Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-18
TIE GENUINE KU.KLUT.

We have spoken Of the capture of severa
of the genuine Ku-Klux in full costume ii
North Carolina. The following despatch tt
the Washington Chronicle contains the par
ticulars of the capture.
1 RALEIGH, N. C., August IL, 1871.
| The city Of Raleigh was thrown into vic
state Of excitement yesterday on the arriva
of the western train, when the TACT pecaiii'
known that Assistant United States Marshals
J. G. Hester and NJ. Keith had in limbo a
band of disguised Klux, captured by them
| the night previous in Moor county. The
4 marshals had in charge and marshaled through
Fayetteville street abont dozen white men,
4 FIVE of whom were in full uniform. The dis.
puise, which was of the most frightful and
| ludicrous character, was made of black glazed
| cambria, face-covered with the same, with
holes for the mouth and eyes, touched of
with white substance. The hat, made OF
like material, is cone shaped, and about thir-
ty-six inches in height.
These gentry were marched up to United
States Commissioner Skaters office, where
an examination was waived.
The Carolina Era gives the following &C.
count Of the capture Of the band:
deputy Marshal Hester and Deputy Keith
arrived at Swans Station Wednesday, Sd, at
IL o'clock, as tobacco peddlers. They met a
man by the name of John Caster, who hailed
them and asked what the news was"
He was asked what kind of news he wished
to hear, and he replied Convention news"
He approached Keith and gave him the ku-
Klux grip, which was returned. The mar
shall and his deputy were at once taken into
confidence. Caster was confident they were
Ku-Klux. and whenever their loyalty to the
khan was questioned he vouched for them.
Caster told Keith he had helped to send many
a negro to hell before the election, and that
as soon as the excitement was over he intend
ed to send as many more.
On Saturday preceding their arrival q
meeting of the khan at Jonesboro' had passed
sentence upon colored man and white man ;
the white man was to be hung until he was
dead, and the colored man was to be whipped.
Owing to the arrival Of a squad of United
States soldiers in the neighborhood on the
night appointed for the raid it was postponed
until last night, when the Khan was to meet
at the Marshal's tobacco? p wagon and uni
form themselves for the raid. The man who
kept the uniforms was in this city trying to
give bail for a former Offense. During his
absence the uniforms were removed from his
house to the house of Murk McKeiver. A
man was sent to this house and the DISCUSSES,
ten in number, obtained. The party assem-
bied at the wagon and were at once arrested
by the Marshal. The following are the names
of the men arrested: William w. Wicker,
Jesse Bryant. w. Caster, William ]. Bryan,
r. N. Bryan, and ID. McIver, all Of Moore
county. Bryan and Wicker, who are charg-
ed with the murder of Murkerson McLane,
were committed to Jail to await an examina-
ton. which is postponed two weeks for want
of witnesses. ..r
The other four were allowed to give bail in
the sum Of two thousand dollars each for their
appearance at the September term of the
United States Circuit Court.
John Caster turns State evidence, and his
development will reveal state of affairs
which will startle the public, and implicate
parties little suspected.