Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1871-11-30

their way back to Alabama.
The declared object of these raiders from
Alabama, and their coadjutors in Meridi-
an, was to make the latter place :" too hot
to hold certain Republican officials, es-
pecially Mayor Sturgis, whose offence was
said to be that lie " associated with color
ed people too much, and attended their
meetings.
The State Superintendent of Education
Informed witness that from twenty to
twenty five colored school houses had
been burned during the past year. 1870
Robert W. Flournoy, Superintendent
of Schools in Pontotoc county, and editor
of paper in the town of Pontotoc, testi-
ties that in his capacity of Superintendent
he organized sixty-four schools in the
county-ffty-two white and twelve col
ored-and appointed the teachers solely
on the ground of their qualifications, and
without regard to their politics. num-
! Der of the teachers of colored schools were
waited upon by parties of KuKlux in the
night and informed that they must stop
teaching, which some of them did, the
Ku-Klux announcing their determination
to break up all the co1ored schools in the
State. Witness believes one of these
teachers was whipped.
Witness, through his newspaper, de-
nounced this interference with the schools |
in very strong terms, and soon afterwards
learned that the Ku- Klux were threaten
ing to attack him. On the night Of the
18th of May, Tor between IL p NJ, of the
18th and l 4. NJ. of the 13th,) party of
| disguised men entered the town and en-
quired for the residence of Col Flournoy.
/ Witness joined number of citizens out
side of his own residence, who united with
him in making resistance, the result of
which was that one member of the gang
was killed. A number of disguises were
afterwards picked up. These bands had
been riding through the county and whip
ping colored people for several months
before this attack on the witness, and such
is the reign of terror that many persons
whose backs they have "cut all to pieces"
will actually deny having been whipped
by them, hav ,ng been told that they would
be killed if they opened their mouths
about it.
A Republican is not safe in advocating
his sentiments in the part of the State
where witness resides. In 1868, one Mr
Cllrk, Il Republican speaker, was attack
ed at a pablo meeting, and had his leg
broken. During the same campaign
another Republican speaker Dr. Kerr,
his own yard At other points Rcpubli
t can meetings were broken up the same
, year.
, Witness has heard of Ku-Klux outragcs
in the counties of Union, Tippah, Leake,
Lee, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Alcorn, Tishe-
mingo, Itawamba, Monroe, LoMndes,
> Noxubcc, OLibbcla, Choctaw, Winston,
and Ecmper.
The next witness is a gentleman from
NoXubec county, who states that his oc-
4 cupation is that of "a planter, and his poll
! ties Democratic, though he has " not
i sought political reputation at ALL" lie
4 seems to have Il very intimate knowledge
Of the Ku- -Klux organization. Tie state.
# that things are in bad way in his own
r county, and in the adjoining counties OF
,fl Winston, Kemper and Lowndes, from if
# teen 20 twenty murders having oeen com
V mi.tcd during the nine months preceding
n the date of his testimony.
q. Sam. Roger (colored,) killed by body
=. of about thirty disguised men, nea
+ Brooksville. Roger was IAN ignoran
re freedman" but good farm hand, and bor
a good reputation.
- Hopkins, a colored preacher, kille,
;. in Noxubee county about April 1st. TIL
first intention of the KuKlux was mcrel
qy to whip him in order to stop his preach
ing, but he hallooed so loudly that the
Thought it best to kill him." $50 sma
a matter does human life appear to thes
murderous ruffians.
Dick Malone, (colored,) shot dead Will
lal standing by the roadside watching bod
is of KuKlux ride by, March /, 1871. NJ;
,se lone was ar industrious blacksmith, gui
cal ty of no offence but it is supposed son
us of the Ku Klux thought he would recoj
IN, nize them.
ed. Twenty-Five negroes were whipped Il
gs, same night ON the same plantation and Il
ed one adjoining (known as the Nillbanl
of plantation.) The object, as expressed
,li- the Witness was Ito straighten the neig
.he borhood and make the negro subservient
= George Chestnut, Ga colored schot
M teacher, in the eastern part of Noxub
ian county,) killed by Ku-Klux from beyol
ted the Alabama line, in January last. ]
the had been in Alabama electioneering.
ich A colorcd man, name unknown to W
sti- ness, killed near Sugar Lock, in The lat
;ur- part of 1870.
the Witness cannot distinctly call to mil
5 in the other cases, but there have been fro
late fifteen to twenty murdered in the coun
lese within year, all but one of them by d
$50 guised men, and the number whipped b
rms been far greater than the number kIll'
car Has heard of two or tllTse murders
5ere Winston county, eight or ten in Lownd
ons and six or eight in Kemper, within "
1ere past, while whipping has been comm
had occurrence - ~ i-tc3ji
to Witness has attended several Ku-Kl
the meetings having been invited by a neis
1ler Dor who was member of the order, q
was who vouchcd for him. 1t was kno'
the that lie had served under Forrest in
ond rebel army, and it was, therefore, tai
in for granted that he was ''all right" but
was never Joined the order or took their oa
Their meetings are held in seclu'