Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-10-31
KU-KLUX REIGN OF TERROR.
synopsis of portion Of the Testimony taken
by the Congressional Investigating
Committee,

The testimony taken by the Select
Committee Of Congress, appointed at
the last session to investigate into
alleged Ku-Klux outrages in the
Southern States, gives a quite COM
prehensiye view of the operation of
that mysterious organization known
as the Ku>Klux Klan-an organiza-
ton that has been pooh-poohed by
Northern Democratic politicians as q
nero tigment Of the imagination, but
which, under the light of the search
ing investigation conducted by the
Committee has disclosed itself as one
OF the most monstrous growths to
which civilized society ever gave
birth. Indeed, it may almost be
said TO stand without parallel in
history-a huge mis-shapen reptile
spawned from the foul decay of slav-
cry and rebellion. The testimony
taken by the Committee already
amounts to several thousand pages.
1t comprises the sworn statements
Of men Of the highest character and
social standing, and of all shades of
political opinion, and should not fail
TO convince the most skeptical read
er that the Ku-Klux organization is
indeed no myth, but one of the most
horrible realities in the history Of
human passion and crime. We give
the following briefest abstracts of a
portion Of the testimony upon the
Ku>Klux operations in a few Of the
counties in Mississippi;
Among the most interesting and
explicit Of the testimony taken was
that OF Colonel A. p, Higgins, of
Aberdeen, Monroe county, United
States Assessor Of Internal Revenue
at that point, and County Superin-
tendcnt Of Schools under the State
government. In the latter Office, TO
which he was appointed in 1870, he
was President Of the County Board
of School Directors, whose duty it
was to submit to the Board OF Super
visors an estimate Of the amount Of
taxes needed for school purposes, the
latter board being charged with the
duty of making the assessment. The
estimate submitted by the Board of
Directors was less by nearly one
third the amount of tax allowed by
law, but the Ku-Klux of the county
notified the Board Of Supervisors not
TO make the assessment, and it was
not done. The law Of the State was
lhus successfully set at defiance, and
the teachers Of the county were un-
able to get their pay for services rend-
cred In this county (Monroe) the
ku-kiux reigned supreme for many
months, large bands of them, decked
in thin frightfu regalia, riding
through the county by night, and
whipping, numbering, and burning
at will. Here are some Of the special
cases testified to by Col. Higgins,
all of which occurred in Monroe coun-
ty.
February lst.-Atred Whitfield
| (colored) was whipped till he prom
sed to vote the democratic ticket.
Witness saw his back, which was
badly pounded up"
February 10th.-Jack Dupree, (coI-
ored, president Of republican club,
and living near Ross Mil, was drag
ged from his bed by gang of ku-
klux, taken five miles into the woods,
and beaten till he was near dead.
The liends in human form then cut
him open "irom throat TO straddle'
and took out his heart and intestines.
This was attested by Joseph Davis, a
member Of the gang, who turned
states evidence at Oxford, and who
was present on the occasion in ques-
ton. Dupree was charged with no
crime but it is said he "was noisy
republican and would speak his
mind"
March 9th. Witness was lodging
at the house Of one Geo. r. Ross.
flo was taken out by gang of 100
masked and mounted men in white
robes, aud, on refusing to promise
that he would leavo the State, was
beaten till he tainted, receiveing sew
euty-hye lashos with q stirrup strap
and threatened with certain death
should no remain in the country
longer than ten days.
Mr. Farmer, n teacher of a colored
school, was severely whipped and or
dered to leave his school. Mr.. Farm
er was . man Of high responsibility
and superior cpltue. His only offense
was teaching colorod school.
March llth.-Aleck Steward (col>
orod) whipped by a band Of Ku-Klux
tor suing a white man for wages due
him. Stewart is "a quiet, hardwork-
ing man.
Joe Atkins (colored) beaten severe
~ and told that it was for being q
Radical" Was compelled to leave
his home (March, 1S7l)
March 29th.-Aleck Page (eolored)
dragged from his house, whipped al
most 70 death, and then hung. Head
split open with on axe. Buried with
rope round his neck. Sworn to by
Joseph Davis and Henry Patch,
members of the Khan, who turned
States evidence. Page was per
tectIy quiet and inotfensive man" but
i republican,
May 2Oth.-Abraham Wamble, a
coored preacher. taken out by fifty
or sixty masked men and shot Mr.
Marshall, bitter democrat, on whose
place WAmble lived, states that he
did not know more quiet and well
disposed man in the neighborhood
But he voted the Radical ticket.
April 4tb.-Peter - (colored,
last name unknown to wittness)
/ whipped, with his neck under fence
rail, till be promised to vote the dem.
ocratic ticket.
Dr. Ebart and Mr.. Mccoy, mem>
bers OF the County Board of School
Directors, were ordered by the Ku-
klux TO leave the Board and did so.
being threatened with death in case
of refusal This was early in April
last