The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-02-24


These gentlemen deny that they have
been sent here for the purpose OF max
ing political capital This State is Re-
publican by more then 10000 majority.
They need no more Republican voters,
and unless Union men are driven out
of the infested section or frightened out
Of all participation in political affairs
any action of the Executive can in no
way change the result Of future elec-
tions. They report that the troubles
of which they complain began on the
day before the election in October last,
with the whipping Of negro judge of
election in order to prevent him from
being present at the polling place to
which he was assigned. There was,
however, no interference with voting in
Lourens county, as a detachment of
United States troops was stationed
there. On the day after the election
the soldiers were withdrawn, and
before they were out OF hear
ing the Ku-Klux showed them
selves. 4 constable who had war
rants for the arrest Of two men, was at
tackled near the court house. A shot was
fired, and, as if this was a signal agreed
upon, line Of men armed with rifles
appeared on the square and commenced
firing Then separating into squads Of
two or three, they secured the country
around and shot down in cold blood
eleven Of the prominent leaders Of the
Republicans, most of whom were assas-
sinated without warning. Among the
victims Of this outrage were the Judge
of the Probate Court for the county and
a member Of the State Legislature.
Troops were Immediately sent back, and
while they remained the county was
comparatively safe. Since their with
drawal many persons have been whipped
and otherwise shamefully abused. The
troops arrested several men known to
have been engaged in the Lourens
affair.". and they were taken to Columbia.
They were Immediately released on
writ of habeas corpus by Judge Vernon,
who has since been impeached by the
Legislature, but resigned before his trial
began.
The most recent outrage reported by
this delegation took place in Union
about six weeks ago While the colored
militia were on parade they demanded
whisky of an illicit distiller, who gave
them some, but refused to give more on
the plea that it was not his property.
He was taken into the woods and shot.
Republican as well as Democratic jour
mails Immediately demanded that the
guilty men he arrested and punished
for their crime. Five OF the members
were recognized and placed in Jail, two
of whom, however, are probably able
to prove that they were not on parade
when the murder was committed. The
men were taken from the jail during
the night by mob of disguised men,
and shot. Two were killed outright,
and the mob. supposing the Others dead,
left them. The three who escaped
were badly wounded, and were replaced
in Jail When the men partially rccov-
cred they informed the authorities that
they knew some Of the men who were
engaged in the former outrage, and that
if their safety could be guaranteed,
they would tell who were the guilty
men. Judge Thomas, OF Columbia,
therefore issued writ ordering the re-
moval OF the men to that city and
placed it in the hands Of Sheriff Dun,
with orders to execute it, After some
delay it was reported that he had COM
plcted arrangements for their secret re-
moval on Monday night, February 18th.
On Sunday nj ight band of about 500
fully armed men, masked, rode into
town, picketed all roads, and went to the
jail and ordered the keeper to give
them the keys. This he refused to dc,
and they tied him to a hitching post,
and threatened his wife with instant
death if she did not tell them where the
KEYS were; and having thus obtained
them, took out of Jail ten prisoners
Carrying them little out OF town, they |
shot six, hung two, and two they took !
with them These two have not since |
been found.
This outrage was seen by the Mayor
of the town, the editor Of Democratic !
published there, and he !
united with all order-loving citizens in |
asking for troops
The delegation say that the men who
these outrages are ex-Confed- |
crate soldiers, who have never disdand- !
ed, and that neither the militia or civil
authorities are able to do anything to
stop them.