The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-09-25
THE NEW INQUISITION.
THE KU-KLUx TRrALs IN R4LEIGH
Impassfoned Charge by Judge Bond
Conviction and Sentence of the Ac-
cused.

A dispatch from Raleigh, N c., 2lst inst,
says that the argument in the trial of F. A.
Shotwell and fourteen others indicted by the
grand jury in the United States Circuit Court
for conspiracy and being members of the Ku-
Klux Kan In Rutherford County, closed on
that date and was given to the jury.
The prosecution contended that the Invlsi.
BILE Empire, the highest degree OF the Ku-Klux
organization, was an illegal association; that
their oaths, orders and acts constituted 1t a
body of conspirators, and the acts of each be-
came the acts OF the whole.
The defence cOutended that the oath OF the
order was not sufficient evidence In its terms
Of conspiracy against the right of colored
men to vote, nor was 1t such as practically In
terpreted by its members. it being abundanlly
shown that it was established for lawful pur-
pose. there being no evidence OF single raid
on colored man because of his Republican
principles.
THE CHARGE TO THE JURY.
Judge Bond. in his charge to the jury, said:
"Iu conclusion. gentlemen, the court cannot
refrain from commencing this case to your
most serious attention. In long experience
upon the bench we have never seen a case
which presented. if the witnesses speak truth,
facts of such unprovoked wickedness and bru-
taiity. lis enormty consists in this, that some
seven or eight witnesses have stated in court
OF Justice. upon oath, that they themselves
went in disguise upon an expedition to muir
der neghbor, OF highly respectable charac-
ter, In the dead hour of night. towards whom
they had no ill.will. who lad never wronged
10 steal. They state that they dragged him
from lhe side OF his sleeping wife In fearful
storm. where they would have killed him had
not co-consprator's heart relented at the
critical moment-and he stranger. Why,
gentlemen Not for personal malice or ILL
will, but because they were ordered to do so !!
Gentlemen, if you ind these facts from the
evidence to be true. and if it be true they can
not be punished. l tell you, solemnly, there Is
no security for our lives in North Carolina.
You are in the hands Of bandits. The law is
mockery and the courts might as Well be
closed"
THE VERDICT
The jury then retired, and remained two
hours and a half. when they returned with
verdict Of not guilty as to F. A. Hatwel, Cal.
vim Zealand, William Tanner; guilty as to R.
A. Shotwell. AGolph Depriest. Amos Owens,
George Holland. NJ NJ. Teal. W. Mcintyre, D.
Collins and William Scruggs. Spencer K.
Moore and D. B. Fortune pleaded gully dur
ing the progress OF the trial. Those found not
guilty were at once rearrested by the United
States marshal on other charges similar 10
those on which they had just been acquitted.
An application tIr writs of hdbedS corpus Is
spoken of IL the cases Of the convicted. The
verdict i2 unsatisfactory to the prosecution,
the jury falling to say, Being a member Of
Invisible Empire ia a crime"
THE SENTENCES.
Ate!egram from Raleigh, N. c., dated Fri
day evening, says:
The ten prisoners convicted of Ku-Kluxing
j. NJ. Justice, the Republican representative in
the Legislature. In July last. were sentenced
to-day In the United States Court as follows ::
R. A. Shotwell, six years. imprisonment and
$4,000 hue; Adolphus Duprlest, two years and
$500; G. ". Holland, two years and $500; VIM.
Mcintyre. two years and S5Uo; WIN. Ieal,
aud $500; James Moore and D. B. Fostaln, six
months Imprisonment EACH and Vim. Scruggs
three years. Imprisonment and $500 fine; Amos
Owens. FIVE years and $4,000. The parties sem
fenced to fine and hard labor ,oill be sent 10 a.
bdnn n Y