Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1871-11-10


utter ncckery. Criminals we're occaeiou-
ally convicted. Where the evidence was
SO broad that 1t was impe ssible to acqait
verdict Of guilty WCu'd be rendered and
sentence passed. But, mark you, as soou
as the criminals were sent to the pepiten-
tIary Governor Scott turned them loo e.
BehoId, then, the condition of the white S.
Either the mnrderers or thit yes we.e lot
convicted, or, if convicted, they vere
promptly pardoned. Between the Scyila
Of acquittal and the CbaIybdis CT pardon
the whites foundered. Is it at ali mat ter
of surprise that they finally took the Law
into their own hands-that they no longer
indicted the murderer aud the thief before
the Courts, but disguised themselves AID
either haDged or whipped the criminal !?
| Wrong, you may sey, very wrong. Mob
law is dangerous to society and subver5ive
Of liberty. Granted; but it was either
mob law or 10 law at all.
AN ARREST FOR KU K1UxIsM
condemn the whipping of negroes
which has been reported to me; and yet
what has been the object in all these whip
! pings and outrages ? Nothing more than
| the punishment of criminals. cannot fud
any political hatred in them; no wanton
brutality; nothing but an impolitic and
! conGemnable method of furnishing viola
| tors OF law whom the State authorities
could not Or would not punish. How
true is al have written is to be seen in
the fact that but one man has thus far
been arrested in Newberry county charg
ed with being a Kuklux, and be was
quietly arrested before the proclamation
Of martial law. It appears from the
sworn statement of negro who had just
returned from serving a term in prison for
hog stealing, that on the night Of August
22d his hou, e was surrounded by disguised
men, who shot him, then hanged him, and
Ill p. l. T
vas cut down, his pulse examined and be |
was pronounced dead. In his affidavit he |
swore that when two of the Kuklux stoop-
ed ever him to ascertain if he was dead he |
recognized their faces. If his eyes were
open and the night was bright enough to
admit Of such recognition is it L Lot aim ost
certain that the Ku Klux would have seen
that he was living? In his evidence in
Columbia he sWore something different
Instead of seeing their faces, he merely
recognized the voice of one calling the
name of the other. The result was, how
ever, that a Mr.. Butler, one of the most
Re respectable young men in the county, a
hard working, industrious man of ire
proachable character, was arrested and
taken to Columbia for trial. The United
States Deputy Marshal, who came up with
the warrant for arrest, made known his
mlesion. The other man said to have been
recognized decamped. Butler remained at
home, although he had been mace &C
quainted with the fact that the officers ,
were after him.
WHAT A RADICAL SAYS.
Perhaps come of your readers may urge
that am merely repeating the statements
of "rebels." Let us see what ''loyal men"
say. TO day L had short interview with
MIR. Montgomery, the Radical County Au-
dltor. ''Any disturbances in the county,
sir ?" ga great many; things are very bad
here" with shake of the head. "Have
politics any thing to do with them ?"
''Politics have a heap to do with tt EN-. :"
"Ah, well, Mr.. Montgomery, will you be
good enough to name to me some of these
political outrages ?'' Cant call to mind
any just now; but you sit down and talk to
my wife for one hour, and she'll convince
you. She's been shot at through my win
dow, mistaken for me-" "But, MIR. Mont
gomery, You surely can name some specific
outrage ?" Mr.. Montgomery does not
nome any. ''Weli, sir. is there any oppo-
sition Oh tho Part of the people in the en-
forcement of the State or United States
laWs?" [ put the question bluntly and
sharply. He hesitates, averts his eyes, aud
finally tells that there is no opposition
to their enforcement tha. he knows of. If
there is none does he believe that the con-
dition of the State demanded the procla-
nation OF N artial law Mr.. Montgomery
deciucs to answer the question. BY this
time have arrived at his residence. In
vain do I search for bullet holes. Not a
mark Is to be seen-not scar to bear ev-
idence Of the murderous attacks. Mr.. M.
is a Radical "ffice holder; his teE N of Office
is expiring. Help him, martial law, or be
might lose his place.
WHAT FEDERAL OFFICER SAYS.
I leave Mir. Montgomery dissatisfied
Surely there must be some fire under the
smoke. Well. I wayl8y Captain Stewart,
the military commandment, bloff, hearty
Michigan soldier, who does not bother
with politics, but who evidently does not
love the Southern people TIE Captain
has been here since lat November; surely
he ought to know something about the
"unlawful combinations" l begin lump
ing and perceive at once that ne is preju-
diced. Captain, since you have been
of opposition on the part Of the whites to
the enforcement of the laws ?" IN j."
Has there been any instance where a
United States Marshal has been resi- ste 90
Not hat he is aware o.. III as there bt CO
any KuKlux outrages in the county since
your arriva!?' yes and he repea the
story Of the negro. Amy others? Eyes
-no-the other was ordinary row."
"Have any egroes been killed ?" Yes;
but be vas killed by another negro"
'Come this is getting funny. No oppo-
eition to the laws; no national warus killed
and yet Newberry C, u1ty is under martial
law" l have long and Pleasant chat
with the Captain. He believes that there
a e men in the county who hate the gov
eminent. Captain, do yo1 know of any
organization in Newterry inimcal TO The
United States ?" FL doesn't know If any
the people are too sh,ewed to let him.
Have you Or any cf your soldiers been
shot at ?" Never" and the Cap per
ambulates the town at al hours Of the |
night. lie bas never even b Ell treated |
with di~reepect. True enough, oae of his
Officers failed to get board at a minister's |
because tue congregation objected true
enough, an intoxicated young man il
dulged in abusive language bef,re two
Northern ladies at the hotel, which, |