New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-08-10
aleiu Orleans Republican.
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE UNITED STATES
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS
THE n1IssIssIPPI KU-KLUx.
Ku-KIux Examinations Contempt by a
Witness.

Ku-KIux OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES by
Witness.
The Jackson Pilot of Saturday says: :.
A peculiar case came before Judge Hill
in the United States District Court on yes
terday, which is also of more than ordinar,
interest. 1t seems that man by the mann
of Seaman, resident of Newton Station
in this State, was summoned as witness il
a certain cause then or recently before til,
United States grand jury. What the exac
nature of the matter was we are unable tt
say, as all jurors are bound by solemn
oath not to reveal proceedings had before
them, but a judgment can be formed from
the action had IN open court as to its char
acter, and it must have had reference to
some Ku-Klux or other societies. The wit
ness was three times carried before Judge
Hi from the grand jury room-this body
at present occupying the senate chamber in
the capitol-and on each occasion charged
with a refusal to respond to certain inter
rogatories put to him by the foreman.
1t would appear, from the manner of the
witness and the words of the officers, that
q question as to his connection with an
oath-bound, secret order, had been asked,
as he declared that he had conscientious
scruples against responding, and fatty re-
fused to reply. Some argument then arose
as to the power of the court to compel re-
joinder, or, in the event of continued re-
fusal to commit the party for contempt
United States District Attorney Jacobson
commended, that unless the party did re-
spond, he should be committed and re-
ferred the court to the statute of February
IS, 1868, which sets forth that any admis-
sions made by a witness in any judicial
proceedings were incompetent as testimony
In any criminal case, and would not be used
against him.
1t was only the privilege of the witness
TO decline to answer a question when his
answer wonld tend to criminate himself.
He also quoted the fifth article of the
amendments to the constitution of the
United States, which, in substance, pro-.
vides that no person shall be compelled, in
any criminal case, to be a witness against
himself, Inasmuch as his admissions are
no longer competent evidence, the court
ruled that the witness should answer, but
gave him time until this morning to make
such answer. The witness still refused to
respond, urging the same reason for his &C.
ton, that be had scruples of conscience to
SO doing.
We can only imagine what these scruples
may be, bat the reasonable deduction to be
made from the premises is that he has taken
an oath not to reveal certain facts, that he
considers more binding upon himself. than
that which every juror takes upon becom-
ing a juror, and every witness before a
grand juror must take upon being brought
into the presence of that grand jury. 1t
remains to be seen whether this witness |
will refuse this forenoon, and be committed
to jail, there to remain in charge of the |
proper officer until he shall purge himself |
of his contempt by responding to the inter- |
rogations that have been put to him. |
The most of judges, upon having wit |
ness of this character brought before them |
would have at once resorted to force, or at |
least the force that lies in the majesty of |
the law, to induce proper respect tor the /
duly constituted authorities; and we are not |
sure that the court, in this instance, by per-
Knitting the party to be three times carried
before it, and each time receiving a distinct
affront to the law and its judicial repre-
sentative, did not seriously err in showing
80 great a degree of leniency toward this
witness. 1t cannot be disputed that the
court has shown a greater amount of for
bearance and leniency than the peryerse
and contumacious party deserved.
This forenoon Mr.. Scanlan, for the fourth
or fifth time, was brought before Judge
Hill for refusing TO answer the questions
put toahim by the grand jury. Judge Hill
at once committed him to jail, in charge of
the sheriff, there to remain until he purged
himself of his contempt by responding to
the queries of the jury. He was taken in |.
charge, and is now an occupant of the
county prison.
The Pilot has~the following editorial on
the same subject:
One of the Newton county witnesses, by
The name of Thomas Seaman, was yester-
day three times brought before the court,
charged with a refusal to answer questions
put to him by the grand jury concerning
his knowledge OF the Ku-Klux organization,
as we suspect. His peremptory refusal to
answer, his defying manner, all showed
him to be one of the terrible characters
hat are responsible for the outrages com
nitted against the peace of the State. We
IRE somewhat surprised that such charac-.
er should have been borne with all day be.
ore being sent to prison for contempt of
ourT He ought to have been sent there
he moment he refused. 1t was due to the !.
ignity of the court and the respect of the
majesty of the law, that svch should have !
cen done promptly, without hesitating, but !,
nth the spirit due to the place and the cir :
umstances. He is, however, now in the !.
Dckup, where he viii have time to mediate !.
n the question as to whether he owes :
nost to the Ku-Klux organization or to the =
eace and good order of society, which NAV
e assured that the whole power of the gov
rnment viii be with them to sustain them
q their efforts for the peace of the country. 5
They may be assured that the moral sup a
ort OF the best men in the land is with p
hem to-day. Be encouraged, then, we say, il
go forward in the good work so well b
egun. Let all violators of law know that e
here is no peace for them. Let all men e
now that the government of the United Il
tates is not only able, but is determined Il
nat this new form of rebellion against CON j
ltuted authority shall be put down, and
u men found guilty, whether high or low. a
Oh or poor, shall be brought to condign a,
unishment. Again we say to all agents of m
le government, be not disheartened. hut
0 forward and do your duty, and you viii
sustained by all WHO love peace, good :,
rder and equal rights. ~