Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1871-08-12
AGalrsIn MI,SlSsIppl,

Your valuable paper, to make y few
remarks in regard 10 the testimony
of Il gentleman, (?) Charles Basker-
will BY name, before the ku.Klux
COMMITTEES yesterday. l quote
from the Chronicle:
"llO says there have boon = few
instances Of Disguised mcn making
their appearance in that part OF
Mississippi"
viii you allow me TO Say, sir,
that | believe tho gentleman q.
meant a fow hundred instances.
"But he believes" quoted from
the Chronicle report, 1hsre is no
Ku. Klux organization there, nor in
Winston county nor in AnysOf the
surrounding couBtios."
Now, in answer to tho above will
you allow mo to relate = conycrsa-
ton | had with the RcV. Mr. Mari,
y presiding older Of the MothOdist
Episcopal Church Southland u res
ident Of Winston countV4
Question. Mr.. MarH, l under
stand yOS have been summoned be-
fore the grand jury.
Answer. Yes, sir.
Question. Bad State Of affairs in
yOlr county, ] understand; ParAOn.
Answer. Very bad indeed, air.
QuestiOn. Well, ParAOn are they
very t%rOuSlsHOms 4 :. Referring to
tho Ku.Klux.l
Answer. Yes cir the Ku.Klux
are bringing things to a pretty pace
in our county, when ], who have
boon a preacher there tor years,
am compelled to resign the position
of School Director.
Question. Par.on, DO you think
they would have hurt you if you
had not resigned!
ARswOr. Yes air +: messages were
sent to nv, from time to time, 10
the effect hat ! must resign or !
would DO killed; and at last, at the
solicitation Of my friends, who
feared | would 10 killed, l rc.
signed.
Question. PSrson, do you be.
lievc they are erg.nixed7
Answer. Undoubtedly.
Question. Parson, are you in
any fear Of being molcsted for Civ.
ing evidence before the grand jury.
Answer. Yos. Ny friends tried
10 prevent my coming on that Nc.
count aud | should not b. surprised
if am bushwhacked on my WAY
back. dOpOnd on God.
The above conversation took
place in Oxford, MisN, At the hons.
of Mr.. James Kennedy, u tow wCpku
ago, in presence Of several Witness.
OK.
At the sane place ! met the Rev.
John Avery, a local preacher, and
teacher Of Winston county ; he told
me that the ku.Klux had threat,
encd him for n long time for teach
ing u free school and upon hin
threatening to 60 before the al.
thOrities and inf,rm on hem they
sent for him 10 eslno to their meet
Tag to compounds with him. They
we're thus lehisnt with Mr. Avery
because his brothers and friendl
belong to the organization.
Dir. Avery went tO two af thcil
meetings, and they agreed to 10
him alone, bat afterwards the Klal
having issued orders against fret
schools they burROd Mr.. Avery
school-h0uSO, and told his wife il h,
did not join thcm they would xii
him. Mr.. Avery had at this tim,
! to sleep in the woods at night. II,
still continued to preach, although
{ u great many Of his congregation
were afraid TO attend.
i, Mr.. Avery testified before tn,
grand jury At Oxford, and Will
there for the purpose Of giving evi
I denco no received a message from
two of his brothers, members Of tn,
, KuIKIux, saying il he returnc,
they would kill him, cost what i
might H'lh"
Mr.. Editor, I could give yen
4 hundred cases whore cOlored IHul
have been whipped and Othsrwis
~maltreated in the two counties Il
which Mr.. BAs%crviI "bslievs
there are no kU.Kiux." vii
content myself with citing a cas-
or two in each county.
William Coleman, Eddie Fosteu
and other freedmen, were whippe,
in Winaton county for "darins 4
buy land" thereby "makinR them
8 selves equal with white folki.E 4
Q NOxubee county Alexander Hughe
was taken ost by 9 band Of dip
guiscd men and hung up BY In
neok until he was nearly deal. Til
q charge against Hughes was q yer
grave one, viz : having the sudacit
to tell a white man, who owed hiI
~sevcnteen dollars that he wculd M
y him if he did not pay him. l Nigh
so on and fill up every column q
# your paper with the names Of III
victims and details Of the outrage
is committed 10 Noxubee and Wiz
ston, but surely the above il eAokg
to show what the stats Of affairs
in these two counties. Inc .iias.,g
Mr.. BasksrYill says he "bslieve
s. tho people arc rs orderly and 1
law-abidirg in Winston and NOx,
bee rs they care in any county
d the New England States" All
have to say il, that II the sbov
d statement \ true, that ona-haif tn
people in the New Englapd State
deserve hanging, Bat do not b,
Love that when a man in New Er
p. gland wants to remove his famiI
n from ono county TO another that Ii
requires a posse Of soldiers To prC
infect him, as was the case, 4 10,
t1..4n. HItX ..fa1 lALlfNH