The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-12-17
RI RlUX REVELATIONS.
Intervsew with Dying Ku Klu1
Prisoner just Pasdoncd Out OF Albany
PenitentiaTy.

Penitentisry.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Is, 1872
Reuben G. Young, the Ku Klux prisoner who has
been paruoned by the President, arrived here to-
| day nom the Albany Penitentiary. He was on his
way home 10 Youngsville, Ala, but missed the rail-
road connection, and had 20 stay over He win
continue his journey tomorrow, II he has strength
enough to do so-for his line's lamp is pickering
sanity, and Will probably give out before he can
reach home. Mr.. Young was man OF property ana
good social standing in the place named after him.
lie has an interesting family consisting OF wife,
four daughters and two sons. One OF the latter
was tried ON the charge Of being Implicated In
the ku Klnx Outrages, and, like his father,
sentenced TO ten years Imprisonment in
the Albany Pententary, where ne is still
confined. As soon as Mr.. Young arrived a member
OF Congress kindly took charge Of him. His cloth
ing was too light and scant 10 protect him from
the bitter cold, and he has since been provided
with an overcoat and money to pay his travelling
expenses. The gentleman who has befriended him
conducted me 10 the cloak room OF the House OF
Representatives, where found Mr.. Young asleep
on a sofa. did not wish TO wake him, but stood
for two or three minutes in silent contemplation OF
the feeble, emaciated form OF the poor old man.
who has broken down under the grievous burden
inflicted upon him.
lie appeared to sleep in death. His face had
rigidly set, az II void OF sense and motion. My
companion touched him lightly. He raised his
head slowly and cast a languid look toward me.
IL seemed TO me the look OF a galvanized corpse.
he was dressed In a suit Of homespun. His face
was thin and ashy with . three weeks beard upon
it; his eyes and cheeks were sunEen In and thin
gray hair struggled down upon his forehead.
"Have you been asleep, Mr.. Young % inquired.
II have been trying to sleep. but cannot. ]
have not had nights sleep for many weeks.n
"What 10 the cause OF your sleeplessness ~
~ have had terrible cough. My lungs are all
gone; and thinking always of my home and family
] could not sleep. was in pretty good health be.
fore they took me to prison, but now fear shall
never recover from this.n
"How did they treat you In prison 2"
GAN the officers treated me kindly, except one
overseer, who was harsh TO me. When was too
feeble to work had to remain in my cell, which
go to the stove In the corridor TO warm myself. but
he refused. Don't be hard on an Old man,
but s as let s ou
who is still there. He has to work in the shoe shop
from daylight till evenings but he has been In good
It had not been for him ! should have been dead
long before this He took good care Of me-
the other prisoners, about the tobacco that was
ee he e ne
| trivial details, and repeated them again and again.
narrative he would reiterate word or sentence
three or four times SUCCESSFULLY and then break
out In protestatione Of his innocence
you have never been concerned in the Ku Klux
mo, sir, never. / have never been Ku Klux
nor have had anything to do with the Outrages.
Never saw any Ku Klux but once, and then they
out, and when they had made me walk about four
hundred yards they asked me how far on was the
graveyard Irepled about four miles from my
Then se to a Sa anS behave
who had you imprisoned ~
ut was all the work Of a man named Barnes. He
ie lawyer: He hated me and wanted to have me
John D. Young, Ku Kux prisoner, now in the
Albany Penitentiary, but no relation Of mine, and
asked him to turn States evidence against me,
but John refused. The next day he was arrested
and tried, and, ike me, sentenced to ten years.
This man Barnes was United States Commits
sioner and had unlimited power in my county. He
was on the Grand Jury which found an Indictment
and they selected me and my son, Ringgold +.
Young. There are now six Ku Klux prisoners in
the Albany Penitentary-three from Talapoosa
and three from Randolph county. One of them,
Charles Charles HowarS = perfect 0t another named
These remarks ELECTED from the old gentleman
at lucid intervals for at times he talked SO incohe
rently that 1t was painfully evident he was on the
granted him by the President, for which he ex.
pressed much gratitude saying that he would like
to see General Grant to thank him personally.
When took leave OF Mr.. Young he said, with
the old impulse OF hospitality, that II should
pass through Youngsville he would be happy to en-
terrain me. Poor man 1t seems scarcely possible
that he will ever reach his home alive. He Is in
the last stage Of consumpti0n-bodily and men,
tally complete wreck. 1t Ia singular decree OF
Providence that this poor old man should, after his
return from prison, rest his weary dying limbs in
the same House OF Representatives which framed
the law that sent him to the Albany Penitentiary
and laid him at deaths door.