The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-09
Carrying Off the ScufletOwn Mulatto
WOmen---HOW LOwery'S Threat
Brought Them Back.
THE MURDERS BY THE WHITES
A State Impotent to Capture
Five Men.
Will the Federal Government
DO 1t!
WILMINGTON, N. c., Feb. 20, 1872

WILMINGTON, n. c., Feb. 20, 1872.
Since my return ana rest IN this city have seen
the report Of the Ku Klux Committee, which Is IN
general, confirmatorv OF the Information / have
sent you from personal investigation, analysis and
belief.
THE KU KLUx REPORT ON THE LowERYs.
Plato Durham, who resides at Shelby Cleveland
county, testified that "tne general rumor Is that the
Bherif or Robson county Is either afraid OF the
Lowerys IN completely with them. For instance,
have heard that he viii go out and summon q
posse of men, will ride about and send his men
before him. telling the to search particular piece
OF woods certain house. The general opinion is
that be is either in completely with the parties or
afraid OF them.u
GILES LEITCH,
the Judge previously referred In these letters,
gave before POOLS Ku Klux Committee these
hgures:-
The county or Robson had about one thousand
Eve hundred white voting population before the
close OF the war; since the colored population has
been enfranchlsed there are about three thou and
voters In the county; OF That 1900 additional voting
population ABOUT half were formerly slaves, and the
other half are composed OF population
that existed there and were never slaves,
and are not white, but who, since 1885
have mad no right OF suffrage; think that
about one.half OF that additional 1900 voters were
this old free AND not white population; half OF the
coiored population OF Robson county were never
slaves az ALL In 1885 there was State Con-
vention which disfranchsed them; up to that
time they had exercised the elective franchise;
the Tree negroes had exercised the elective fran
chlse up to 1885; but Robson county contained
larger number OF them than most OF the other coun-
ties; but really do not know what these mulattoe5
OF Scuilletown are l think they are mixture OF
Spanish Portuguese and Indian; about haif OF them
have straight black hair, and many Of the charac'
erstics OF the Cherokee Indians in our State; then,
as they amalgamate and mix, the hair becomes
curry and knky, and rom that down TO real
woollen hair; think they are mixed
PORTUGUESE, STANDARDS AND INDIANS;
mean 10 class the Spaniards and Portuguese as
one class, and the Indians as another class; do
not think that in class OF population there Is much
negro blood al ALL OF that hall OF the colored popu-
laton tnat have attempted to describe all have
been always free; was born among them, and
reckon that know them perfectly well. They are
thriftess, lazy, thevish and indolent population.
They are called "muattoes;' that Is the name they
are known by, as contradistlnguished from
groes. There Is a family OF them by the name OF
Lowery that seems to have more Indian character.
lstics than perhaps any or the OF mat popua-
ton. Ihave not been able TO learn the origin OF
that family, though for several years l have been
eudeavoring to do so. / think they are OF Indian
origin. Before the Revolutionary they were
wealthy, and owned slaves During the Revolution
AIRY war of ITO they known In that country as
robbers: they were neither whig nor tory paricu-
larry; they would rob and plumber and murder
either side; during that war they accumulated and
amassed large fortune and at the close OF the wal
they were ricn, their riches consisting mostly II
slaves; they were coiored themselves and the
owned slaves; suppose there were dozen head
of families, perhaps, 10 whom allude particularly
soon after the close OF the Revolutionary war, whel
law and order were re- established, and they coui'
not carry on their robberies longer, they got mt
ItpatIon; as a characteristic or these dozen neau
OF families so IL was said OF tnem they were lntem
perate: they had lawsuits. aud gradually ana even
uaIly before my recollection, before can rec0ec
ANYTHING much about IT, they had wasted tnelr SUP
stance III that county In ligauon they nau lawsuil
among themselves and with their nelgnDors; tney
were indicted for violations OF the law anu weIe
KNOWN AS LAwLESS MEN; -
Just about thirty years ago, Think 'ae , nn,
OF their slaves were sold rom them; 90 nos
think they have owned any slaves wtnn
about thirty years; the men OF those families pc
came mechanics; they had sort OF cunning aDoui
tnem that was different from the negro; they nad
an address about them, so that whenever they went
90 a trade they became accomplished mechanics,
more than ordinarily skilled In whatever branch Oh
business they were taught; that Lowery family are
onJ part OF this nall oil the nltcep hundred voting