The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-08-04

received Ku Klux notices, and all resigned or
led. The policv there has been more toward
murder and less toward whipping. The kill
ng Of ten negroes taken from jail by several
hundred Ku Klux, acting under military or
ganization, was investigated. prominent
lawyer of the place, Mr.. Shard, Democrat on
cross examination startled the committee by /
stating that he believed almost every respec-
table unmarried man in the community be-
longed to the Ku Klux, and he believed
Ku Klux were within days maIeh
of that village & negro Methodist preacher
named Louis Thompson, who had an appoint
ment, June IL, at Goshen Hill Church, IN In
ion county, received Ku Klux notice IN the
usual form not to preach. He preached, not
withstanding, to very few, most OF the con-
gregation fleeing when they saw the notlce.
In the evening a clan of twenty Ku Klux
came, tied him and whipped him, led nm on
several miles, dragging him part OF the way
tied to horses, whipped him again until death,
mutilated him in a way that can not with pro-
priety be described, hung him, and then threw
his body into the Tiger river, leaving notice
forbidding any one to bury him. Before the
committee returned Senator Scott sent
Thompsonis brother. now a refugee from Col
umbia, to Union county, with letter to in
sure him strong guard Of United States cav
airy, to 90 to bury the body, which was re-
ported to be still lying, half decomposed, on
The waters edge.
Two more days were spent in examining
witnesses IN Columbia, on returning from
Spartansburg. One day was occupied in hear
ing the statements and general views of Gen
eral Wade Hampton and General Butler,
Democratic candidate for Governor last fall.
The committee then visited York county,
where they remained nearly q week. They
discovered at Yorkville bitter spirit among
the white citizens. At supper at the hotel,
on the evening of taeir arrival, Major James
Berry threw pitcher of milk over Hon. A. s..
Wallace, the representative of the district,
and Hon. J. e. Stevenson of the committee.
They were just seating themselves at the
| table, and not word had been spoken Mr..
Wallace jerked out a revolver and raised
it to shoot Berry. The ladies screamed, and
the landlord threw himself before Berry, and
Mr.. Stevenson coolly caught Mr.. Wallace's
hand and ordered the landlord 10 take that
man out OF the room. Half dozen friends
gathered around Berry, and he went out In
the course of an hour several citizens of prom
inence called to apologize in the amplest man
ner on behalf OF Berry, who was willing to 90
on his knees, If required, for what he alleged
was an unlntentIonal affront to Mr.. Stevenson.
1t was subsequently aseertained that the bust
ness had been discussed by Berry and his
friends during the afternoon, it was to be
carried out, and that Berry had proposed tc
use hot coffee, but finally concluded on milk
The colored band serenaded the Committee
later In the evening. A crowd of youns
white men filled the porch of the hotel, ant
were about the band frequently, cursing thl
negroes and Yankees in an insulting manner
As the band went away the crowd followed
and nearly filled the side walk. The bant
and those with it, negroes, were kept by tw
village policemen from the side waYhn On
negro was thrust off by policemen, who say
the negro resisted and struck him. The negr
and two men who were close by say the negr
struggled to get away from the grasp of tn
policemen, who seized, cursed and struck hin
The policemen fired at the negro, and cor
tinued firing until he had inflicted five wound
The man was still living when the committe
left. The testimony taken showed that bot
: the policemen and mayor were members
the Ku KlUx. No one was arrested.
The community in York county was foun
in almost utter social and political demora
ization, civil authorities being useless fart
and mockery. Colonel Merrill, in cnarge of
small force stationed there, an officer of hig
character and Of great energy, laid before IL
: committee the details of sixty-eight cases
7 outrages which he had investigated, some
them most revolving and horrible. 1t Wi
found impossible for the committee to exam
S inc more than a small part of the crowds
whipped, manned or terror stricken wretch
who hocked in upon hearing of their comm
= When the committee adjourned the hall
which they sat was filled, stairs, halls al
, porches, with those waiting to be heard.
I I The usual course pursued on arriving at
j place was to divide the time they expected
o remain between the majority and minority
the Committee. Judge Van Trump usual
) called two or three of the most prominel
' lawyers, who each occupied several hours
r setting forth the Democratic view of affair
!. giving their opinions on the relations OF Il
; two races, the inethciency Of the state govern
: ment, and the feeling OF the white people t
f ward the general government. They alwa,,
said they had heard of the Ku Klux, but new
saw one. Generally they seemed to regal
g them as a kind of vigilance committee, or loc
D police, and did not consider them under gener
;, Organization, but simply to repress outbreak
; The minority then called for those who ha
e seen and felt the Ku Klux. The oath, foIs
| of proceeding Of Khan councils, and modes
operation when on raids, were fully develope
Scores of men whom the proof showed to
= Ku Klux were examined, all of whom, exec
/ few whose disclosures were full and lmpo
tant, denied any knowledge whatever OF Il
5 Ku KIux. One who was shown to have bee
in several outrages swore he had never heal
I of the existence Of the Ku Klux IN his Iii
Judge Van Trump subjected all the witness
7 called by the majority to most searching e.
3 animation.
The Committee to-day adopted a resolutiC
; for the appointment of a Subcommittee
three members to hear the testimony of fe
l witnesses now on their way to Washingto
! | when an adjournment will take place until Il
10th of September.