Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-04-14
A KukIux Edilor ExpInins,

A KultIux Editor Explains.
Under the head of "a Lamentable Affair in
Early County," the Macon Telegraph recently
published the following
"E. II. Grouby Of the Early County News, has
left for parts unknown. He left, we suppose, to
avoid being arrested. as we are informed that on
the evening before he left he shot and wounded an
inoffensive negro man, named Gambelle, who is the
preacher in charge of the Methodist coored church
at that place"
This paragraph drew an explanation from
theenivalrous, though fugitive, Grouby His
sensitive spirit was grieved that an act of his
should be called 'lamentable," andiespecially
that his motives for temporarily stunning pub
1icity should be misunderstood. With SELL
control and moderation Of speech rare IN one oil
his propensities, and with candor and upeon-
sciousness of evil that does him honor, he takes
the public into his confidence and, explaining
the circumstances that made the shooting of
this preacher not only excusable butimperatve,
according to the code by which the white mans
party in that section is governed, securely
awaits the favorable Judgment of This countrymen.
The explanation, unequalled even in southern
literature for its complacent indifference to
the moral character of his act, after protesting
against the inadequacy of the account given in
the Telegraph, proceeds as follows:-
Now, what were the circumstances connected
with the matter above referred tor They were
simply these: The negro, Gambelle, Is q notorious
negro radical preacher, who had been believing
in and near Bakely for year more, taking great
interest IN the radical affairs Of the day It is well
News, and otherwise-shown him and his CO.
workers no quarter. GambeLe, in order to injure
me- three different and distinct times tried TO get
negro in pmDlOV TO leave / told him after
his first attempt that if he did again, and if he
ever spoke to me again, would shoot him; he did
so again, and only repeated my first threat; doing
30 a third tlme-trying to persuade my servant off,
and speaking to mel carried out my threat. As to
whether did right or wrong will eaye The the
did so because 1 did not wish to be ar
rested, from the fact that a certain influence
would no more give me justice than it will
get to heaven. l could easily have given bonds for
my appearance in court, for know that have as
many warm and true democratic friends in Blakely
and Early counties as any man living. This Is the
whole of the lamentabe affair in Early county,
What pity it is we can't have such 1amentables'
all over the state will be at my post again in a
few weeks, when men viii find out that
haven't yet lost the use of my humble pen, and
that when 4 left for parts unknown did so at my
own expense, and not that of Georgia legislatures
and bankruptcies. Please publish this, in Justice to
myself and friends, and oblige yours respectfully,
+. ii. GRoUBY
OF the Early County News.
p. ST the correspondent of the Telegraph who
gave it the above information will only write again
more friends than will possibly know what to do
with. Half dozen have already offered me board
and lodging free for some time to come. People
where now am are not very much outraged over
such praiseworthy act"
In his anxiety to be perfectly frank, Mr..
Grouby has made his vindcation more than
ample, and has perhaps conveyed the impress
sion that such an excess Of provocation as he
details was needed to justify his conduct. The
:. n
radical preacher" who had been "bellowing'
and talking great interest in the radical affairs
of the day" Surely, Mr.. Grouby might have
stopped there. If believing and taking interest
in radical affairs are not abundant reasons for
killing negro preacher, great many of the
most chivalrous people Of the Carolinas, Mssis-
sippi and Kentucky, not to speak of Mr., Grou-
by's own state of Georgia, are in the habit of
sadly misbehaving themselves, and the kuklux
bands, the pride and hope of the white mans
party, are no better than assassins. The gal
liant south is crushed and writing under the
victor's iron heel; but the grinding oppression
against which she has desperately struggled mas
not yet so paralyzed her energies that she can
tamely submit to let a negro preacher below
and take an interest in the radical affairs of the
day with impunity.
Mr.. Grouby's public would, no doubt have
amply sustained him if he had received no
further proyocation than this; but when to his
other offenses this intolerable negro preacher
adds the effrontery of speaking not once only,
nor even twice. but the third time, to the al
ready outraged and justly indignant Grouby,
no penalty could be too great for his insolence
The fellow was shot of course, and, instead of
flying TO escape arrest, the slayer, if it were not
for the accursed rule of the carpet Dagger and
the bayonet, would be modestly accepting the
thanks of his grateful fellow citizens. 0fcourse
they are not outraged by such an act; on the
contrary he has secured new and warmer friends
by it. This explanation was dated March 2sth.
Probably by this time the minions of the tyran-
nical carpet bag government, which absurdly
treats as crimes such acts as Mr. Grouby's, have
been pacifed or overawed, and his humble pen
and modest pistol are again in use.