Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-06-28
HOW THEY DO IT.
Radical Ku-KluX Demonstrations in Ruther-
ford County.
Brutal and CowardIy Outrage Upon Negro
Woman.

/ From the Nashville Bauner.l
Robert Ray, colored, who lives
within three miles of Smyrna, on the
! place OF Colonel John Atkinson, ar
rived here a day or two ago and Se-
/ ported to United States Commissioner
Trimble a brutal outrage peTpetrated
] upon his wife last Sunday night while
he was. absent at church. He says
that himself and wife and Henry
Phillips and wife, his father and
mOtherin.law, live together in the
| same house. On the night mentioned
six men went to his house disguised
/ in long black robes, white paper hats
and white cloth visOTs, and announced
that they had been sent "tO hunt a
! big fat mulattO woman" They then
compelled his wife, who was a small
woman, to take a young babe from
her breast and lay it upon the bed,
and forced her out a short distance
from the house, stripped her and
ti0gged her for some minutes merci-
lessly, lashing her from head 20 foot.
cutting gsshes in her body and limbs,
and even infiCting the livid marks OF
their brutal ~ upon her face. When
they had finished with the woman
they sent her back TO the house.
Ray says that his mOther-in-laW was
the only "pOrtly woman" about the
house, and that her skin was black,
but she was absent at the time. The
band called for him but he was also
fortunately absent. The negroes at
the house recognized the persons in
disguise by their clothing and their
voices. Ray insists that no other per-
sons in that locality wear clothing
like these men had on. They sport il
every day and Sunday, too, and were
therefore easily recognizable.
The names of the parties are given
by Ray as Colonel John Atkinson,
John Harris, George Nash, Samuel
Atkinson, Thomas Tucker and Dewitt
Atkinson.
On his return home after church,
after having been told the story Of
his wite's maltreatment, Ray cOnclud-
ed that it would not be safe for him to
remain there during the night. He
accordingly "hid out" and came to
Nashville the next evening. Here he
has remained ever since. Colonel
John Atkinson, he states, has always
passed fOI a Union man, and is re-
garded as q Radical-in fact, that
Atkinson has claimed as much, him
self. He was a deputy sheriff under
radical rule.
This unlucky cOlOred man says that
he has in cultivation thirty two acres
in cotton and sixteen Ill corn, which
was in a fiourishing condition when
he left. He worked hard, and sus-
tsined a good character, and shows
that many OF the farmers in that sec
ton have frequently offered favorable
propositions to get him and family to
work for them. He "attends to his
business, is peaceable, and molests no
one" He cannot imagine what pro-
vOked Col. AtkinsOn's enmity, unless
il emanGted from what occurred
between them in Golfers store, at
MurfreesbOrO, two months ago. They
went to Mr.. Golfers store together.
Ray was engaged in buying necessi-
ties for his little family, when Atkin-
son had something to say regarding
the purchase. Collier told Atkinson
that he could trade with Ray without
his assistance. When Collier made
have been handed to him, as he "had
a little figuring to do on it himself"
To this Collier replied that he had
done all the figuring that was neces-
sary, and gave the bill to Ray, who
says that Atkinson has been murmur-
ing and grumbling about this transac-
ton ever since, and has gone so far as
to charge that Ray has been "gettIng
above him." etc.
The clothing and voices OF Colonel
John Atkinson, Samuel Atkinson
and Thomas Tucker were especially
recognized, Ray charges, on that Sun
day night.
Messis. Colyar, FoOte & Colyar
have undertaken the case with the
full intent to have justice meted out as
far as possible. at the time the
negroes first came to them with q
letter from Rev. DR.. T. 0. Summers,
introducing Stump, a cOlOred preacher
in Rays neighbOrhOod, who came
along with him. these gentlemen did
not know but that the Ku-Klux con-
cerned were such as Mr.. Buffers bill
was especially intended for, but they
nevertheless determined to prosecute
the case vigorously. If the affair is
managed properly, Atkinson and his
clique will be lodged in jail ere long,
to await a speedy trial. Ray is still
in the city, and is afraid to return
home unless those men are dealt with.
Let Us have justice done at once. It
is due TO the good people Of Ruther-
ford that The Ku-KlUX-the Radical
kU. KluX-shall be summarily dealt
with.