The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1872-05-07

| alter the Iyncning OF NHnciI, and laugh
at the supposition that they would belong
| to the order.
No efforts will be left untricd to ferret
out this mystery and bring the offenders
to justice. Captain Cordcr has taken the
case in hand aud renders Coroner Young
valuable assistance in working up the
case. The coroncr's jury impnneled the
day after the murder have not yet
concluded their labors, but are ca led to-
gethcr whenever any new evidence IS
found bearing upon the case in any man.
ner whatever. The jury consists Of james
Scott, foreman Vincent Hinchclih, Will
lam Chitley, John Kerk, A. j. Hcrrin, j.
W. Alexander, j. ID. Harrison, John IL.
Chi,ley, +. NJ. james, ID. a. Ellsworth
and John q. Williams. 1t will be seen
that tho jury comprises some of the best
men Of Williamson county, whom no
threats can deter from doing their duty.
They are confident that they will be able
to unravel The whole affair and to bring
the perpetrators of this heinous outrage to
punishment. For fear that the ends of
Justice may be defeated If the evidence
they have thus far secured be made public,
the Jury have concluded not to divulge
awning that comes before them conse-
quently it is impossible to say what the
testimony duplicating the prisoners with
the MURDER is. However, 1t is well known
that several Of the accused have been
recognized AS being of the party that
took Vanci from his house, and also that
they belonged to an acknowledged band
of so-called " regulators"
We have been ut considerable pains to
trace out the operations OF this ku.klux
| organ Eat on, and learn that IL has been IN
existence several months. Within few
years II large number Of murders have
veen committed in the nelghborhood Of
Six Mile Herrlns and Eight NJ lie prairie,
houses, barns and gram stacks burned,
men taken from their homes and whipped
and other outrages perpetrated. 1t u
man became obnoxious, no matter what
was the accusation against him, he was Ii
able to be visited by this gang and sum.
marily dealt with. One man had ut diff
ferent times bought considerable land at
tax sales, and the owners failing to redeem
their property the purchaser obtained title
to it. He WAS notified, some time since
to relinquish his claims to all these lands
or "slout rope and short shrift would
be- his doom aud To save his neck he COM
piled with tie order of his mysterious
mentors. On the night OF the l4th of last
December, body Of men, about forty in
number, went to the house Of John
Baker, on the edge OF Williamson and
Franklin counties, and ordered him TO
open the door. Mr.. Baker was absent
from his home, IL fact which his family
made known to the crowd. Finding their
prey had escaped them, they burst open
the door, ordered the inmates out of the
house, removed the furniture and set tire
to the house. These men were regularly
organized under command Of captain
and two lieutenants; they wore no dis
guisc ut that time, but called themselves
the "ku-klux company subsequently
they adopted what they term their sum
FORM which consists vi long white coat
trimmed with black, II white cape, also d
white cap with cape reaching below tho
shoulders-all trimmed with black. AT.
ter the burning of Bakers house, William
Clnrk's and William Heads dwelling.
were also burned and their families driven
oil. Other outrages, such Ms whippin e
followed in quick succession, until til,
whole neighborhood infested by these ie
lows was completely under their control
not man daring to take any steps for The
arrest Of the Williams. In fact, so bold hac
they become, that soon after the affair al
Bakers place the captain OF the gang said
his company "never had been headed, ahG
| never aimed TO be-. One reason
supposed for tho hanging Of
Nuncil is that he was in some manner
connected with this band and they becum,
fearful lest he would diyulge their secrets
hence the Necessity OF putting him out @
the way. This, however, is not credite,
by those who are well acquainted wit
Nuncil, who think family troubles ha
much TO do with his murder. The mum
Der Of this gang is variously stated II
from forty to niLety-five. One man say
that on one occasion he counted eighty I
them, disguised and mounted, but it
quite probable that his vision was betog
red. On one or two occasions forty hay
made their appearance, and about the tim
OF the Vuncil murder twenty-three w0r
met in the vicinity Of the tragedy.
When the first call was made ut Van
ellis house, young man named Morgan
was staying there, and he was ordered 4
lOaVe without ceremony. Morgan tool
the hint and left, thus saving himsel
much trouble. Nancil had II tenant namO
) Watkins on remote part of his farm
The morning after the murder he wa
, ordered to leave the place instnnter, or be
too would grace tree. Watkins had n,
team and was so lame that it was will
difficulty he could walk however, tn
journey must be made, and the poor fel
y low abandoning all his worldly goods, u
!, once started. The nearest place where h
could obtain assistance was three miles o.
= and this long distance this poor crippl
a Travelled accompanied by his wife an
y three young children.
'. Soon after the murder of Vanril, q fa,
y mer named Adams, living few miles di.
~ tant, in Franklin county, was seized b
y this gang, taken to the woods and severel
" whipped. After this operation was De
'! formed he was cautioned about sayip
= anything concerning tho matter; If |
., did, death would be his portion. A
=. might be expected, Adams was terrib
w frightened, and although he recogniz,
's some OF his tormentors he kept suc
- knowledge to himself. After the arrest
~ the parties in the Marion jail, he proceed,
70, to Benton and laid his CA
&c before the authorities. Warran
. for tho arrest of sever
s men were ut once issued and ere this tn,
~ are doubtless in custody. This prom
y action of the authorities has complete
- demoralzcd the ku-klux, and finding pu
- lie opinion turning against them SO 81
" denly and SO tiercely they have lost con
" dence, and il is feared some of the mo
guilty may escape punishment by Aeer
the country. Hoyernor Palmer oite
$1,000 for tie arrest of the murderers, al
also a reward Of 500 for the arrest