The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-09
The ku-klUx Trials.

correspondent 1t Columbia, 5. c., for the
giving sketches of whatever comes to his
notice, which will prove of interest to
Maryland readers.
The following paragraphs are from his
letters.
THE CLARENDON CASES.
heard to-day for the first time of three
cases of ku-kluxing in Clarendon, Il county
remote from the lines of travel, which is
not included i'll the Presidents proclama-
ton, and which would no doubt be repre-
sented as profoundly peaceful and quiet, -
it the leading citizens were put on oath
and Intercepted as to the condition of
affairs. These outrages occurred last
spring, but do not remember to have seen
any account of them in the Newspapers
The devilish work began by sending notices
by mail to all the prominent Republicans
in the county to leave within a certain
number of days. Many of them, appre-
hending danger, did leave, but among
those who remained was Peter J. Simmons,
colored, one of the County Commissioners,
who is represented as having been an intel
ligent, honest and peaceable man. About
the time that his notice expired he was
riding home one evening, and when pass
ing near a clump of trees three musket
balls simultaneously struck him in the
chest. The ku-klux command was "leave
or de- and Mr.. Simmons died.
Mr.. L. A. Biggar, of New York, and
Mr.. b. f. Parker, of Ohio, had settled in
the town of Manning, and engaged in bus
mess there. They were generally known
as Republicans, and they also received
notices to leave, which they chose to disre-
gard. One night party of twenty dis
guised men appeared in the village, took
these two gentlemen from their beds, and
dragged them to woods about half a mile
distant, where they were to be hung, but
the Masonic sign of distress saved their
lives. Such of the raiders, however, as
could not comprehend the significance of
that mysterious sign insisted that they
should at least have a fearful whipping, and
then leave the State within twenty-four
hours. So they were gagged, tied to trees,
and severely lashed with hickory rods
What is singular about this case is that the
| raiders captured a colored man in tho vii
lage, and took him with them apparently
to show him what was going on. They
left the men tied to the trees, and told the
negro to come back in the morning and
release them. Although suffering terribly
from the tiagellation, Messrs. Biggar and
Parker managed to take their departure
within twenty four hours 1t must be
remembered that Clarendon is one of the
"quet and peaceable" counties, not inclu-
| dcd in the Presidents proclamation.
WHAT NEXT?
There is very distinguished lawyer in
la oft | -1,n1
of the ku-klux principally from their apol-
ogists, and who supposed that the distur-
| Dances complained of were local, and grew
out of personal feuds, but who since COM
| ing here has been utterly astounded at the
extent of the conspiracy, and the enormity
and barbarity of the crimes committed
In conversation with a prominent citizen
of South Carolina the other day, he ex-
pressed his surprise and Indignation that
such brutalities could have been praoticed
in any civilized State. He was asked
| Suppose the points raised in the cases are
carried to the Supreme Court, and the
Enforcement act held to be unconstitu-
tional, what then? "From what you have
seen and know, do you think that the life
of any Republican will be safe ~ 1.-THE
State ought to protect her citizens was
the lawyers reply. But you know that
the State don't do it, and can't do it
| What them Tho great man was silent.
ONE OF TIE LARGER CASES.
To-day, (December) I'd, the Grand jury
! found indictments against some twenty
five young men engaged in the murder of
! Captain Jim Williams. This was one of
| the most important raids ever undertaken
by the York county Klans. 1t was order
ed by the Grand Chief, J. w. Avery now
in Canada, and was intended to dispose OF
two influential Republicans, the Hon. A.
5. Wallace, member of Congress, and Cap
tain Jim Williams, a colored politician of
considerable Importance among his own
race. The raiders met at rendezvous
some five miles from Mr. Wallace's house,
and according to their usual custom, cap
tnred negro and took him along to show
them the way. The darkey was mounted
on a mule behind raider named Hugh
kell NOW in custody. who seems to have
| been 4 conscript Ku-Klux, who had no
heart in the work. He allowed his mule
to get behind the rest, and kept complain
ing that his load was SO heavy that he could
not keep up. At last he called out to the
Chief, who was designated as % No g.
that his mule was unable to carry both
riders. ono. c. replied, "Put the niger
down. The colored gentleman jumped
off and disappeared in the woods, prefering
not to go on the raid.
BY some happy circumstance Mr.. Wal
lace was delayed in Washington one day
| longer than he expected, and thus the Ku-
kluX (who had evidently been Watching
the time of the adjournment of Congress,
and supposing that he would come home
on the next day, missed him. They went
to Captain Williams house, however, and
him they murdered. His wife and another
colored woman were in the house, and they
say that Il rope was put around the poor
mans neck, and they think that he was
choked to death then and there. The Eu
kiux carried him short distance from the
house, and tied the rope to the limb of a
tree, but next morning his feet were touch
ing the ground, and there We're no marks
that indicated struggling, so that the prob
ability is that the man was dead before ho
was hung up. On his breast was pinned a
written placard. evidently prepared before
hand" Gone to the big muster"
In additian to the twenty-five Ku- Klux
already indicted for assisting at this muir
| der, thirty more have been arrested by
Major Merrill within the last day or two
Nearly every man engaged in it has been
| Caught, cACcpL NJ. uttHS LIZ. d. IL.
Bratton. who was in command, and j. W..
Avery, Grand Chief, who ordered the raid,
both of whom have fled the country, and
are supposed to be in Canada.
| 1t might be well to remark here that
both of these respectable and "influ-
entail gentlemen, tho one prominent
| physician and the other a wealthy store
keeper, testified before the Congressional
investigating Committee to the perfect
peace, quiet and good order which prevail
ed i'll York county. If the Democratic
minority of that committee don't watch the
| developments of these trials closely, their
report will become fearful joke.
THE STATE COURTS.
Mr.. Reverdy Johnson thinks that the
State Courts ought to punish murder, and
SO they ought. but they don't. Take York
county for example. a county that has a
Republican majority, but in which there is
not single Republican officer in any way
connected with the Court, Judge, Sheriff,
Clerk and all other officers being Demo-
Gratis. In this county there have been n