Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-12-20
oUrRAeEs UPON PERSONAL. n.rBEn.

Atlanta, Ga, on the 18th inst, to Foster
Blodgett, in Washington:
Twenty Ku-Klux arrests have been made
in Dade and Walker counties. An investi-
CATION is now proceeding. The evidence
duplicates number of the members of the
Georgia Legislature and others as high in
the order. The organization is being de-
veloped as powerful in Northern Georgia.
G. B. CHAMBERLAIN,
Chief United States Deputy Marshal.
1t appears that these men were arrested
by Federal troops stationed at Chattanoo-
ga. Mr.. R. H. Tatum, one of the parties
arrested, published card in the Atlanta
Constitution, on the 18th inst, in which he
stated that he did not know what offense he
was charged with until he arrived in Atlanta.
There he had been confined for ten days,
and bail was refused. The total number
arrested at different times was about thirty
FIVE, comprising some of the most respec-
table citizens Of Dade comfy. 1t appears
that these men were arrested by Federal
troops sent from Chattanooga. These
troops invade peaceable State, arrest citi-
zens without warrant and without inform
ing them of the charges upon which they
were arrested, and then bring them into
this State, where they are held as prisoners
previous to being sent to Atlanta. 1t is not
pretended that they could not have been
arrested by the United States Marshal
alone. On the contrary, there is every rea-
son to believe that the simple service Of
process would have been ample to have Sc
cured their attendance at Atlanta to answer
any charge preferred against them. Now
for the sequel to this raid upon the citizens
of Dade county by Federal troops from
Tennessee. The Atlanta San of the 18th
inst says:
ave had opportunities of conversing with
the prisoners, witnesses, and other citizens
of Dade, who were not arraigned in this ex-
animation, and from them we have OBJ
tanned the following reliable and impartial
explanation of this unfounded prosecution
Of the honest and innocent citizens Of the
county of Dade.
"It seems that one Asa Boydstcn, living
on the line of Alabama and Georgia, but
within Alab ana during the war, too cow
ardly to volunteer as a soldier, frequented
the mountains, and at every opportunity
committed thefts, robbed defenseless wo-
men and helpless children, and ravaged
the homes of families of soldiers in the
army, and was guilty of innumerable dep
relations not tolerated by any civilized gov
eminent. After the war, being seve al
times detected in thieving and other misde-
meanors, he soon forfeited the respect of
every honest man in the vicinity. During
this winter he very suddenly left the coun-
ty, but returned about two weeks ago in
company with one James Skyles, who SEEM
ed to be employed by the Government for
arresting parties under the Ku-Klux acts of
Co gress, and under the proclamations of
Bullock, to get the rewards offered.
CARRYING at Trenton, Dade county,
Boydston pointed out Mr.. r. Haney,
who was Immediately arrested and placed
under guard of squad of United States
soldiers. They then proceeded to Rising
Fawn and arrested the postmaster, J. G.
Hale, in the act Of distributing the mail;
j. w. Blevins, Road Commissioner, in the
act of writing out his report; aud fifteen or
twenty more, who were closely and busily
engaged in their respective duties, who were
not allowed time for preparation in the bit
teTly cold weather that was then prevailing.
Many of the prisoners were compelled TO
pass the firigid night without shelter and
without blankets around smouldering
camp fire, which was but poor protection
in the tempestuOus winds that howled
among these mountain regions.
"The party next proceeded TO Chatta-
nOoga, where all were committed to prison,
except T. W. Shamrock and W. p.
Shamrock, who were last seen with the
United States Commissioner. 1t is sup
posed that, by caioling, threats and prom
ises, these two persons were persuaded to
turn Government evidence. They were
treated with clemency, and even with spe
cial kindness, while all the other prisoners
were allowed a bare pittance of filthy food
and were confined in cells which barely aG-
mitted the bodies of six men lying on their
sides. One of the prisoners testified
that, while lying down, it was impoS
sible for one man to move without the
Simultaneous movement of every in
mate of the room. While there, the off
Ger and commissioners used every device
and all their GlrqUence to persuade one OF
the Younger Sons Of Col. K. IL. Tatum-a
man of extended inflUence-tO turn Gov
ernmeut evidence, doubtless hoping that
confession or treacterOus and malicious tes-
Gimouy from such an esteemed and reliable
source would convict a host Of innocent
citizens. They urged that he ought 40. in
the bloom Of his youth" to accept certain
imprisonment, when the cpporUI i.y was
presented to escape. Young Tatt.u, with
Indignation, replied that he would suffer
the horrors OF a lifetime Imprisonment
before he would testify against lis own
neighbors and invoke them in q crime,
which, if ever pprpetrated at all, was not
ONLY without their countenance, bat With
out their knowledge. His malicious temp
tiers said they would make no more efforts.
''If the younger Hatum would not yield, it
was useless TO appeal TO the Older So
their efforts in that direction were bafiled;
but they were more successful with the two
ShauOcks, who both turned Government
evidence.
"The prisoners were then brought to this
place, and all, with the exception of few,
were committed to prison. They all as
sert that they were arrested without being
notified Of The reason or the cause Of the
arrest. The officers intimatel that they
were subppnaed as witnesses. Their
treatment afterwards was such as to make
them feel they were regarded as galley
slaves"
The United States Commissioners held
w. p. II. Tatum and G. w. NJ. Tatum in
bonds of $500 each for their appearance at
the United States Court, because, he said,
according to the Atlanta SIN, ''the liberty of
Sewer Powell had been violated, but ne did
not state that his rights, under the enforce
ment act, had been enfringed upon, under
which act alone the warrant was issued"
The prosecution of all the other prisoners
was abandoned, the counsel for the govern
ment stating that there was no proof against
them. Two citizens of Dade comfy, H.
Z. Wilson and NJ. Nichols, appeared before
the Commissioners and stated that they had
been arrested, but knew not why. There
were no charges against them, and they were
told they could return home. Here
we have a specimen of the outrages COM
mitted upon unofending citizens of Georgia.
They are arrested by Federal soldiers, fAd
taken under guard, first to Chattanooga and