise Of tho
passing troop, ana he went to his % 200.
+ 10 see wnat the matter could be when
| he was sauted by vOey VI missiles, winch had
| the effect OF admOnishlng him to stay quietly
| where he was In the morning the 1rsE oDJecs that
the astOnshed gaze OF the citlzens upon arisn
was the lifeess body VI White hanging to the Tree IN
front OF the Court House-the tabernacle OF pnoiic
| iusI,ce. Attached TO the back Of the victim was
card on when was inscribed In rude. but very ntet
| ngiole characters tine following words
| ''Be ware, you guilty parties,
bOtn wnite and Dlack."
Some people are led to believe this outrage wal
! perpetraIed by negroes on the ground that Hoiti
| wife, with whom White was IN ped the night Of ths
tragedy. testified that OF the men Who first tooh
| hold OF White was negro, and sne be
lIeyed they were all negroes. One OF The
| well known lodges OF the ku Klux II
tine disguise Of negro, which Is carried out when
outragcs are committed, even to assuming the verl
| peculiar verDacuar OF ''Samb0." White was Presi
dent OF the Loyal League, and he and Holt arr
! accused OF firing on tne Ku Klux soJue mOnthi
since, on the occasion OF visit, when a series y
outrages were committed by them. These are th'
| alleged causes which led to the summary ven
| gea1ce above narrated. The greatest lndignatol
| prevails among the wel-dlsposed people or th'
| county. who ciamorous for the arrest and pun
| lshment OF TINS band Of assassins such high
| hauded outrages cannot be tolerated III any CIVIL.
lzed unity, and such deeds are highly injurious
| to the interests OF the state.