Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-01-26
RADICAL CONFESSION.
New York R0ughs Employed to EyteFml'
Hats the Ka-KIux Of South Csr0II8a.

From the Cincinnati Commercial
New YORK, January l5.-SamUel
Haggett. of I9S Madison street, swears
to The truth Of the following state
ment:
about seven weeks ago a Colonel
Baker, on the staff Of Governor Scott,
of South CarOliOa, appeared in a sa.
loon known as the Crystal, situated
il the BOWery, between BrOOme and
Grand streets. He inquired for men
who were willing to go to South Car
Olina, where they were to be
appointed deputy State c0nstables,
and be employed at the Union Gold
Mines for the protection of the negro
miners. He wanted fifty men, he
said, and showed his authorization
from Governor Scott tor procuring
them. Their transportation expenses
were to be paid, and after reaching
their destination they were TO receive
three dollars a day and mileage. On
these Representations, Baker secured
twenty-five men, among them myself,
and on the 22d o. last November he
started 10 South Carolina with his
recruits, making the voyage on the
steamer John AdgeT. We arrived at
Columbia November 26, and there
were sworn In as deputy cOnstables
by Chief Constable Hubbard. We
were given commissions and badges"
Then follows a copy Of the COM
mission and the names Of twenty-five
recruits, all of whom are Well-kDOWn
C characters in this city.
Haggett says the party was COM
manded by Colonel Jim Kerrigan.
On arriving in Columbia they were
regarded by the people as representa-
tive New York rOughs. They then
learned that Governor Scotland many
members of the South Carolina Leg
islature were afraid Of assassination
by the KU-KluX. They dared hardly
leave Columbia. The Ku.KluX con.
stantly watched their movements.
They could not get the Ku-KluX lead
ers in their grasp, though they knew
who they were and where they could
be found. Senator Crews, who lived
in Laurens, was afraid TO 20 home
without a strong guard. While the
party was at Roses Hotel, in COlum-
bia, a State Senator, accompanied by
another official, had several converse
tiOns with John Barrett, John COrCO-
ran, John OBrien and Hagget,
Offering them thirty thousand dol
lars and State protection If they
would 20 TO the house OF Mr.. Todd,
in Laurens, and attack and kill the
supposed leaders Of the Ku-Kluk
harbored there. They were said TO
be men named Todd, Clure and
McCurley. They were told that feet
horses would be provided for their
escape, and that they might have
$40, 900 which they would find in a
safe in TOdd's house. Meantime, the
remainder Of the party we're to attack
David Gest, Jasper Gibbs, eX-sheriff
Smith, ]. Rice Rogers, a man named
Sumner, and Henry West, all sup
posed to be leaders Of ku-KluX, who
lived in Union, twenty miles from
Columbia. Ten thousand dollars was
TO be paid for each one Of these men
who was killed. Il was understood
that Governor Scott authorized the
proposition. The party say they as
sented, without any Intention OF
attacking the Ku-KluX.
Iiaggett says: We accordingly
started for Union by rail, were there
armed with Winchester repeating
rifles, and then 6Ourneyed by wagon
to the Union gold mines, which are
some seventeen miles distant from
Union proper. On the way we were
Joined by fifteen mounted United
States regulars, under Lieutenant
Paul. On reaching the mines the Ku-
KIux will not allow to be worked, we
looked about US for the negro miners
whom we were TO protect, but not
single soul, black or white, was to be
seen in the neighbOrhoOd. Under the
circumstances, we did the best we
could. The wagons which had con-
Veyed US TO the spot had returned,
and we would have to tramp the dis
tance back. Rather than do that, we
concluded to remain where we were
and await developments. Our party
took up quarters Ia two deserted log