The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-30
THE INVESTIGATION IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
Savage Barbarities Inflicted on the
Negroes.
Whippings and Revolving,
Mrtilaticns.
Crowds OF TtrOr.Strieksn WfetcheS Anxious
TO Relate Their SufieyingS

Tor Scott and Representatives Stevenson and Van
Trump. reached Washington to-day, returning from
. solourn OF four weeks IN various parts OF South
Cororna, whcie they have been investigating Ku
Klax outrages on the spots where they occurred
The statements derived from the party as published
In the Evening Star, are as follows:-
They first visited the capital-Columbia. More
than hundred refugees, who had ned from vlo-
lence In various counties were there; but after eX-
2mlning witnesses for two days the Committee
determined to 60 closer TO the scenes or alleged
violence, and went to SparansDure. They
expected te remain there three four days, but
stayed eleven. When word got out through spar.
tansburg county that they there the whites and
negroes. victims OF violence. came in by scores
every day from all directions. Murders and cruel
whIppings by the Ku Klux bands had so terrified
them that, in many neighborhoods nearly every
the woods for months every night. They showed
scariueo backs gunshot wounds, manned ears ana
In jamestown springs township lis cases of whip
ping were proved. The Committee awoke every
morning 10 nd In the yard by the hotel new crowd
Of victims OF ku kluX, some including w ites, who
had sunered outra2es which cannot he described
with decency. Alter being whipped the Victims il
well known persons, were often commanded. under
pam OF DEATH 10 publish card ren0unclng The re-
publican party. In lie Of the SOUTH CdrOi,nd
spartan, the democratic newspaper. forty-two such
cards were found, recently published.
AT KNOXVILLE the Committee renamed two days.
Not an avowed White republican was found In the
place, though members OF the Committee were pri-
vately assured by a few that they would avow
themselves IL protected. The terror of the negroes
ried by republican majority but the re-
publican county officers received Ku Klux notices
aud all resigned fed. The policy there has
been more towards murder and less towards whip.
ping. The Killing Of ten negroes taken from the
jail oy several hundred ku klux, acting under mill
lary organization, was investigated. A prominent
lawyer or the place, Mr.. Shard, democrat, on
cross-exsminauon, startled the committee by stat
Ing that lie believed almost every respectable un.
married man in the community belonged 10 the
ku KluX, ana he believed LOCO Ku KluX were
within a days march or that village negro
MethOdISt ureacle-. TuOmDaOn
had an appointment. June ii at Goshen HUI church,
In Union county, received a Ku Klux notice
In the usual form, not TO preach. He
preached. Notwithstanding. to very few,
most OF tue congregation neeing when they
mounted ku kuX came, tied aim and whipped him,
led INN on several miles, dragging him part vi the
way tied to the horses, whipped him again until
DEATH mutilated him IN q way that cannot with
proprlety be described, hung him and threw the
body into the Tiger river, leaving NOTICE forbid
Before the Committee returned Senator Scott sent
Thompson's brother, now refugee from Columbia,
10 Union county with letter TO insure HIM a strong
guard or United States cavalry 10 go and bury the
body, which was reported TO be still lying half de.
composed on the waters edge
Two more days were spent in examining witnesses
An Columbia. On returning from Spartansburg one
day was occupied III hearing the statements and
eral Butler, the democratc candidate for Governor
last fall.
The Committee then visited YORK county, where
they remained nearly week. They discovered at
forkville bitter spirit among the white citizens.
At supper at the hotel, on the evening OF their ar
over Hon. A. 4. Wallace. the Representative OF the
District and Hon. J. L. Stevenson. OF the Com.
mittee. They were just seating themselves at the
table, and not a word had been spoken Mr. Wal.
lace Jerked ont a revolver ana raised 1t TO shoot
Berry, the ladies screaming, but the landlord
threw himself before Berry, and Mr.. Steven
son cooliy caught Wallace's hand and ordered
the landlord to take that man out OF the
room. Hail dozen friends gathered around Berry
and he went out. La the course OF an hour several
citizens OF prominence called to apologize In the
10 60 on his Knees II required for what he alleged
was an unintentional arront to Mr. Stevenson. 1t
was subsequently, aScertained that the business had
been discussed 10y Berry ana his friends during the
AFTERNOON II was 10 be carried out, and that Berry
had proposed to use hot coffee but finally concluded
on milk The colOred band serenaded the Committee
later in the evening. crowd OF young white men
nled the porch oil the hotel and were about the pand
frequently curslng The negroes and the Yankees
ia an insulting manner AS the band went away
the crowd followed and nearly filled the sidewalk.
The band and those with it (negroes) were Kept by
negro was thrust OF by policeman. who says the
negro resisted and struck him. The negro and TWO
men who were close by say the negro struggled TO
get away from the grip OF the policeman, VINO
seized cursed and struck htm, but that the negro did
not strike. AS he pulled away the policeman fired
1t The negro, and continued firing until he had In
nicted five wounds The man was still living when
thai both policeman and Mayor or Intendente were
members OF the ku Klux No one was arrested.
The community in York county was found TO be In
almost utter social ana political generalization. The
civil authorities being useless farce ana mock
cry oil the victims OF the Ku klux Klan.
Colonel Merrill, in command OF small force sta
Toned there, officer OF nlgn character ana great
energy. laid before the Committee the details OF
etxty-eight cases OF outrages which he had nvest
gated, some OF them most revolving and horrible
II was found impossible for the Committee TO ex-
anime more than small part OF the crowns OF
whipped MANNED or terror-StricEen wretches who
hooked in upon hearing OF their coming
When the Committee adjourned the building In
which they had sat was filed, stairs. halls and
porches, with those waiting to be heard The usual
course pursuedon arriving place TO divide the
Lime they expected TO remain between the majority
and the minority OF the Committee. Judge Van Trump
usually called two or three OF the most prominent
lawyers who each occupied several hours IN setting
forth the democratic view OF affairs, giving their
opinions on the relations OF the races the inef
cheney ana corruption OF the State government, and
the feeling OF The white people toward the general
government. They always said they mad heard Of
ku Klux. but never saw one. Generally they seemed
80 regard them as KIND OF vigilance committee or
q general organization, bat simply TO repress
outbreaks. The majority then called for those who
had seen and felt the ku Klux. The oaths, forms
OF proceeding IN the Khan, counses and modes
OF operation when riding on raids were fully de.
Se'oped; scores OF men whom the proof showed to
Few, whose disclosures were full and important de-
MED any knowledge whatever Of KH Klux. one who
was shown 10 have been In several outrages swore
that he had never heard OF the existence OF ku Klux
In his life. Judge Van Trump subjected all the wit
nesses called by :ne majority TO the most searching
The Ku Klux Committee to-day adopted a resolu.
aion for the appointment OF a SUB COMMITTEES OF
three members 10 hear the testimony Of a few wit
nesses now on their way to Washington, when an
adjournment Will take place until the 10th OF Sep.
tembers
The Object Of the Ku Kiux Order Defeat
Of the Republicans In the Presidential
Election.
WASHINGTON. July 90 1871.
The resident Executive Committee Of the Repub-
1can party nas circulated, as a campaign document,
digest II Is claimed, OF the facts brought TO light
by the Congressional Investigating Committee. and
republican papers TO serve the cause BY
publishing the document In fun 1t commences Is
The Congressional Committee investigating the
Ku klux vlllaIny--a subcommittee In Washington
md another subcommittee In south C3rolina-have
now been IN daily session more than two months
aud have had before them many scores Of witnesses
from all sections OF the late insurrectonary States
men OF both high and humble station presiding
riders preachers, ex.melnDers OF the FEDERAL Con.
ex The Canlederaie