The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-08


from Others. We don't kill anybody but tho Ku
Klux."
steady moral decline and growing atrocity has
been remarked OF Henry Berry Lowery, but ne mas
committed no outrages on women and no arsons
HIS confidence and sense OF lonely ana desperate
Independence have become more marked. COO.
grim, murderous humor mas gained upon him. and
he IA q rrine fond OF his distinction. frequent
Exhibitions OF magnanimiV distinguish MS
bloody course and he has learned 70 arrogste
to himself protcctorate over the interests OF the
mulsrtoes, which rney return Dy q sort OF
hero worship. There Is not, probably, negro In
scunletown VINO would betray him, and his prowess
Is q household word In every black family IN sea-
board Carolina. His consistent ana
UNFLINCHING METHOD OF WARFARE
has gained him awe among the whites amount
ing nearly TO respect. and by certain IN
tegrty IN word ana performance he has come
to deaf with all the community as an absolute
and yet wilful dictator. Like the rattiesnake OF
the swamps he sends warning before he Kills, ana
only In ROBBERY Is remorseless and sudden. The
family Is divided In verdict upon his conduct
Patrick, Sinclair ana Purdy, who are Mcthodists,
speak pretty much in these terms quoted from
Patrick Lowery, who Is preacher):-
"My brother Harry had provocation-the Same all
OF US had-when they killed my old father. But he
has got to be a pad man, and pray the Lord to
move him from this world, II he'll only repent frst."
AN ANTE BELLUM EPISODE.
good deal OF the above Is probably decettful.
The current opinion OF scunetown Is as follows in
the language or an aged coi0red woman at Shoe
Heel
"Massta," she SAID. "Henry Berry Lowery amt
gwyng to Kill nobody but them that wants TO Kill
him. He's just paying these white people back
Tor killing his old father, brother and cousins. Ills
ole mother knew right well, and she says, MY
boys aint doing right, but can't help IL; can
only jiss pray Tor 'em. They want brought up to
do all this misery and lead this yer kind OF life.'
Massta" resumed Aunt Phoebe. 'this used to be
dreful hard country for pore nigRers Do you see
my teeth up yer, Massta f''
The old woman drew her lip back with her finger
and showed the empty gum, with
ONLY TOOTH AT EACH SIDE.
my massta-his names MacQueen Tor Mac
Quade)-knocked em all out wid an oak stick.
God knows worked for him wild all my might but,
you see. he was keepin' black women and his
wife gwine TO leave him, he wanted me to say she
had black men, and I'd died first lie whipped
me ana beat me- and at lass ne struck me wild
stick over de mouf, and, Massta Jess put my hand
up to catch de blood and all teef dropped In lie
palm OF my hand. Oh, dlss was O hard country,
and Henry Berry Lowery's jess u pawn 'em back
He's only payn' lem back! is better days for de
country
This Is a perfectly literal version of Christian
old womans talk. Bandit and robDer as he Is, and
olo0dstalned with many murders, this LOwrcy's
crimes scarcely take relief from tine blotched back
ground Of an intolerant social condition. where the
image OF God was outraged by slavery through two
hundred years OF bleeding, suffering and submit
ting. The black Nemesis is up playing the Ku Klux
for himself. and for many coming generation the
hnrra of NDrtI. ~s<vhfn f,n
dren with tales OF Lowery's band Still. the fellow
is a cod-blooded malignant. murdcrous being.
without defenders even among republicans.
MURDER OF SHERIFF REUBEN KING.
The first great crime succeeding the killing OF
Brant Harris was committed In the motive OF house
robbery upon highly esteemed old citizen OF ad-
vanced years. the Sherin OF Robson county,
Reuben King. This happened on the night OF Janu-
AIRY 2S 1869.
Henry Berry Lowery has since said that he had
no intention OF accomplishing the death OF this gen.
ueman, but that, being poor and aware that King
had quantity or money IN his possession 'the
boys" wanted TO rob him. and had notion OF put.
ting hun out OF the world. Alter being shot King
fingered till the 18th OF March, and his ante.mortem
statements. added to the confession oil Henderson
Oxendine, one Of the robbers. give US complete
history OF the tragedy. Lowery alleges that ne
whipped George Applewhlte the negro who fred
the fatal shot; but this may be mere cunning, and,
BESIDES the bandits" have charged the crime upon
John Dial. the States witness
The rufiians, hearing that King was possessed OF
considerable money, came down from Scunletown
and ha in a thicket near his house. which was two
miles south Of Lumberron. There they built nre
20 warm themselves, and, being only partly armed,
they cut budgeons from the swamp and trimmed
them.
Dial remarked, 1.-THE old Sheriff may resist us I,
'If he does" exclaimed Boss Strong '.we'n Kill
him ~
They blackened their faces to disguise their iden.
tity and race more securely. and them to the num-
Der OF eight or nine, moved with stealth OF In
dams, up TO the dwelling OF the hale old gentleman.
Sheriff King was reading the report Of recent
Baptist Convention beside his fireplace. In another
part OF the room-the parlor-Edward Ward one Of
his negnbors, who had come to pass the night,
reading book. suddenly the door was pushed
open and
ROW OF BLACKENED. HIDEOUs FACES
appeared over the threshold, while gun barrel was
pointed at King. and an imperative voice said
surrender ~
The man Ward sat as paralyZed The Sheriff,
reused at the summons from his book, scarcely un.
derstood the situation BY fata instructive move
ment he leaped up and seized the menacing fire.
arm and bent 1t down toward the door. Henry
Berry Lowery the holder OF it, struggled at the butt
and bent 1t up again, and In the wrestle the piece
was discharged into the parlor floor, burning and
soaring the boards there. BY this time the close
ness OF the encounter and the Sherrs stin and
powerful hold upon the gun had brought his body
around so that his back was toward the open door.
At this instant pistol at close quarters, was fined
into the old mans head from behind, and he fell to
the floor In agony. The robbers Immediately, and
without snow OF resistance, fired at Edward Ward
and felled him with a wound which lasted for
months.
The females OF the family rushed in and stood
Mortified spectators OF the misery Of the two men.
The backened and excited faces Of the robbers
struck them with additional terror.
water " gasped the bleeding Sheriff; III am
burning up For Gods sake give me some water p,