New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-09-04

20 be divided into "dens" never were IN coinmupicso
with those OF any other State county, ano 'ns n-
nation Is confirmed by what have learned -ore' Dot
there Is no doubt the KuKux spirit pervaded por
tions Of this county, and that men and boys banded
themselves together either fghen the negroes or TO
commit particular depredations The Ku-kux OF THIS
county have been accused of several murders spent
some timo yesterday, in examining the records al ne
Courthouse aud Of those murders which at the ame
caused much excitement In the NORTH hno only ono
that has about II any circumstances TO throw suspcoh
upon tho Ku-Klux. I do not propose 70 10
into The history OF all Of these cases, but VIII give c
circumstances OF two as example, ON the 7tn OF
December 1870 a white named Fryar shot and
killed Luke Shaw negro, In his own house, and inc
murder was charged to the KuKlux. The testimony
taken before the Coroners jury which was at once heo
showed that the afternoon OF the day on wn,on
Fryar killed Shaw, he was intoxicated ana 1851 NC
horse He went 10 shaws cottage to inquire about
and probably insulted him. that he refused 70 answer
questions. Then Fryar struck Shaw with q suck' 'ne
latter returned the blow and In the ght which enued
the white man was whipped. About midnight having
found his horse he was going home, accompanied ny
several companions On arriving at shaw's mousse NO
dismounted, broke down the door, aud went H. MS
companions saw that he was about 70 Sho0'
the negro and unsuccessfuIy attempted to pre-
vent him. IL was nothing but cold
blooded murder. An inquest was held the next
day. and the Coroners jury found verdict of guilty
against all who were In the company, Ihey wero az
term OF the Court Fyar was indicted but the G 81 Sd
pary f0p Soon no ao TSted states
arrived and some soldiers were sent into the county
The %sS and Examined He arrived at the
conclusion that the Grand Jury mad ana als-
charged them. The man who committed the murder mas
never since heard from. Immediately after this,
1 was told meeting called at the Courthouse, In
Speeches We're made by both Democrats and Republi
condemning in the severest terms all acts OF law
Hha mont NJ he w
in series Of resolutions which were unanimously
passed, and committee or five from each township wa
appointed assist the officers OF the law IN ferreng out
crime
NUMEROUS AND UNwARRANrABLB ARRESTS
found at the Courthouse the records OF several other
murder cases. some of the victims being negroes and
an equal number being white men, but attending only
one as l before remarked, there circumstances
which pointed the KuKiux and in this case believe
equally probable that the murder was committed 70
satisfy private revenge. This occurred about eleven
months ago-on the Esd OF September, 1871 The victim
was Menas Hobbs alias Herring, who was shot down on
the road in the day time, Stevens Bridge not very far
from this town. negro who with MN teslncd ne
fore the Corouos jury that he recognized one James
proved an ab y the testimony of both whites and ne
grOes and the negro corrected bis testimony before Id
never be vd doHnd soon after fSis' the United
aEder officers BEGAN Their operations in this county
detachment Of troops under Command OF Lieut. JONES
marshals began their arrests Secretservioe Agent
Hester also came here in search of KuKlux and Inter
nal Revenue prizes Disguised tobacco trader, ne
offered unsauped tobacco OF very fine quality to nearly
every dealer III Clinton for 81 cents pound NO one
purchased of him He then went the vicinity where
the last murder was committed ana getting about him
lot Of young fellows, he plled them WIN WHISKY anu
took to organize Klan and finally haliwtted fellow
named zck Royal not 10 be outdone by Hester boosted
murder of Hobbs. He was, Of course, at once
arrested and taken to Raleigh and upon his
issued He was kept in Jail for few
months, but is now at liberty about the streets OF
Raleigh better clad AMI better fed than he ever was
at home Having started arrests were made here
by the wholesale and on the most frivolous evidence
Take single example, One day last winter a deputy
marshal into Clinton and arrested the sherH ana
ex-sherf OF the county on charge OF conspiracy.
They were taken, with about 20 others arrested IN oser
parts OF the county, before Commissioner Porter WHO
was about 20 miles from here When exSherh powens
called the man VINO mad made the amlavit was
put upon the stand and questioned lie knew OF noun
ing connect Mr.. Powell with the ku-Kux, anu wheh
the affidavit to which his name attached was read
him he said that he had never sworn to the essential
charges in it, but that they had been written there WIZ
out hs knowledge The witness on whose alniaVt the
sheriff had been arrested knew more than the other
man. He had heard a rurnor that the sheriff was ku-
Klux but knew nothing about 1t himself or course,
both the prisoners discharged, but the United
States officials got from the Government, III lees ana
mileage, SIC in each case
THE BLACKS USMoLtsTED EXCEPT ny BLACKS.
There seems TO have been great effort 10 connect
some prominent citizens Of the county with the Ku
Kux. For this purpose indictments were obtained
against Col McKOy, the leading lawyer OF the county
people Of al parties and Mr. Holmes respectable mer
chant Of Clinton hearing of 1t, they at once went to
Raleigh and gave the necessary bonds At the last term
of the Court they both there again. and demanded
trial. but unsuccessful, and, after remaining
there weeks were obliged to renew their bonds and
wait until the next term ,,-. -,
ido not pretend to have given a complete history OF
the KuKlux this county, OF the efforts TO suppress
it, Negroes have been whipped and men nave been ar
rested by the county officers for IT, In one notape ~
stance eight men were arrested by the snefH
but their cases were first transferred TO Wilmington,
then TO Brunswick County, and finally taken out or the
hands OF the state authorities by the Federal 0ncas
Nobody can tell when they will be tried. cannot
tell what the disposition of the people has been In times
past toward lawless men, but am convinced that the
Ku-Kux spirit dead in this county, as II Is every
where else and that the civil and political rights OF the
black man secure here as are those OF the
white man. | have had excellent opportunity IN
Clinton 10 converse with of the most intelligent
black men, and find that they have no complaints
make OF their treatment by the whites BY their own
testimony they vote they please without moestatlon
from any source unless they vote the Conser
valve Liberal ticket when they are III real danger OF
punishment by persons Of their own race.
EX-GOV. VANCE'S RECORD.