New-York tribune., 1872-08-14
THE KU-ELUX PRIS08ERS IN THE 1LBANY
PENITEN1LiRK.

COL WIuTLEY's REPORr-HE RECOMMENDS TIE
PARDON OF SOME OF THEM.
Col. Whitley, the Chief Of the Secret Service
Division dates his report theAtOrney New
York. Aug. Q, ana writes as follows f:
SIR: have the honor 90 Acknowledge the receipt OF
communication from your Depament under dale OF tne
I'd nst incosDg copy OF ktter from Gerrlt smith
addressed 10 the President in relation to those c0nycts
the Albany Penentiary who were convicted lOt Vlo-
10 Albany make thorough Investigation into the con-
dtOn Of those persons, and report 10 the
cIemency in regard to any OF them. In accordance
with your request proceeded TO Albany on the Ith
inst, for the purpose Of fulfilling the duty assigned me-
AS means of conducting my inquiries in manner best
adapted arrive at G the fac In the Case ana also 70
lead tbe prisoners TO express themselves as freely as
possible deemed 1t best 10 each OF the parties
separately, without any Knowledge on their part as TO
received the fullest aid OF Mr. Louis d. Pilsbury head
keeper OF the Penenthry whobrought each prisoner IN
separately, with the simple remark to each that tins
gentleman desires to talk with you"
The prisoners were mainly frank and communicative.
Some of them are YER poor ana 9nearned ana naYe g
that they members OF the various orders OF te or
ganizatlon known uIieT the esnefa neau oi s enc
plead in extenuatiOn that they had joined the 0rder
without a full knowledge Of Its aims ana OBJECT ~
their leaders, who hd managed TO escape from Tue
country leaving thin to bear the responsiolhty
and the punishment Of their msdeeds A number OF
them stated that they had been compelled 10 JOIN he
Order to themselves and families from ylsit%aton %
the suppositiOn that IL was society organized Ioi
mutual protection, butearned subsequently that ts re
designs were the extemnatien OF the negro race anu
the driving suchof the whites as we're IN favor Oh
the political equality and social elevation oi the Dachs rs
their msdeeds stated that the organization was one
innical the best interests Of the society and that the
Government fully Justified In breaking II up. Tho
In further extenuaton OF having been members OF the
Order they that the operations OF the klan were
intellect to whom th,y had been accustomed 10 look
for advice and counsel, and whom tney
did not suppose would lead them INTO
any combination that contemplated personal violence
and murder II these were necessary Tor the
OF its s1d Tiny "s Gd aaas IN the
Try. and they accepted the statement dnp inphc, in
tho manner above indicated neither prisoner know,
ing that any one but hlmsen d aaa ha,ore eese ob
served, of my official position or the object OF my ysl
There singular utlniInity In these statemebts,
been drawn into orealzaton differing so entirely N
the object which they supposed u had III view "hen 'ho'
In reply to the general question, What were the OBJ
Jects OF the organization y the answer was almost IN
be society estabishsd for mutual protection but after
haying been fully initiated, discovered TO be for po
in which oppose the Radical party in all its
FORMS and prevent the negroes from voting; u Mas Mas
brought US into our present condition"
The contron manifested by many OF these prisoners,
INTO Of Hscs they ea@ Is they the
trayed by unscrgpuloqs and designing men, OF more
gence and their extreme poverty, gil appeal
strongly for mercy. My views as to the
erpedency OF restoring any them society through
the exercise OF Executive clemency clearly In favor
OF such course with some portion OF them and be-
great safety but fully In the interest Of the public good
In those 10 which Intend respectfully 20 call your
but Absolutely ashamed oi the course which they seem
10 have unwitungly pursued They express themseves
ssnsss tss 70 @ ossd ana 70
law abiding citizens In their respective communities
Col whitley here appends list Of those whose pardon
he recommends with specifications Of the eXtenuatns
circumstances m their esses.