The Lincoln County herald., 1872-01-11
The Saline ku-klux.
Especial Dispatch to the Republican J

Especial Dispatch to the Republican,
JEFFERSON CIrY, Jan 6.-rte follow
ing Official report to Gov. Brown from
Col. Albert Sigel, adjutant general
Of the state, who returned last evening
from Saline county, ctfectually nails 10
the wall the st. Louis Democrats cock.
and bull story in regard TO the alleged
Ku klux difficulties 10 that county. Col.
Sigel, whose testimony may be regarded
as entirely unprcjudiced, says "there is
not o particle Of truth in the reports"
contained in the St. Louis Democrat 70.
fcrred to-
But the roorback has been sent abroad
over the wires, and the malicious slander
has produced the effect intended, while
co ontradiction, although grudginely made
in subsequent issue Of the Democrat,
will net neutraliye the poison contained
in the 6rst report. Out Of faitness to
maligned county Of this state, the Aasoci
ated Press agent at St. Louis ought to
transmit over the wires, as a slight repar
alton to those people, tho subjoned
HEADQUARTERS STATE OF MissoURI)
ADJUTANr. GENERALS OFFICE,
JEFFERSON CRY, Mo. Jan. S, 2s72
To His Excellency B. Gra,z Brown, Gov.
ernor Of Missouri:
SIR: Upon reports contained in the
issues of the St. Louis Democrat of the
9th, 2Sth and 10Th Of last month Of a mas
sacre Of number Of negroes on the Glas.
gov road, near Marshall, Saline county,
by baud OF Ku.klux, your excellency
directed me on the 1st OF this month, to
proceed to the scene Of outrages, and to
investigate them. left jefferson City
the same day, and went to Marshall by
way Of Boonville and Arrow Rock, ar.
irving at the designated place on the
evening Of the I'd inst. | remained at
Marshall the next day and returned on
the following via BoonviIe to Jefferson
City. 1t may suffice to say, that there is
not a partical of truth in the reports
above mentioned. l have spoken to
farmers residing on the road leading to
Glasgow, to persons aud former Union
soldiers, and neither they, nor any other
person whom I met, knew that any
awless act hud been committed 10 said
locality. The only fact which might
have led to exaggerations and misstate-
ments is the following:
On Saturday, the Gath Of Dece mber
Mr.. Cason, the city marshal, went out Of
town to arrest, upon warrant, n mulatto
named Sam Smith, q notorious thief no
only know as such in Saline, but also il
the adjoining counties, Mr.. Cason me-
Smith in cabin with two other negroes
two and half miles from Marshall, bu,
found it perilous to arrest the man in th'
cabin. As soon as Smith had left, Casor
followed him and attempted the arrest
when Smith offered resistance and wa.
thereupon fred at by the officer. who
according to his own statement. wouudct
Smith in the shoulder. Smith escaped
} and according to last reports was seel
since 10 Pettis county. But this afiai
took place on q road leading to Finuey
creek in a southwestern direction AM
not ou the road from Marshall to Glas
gov.
The citizens Of the county are iudig
nant that reports Of such aggravatin
character, injurious to the best interes
Of their community and gotten up b.
some irresponsible person, have foun
, way into the public press; and al
bound to say, from all the information
collected, that the people Of Saline count
are as law abiding as any Of the state
and that the colored portion thereof ar
as safe and protected in their rights i
the said county, as the negroes in s.
, Louis county.
l have the honor to remain. very re
spectfully your obedient servant.
ALBERT SIGEL.