Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-03-03
Tho Ku-IkluN.
ouTRAers IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

south Carolina Legislature nave Deen 10
Washington to ask for a sufficient mill
tarv force TO keep order in their State.--
They say that the trouble Of which they
complain began on the day before the
election, in October last, with the whip
ping of a negro Judge Of Election, in or
der to prevent him from being present
at the polling place to which he was as
Signed. There was, however no inter
ference with the votingin Laurens Coun-
ty, as detachment Of United States
troops was stationed there, On the day
afterelection the soldiers we're withdrawn,
and, before they we're out Of hearing,
the Ku Klux showed themselves. 4
constable, who had the warrant for the
arrest of two men, was attacked near
the Courthouse, and retreated for pro-
lection to the office of Justice, draw
ing bis pistol at the same time. just
as he was entering the door, a shot was
fired into the building, and, as if this
was the signal agreed upon, a 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 assassinated without
warning Among the victims of this out
rage were Judge of Probate for the coun-
ty and a member of the State Legsisla
ture The troops were Immediately sent
back, and while they remained the coun-
ty was comparatively safe; since their
withdrawal many persons have been
whipped and otherwise shamefully abus-
ed. The troops arrested several men
known to have been engaged in the Lau-
rens affair, and they were taken to Col
umbia There they were Immediately
released on writs Of habeas corpus by
Judge Vernon, who has since been i'm
peached by the Legislature, butresigne |
before his trial came.
The most recent outrage reported by
this delegation took place in Union. -
About six weeks ago while the militia
(colored) we're on the parade, they de-
manded whiskey ofan illicit distiller who
had some in his wagon; he gave them
some but refused them more on the plea
that it was not his property. He was
taken into the woods and shot. The
Republicans as we'll as the Democratic
journals Immediately demanded that the
guilty men be arrested and punished for
their crime. Five members of the regi-
ment were taken and placed in jail, two
Of which, however, were probably able
to prove that they were not on parade
when the murder was committed. These
men were taken from the jail during the
night by mob of disguised men and
shot two were killed outright and the
mob supposing that the others were dead,
left them. The three who escaped bad
ly wounded were replaced in Jail. When
partially recovered they informed the au-
thorities that they knew some of the Ku-
Klux who were engaged in the former
outrage, and that if their (the prisonersl
safety could be guaranteed, they would
tell who we're the guilty men. Judge
Thomas of Columbia, therefore issued a
writ, ordering the removal of the three
men to that city, and placed it in the
hands of Sheriff Dunn, with orders to
execute it. This officer, however, was
afraid to perform his duty, but after
some delay it was reported that he had
completed arrangements for their secret
removal on Monday night, Feb. 10. On
Sunday night band of about 800 full
ly-armed men, masked, rode into town,
| picketed all Of the roads, went to the
Ijail, and ordered the keeper to give them
his keys. This he refused to do, and they
tied him to the hitchiug posts in front of
the jail They then threatened his wife
with instant death if she did not tell
where the keys we're and having thus
obtained them thew took out of the Jail
ten prisoners. Carrying them little out
of town, they shot six, absolutely rid
ding their bodies with bullets, hung two
and took two away with them; these two
have not since been found
This outrage Cor the band of men who
committed it, was seen by the Mayor of
the town, the editor of the democratic
newspaper published there (and he unites
with all the order loving citizens in ask
ing for troops, and by many of the cit
liens. The mob left in the pocket of the
iailer q document signed tx. X. X"
and giving as a reason for tho murder
that it was proposed to take the negroes
to Columbia and then release them.
The delegation say that the men who
are committing these outrages are ex-
Confederate soldiers who have never dis
banded, and that neither the militia nor