The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-01-10
Ku KluX Trials.


Ku Klux Trials.
BY our Columbia exchanges we see
that the trials of the Ku KluX prisoners
were brought to a close on Friday last,
Judge Bond taking his departure after
passing sentences upon batch of forty
odd, and leaving Judge Bryan to attend
to matters not connected with these
trials.
The trials have disclosed the commits
sion of many outrages, which have re-
ceived as the deserve, the condemnation
of the great body of our people. Some
good men doubtless were drawn
into the organization for purposes
of selfprotection, and some offences COM
mitted by them under the evaporation of
outrages, but the prisoners for the most
part are ignorant and worthless charac-
ters, the refuse of the society of their re-
spcstive counties.
In the case of DR.. Avery, the cstmo-
nv was generally regarded as entirely in
conclusive, but the character Of the jury
was such as almost to ensure his conVlc-
ton, With this result staring him in
the face, the Doctor made his escape, al
ter the court had been occupied several
days with his trial, and the testimony
had been closed. Col. McMaster his coun-
sci was interrogated as to his where
abouts, and very properly refused to an
swer. A rule was served upon the re-
casant counsel, but after argument, the
Court seems very discrc etly to have suf-
fered the matter to rest.
On Friday there was large number of
prisoners present at the opening OF the
court many of them waiting to plead
guilty, and to make their statements.
The following cases, from Spartanburg
county, were disposed of, each prisoner
making his statement.
Aaron Ezell, ten dollars fine, one year
imprisonment.
Munroe Scruggs, ten dollars 1lne, SIN
months imprisonment.
Alexander Bridges, ten dollars line,
one wear imprisonment.
John Burrett, six months imprison-
ment.
Stephen D. Splawn, fifty dollars fine,
and two years imprisonment.
Marion Gardner, three months i'm
Chesterfield Seruggs, six months I'M
prisonment.
Henry Surratt, one month imprison-
ment.
Andrew Cudd, three months imprison-
ment.
Martin Hammett, six months impris-
onment.
William Self, three months to count
from day Of contiement.
Charles Tate, eighteen months impris-
onment.
Junius B. Tindall, one year imprison-
ment.
Melvin c. Blackwood, two months
imprisonment.
John NJ. Moore, eighteen months i'm
prisonment.
John Cantwcll, three months impris-
onment.
Iowis Henderson, three months i'm
pri>onment.
The District Attorney not pressed the
eases against George G. Bishop and John
&. Clement for the purpose OF using them
Us witnesses.
Jonas Massey, chief, who had Of all
the ether chiefs, voluntarily come in, was
sentenced but one year and to pay fine
or $40.
James Wall was sentenced to three
months, although the court remarked,
after inquiring into the condition OF his
family, that that was all that was taken
into consideration a consideration that
was lost sight OF when he, with others,
was tiogging negroes. But in this, as in
several other cases following, it appears
that his wife and children were entirely
dependent upon the small crop they
could raise, otherwise the sentence would
have been eighteen months instead of
three.
John G. Wall was sentenced to three
months imprisonment, as were also Da-
vid G. Mcclure, Calvin Cook, billiard NJ.
Cantwell, Albert =. Clement three
months, and ten dollars fine.
The following whose cases were cX-
amined Wednesday, were disposed OF.
William +. Ramsay, three months inn
prisonment Zibein Cantwell, who is an
old man, and had served as one OF the
committee of the klan, was sentenced to
one years imprisonment.
Judgment was suspended in the case OF
NJ. II. Phillips, who has been anxious to
make clear breast Of all he knew con-
corning the Klan, and to aid the officers.
The sentence was suspended in the
case of Lewis Jolly, who stated upon in
.quiry, that he had said he was present at
the murder of Owens, white Republi-
can of Union county; he claiming he
had said so jokingly. Sentence will not
he passed upon him until that case re-
ceivcs further investigation.
The following were sentenced to six
months Imprisonment: w. S. Black
well, VIM. Robbins, Thomas J. Price,
King Edwards and Frederick Paris,
Taylor Massey and Chrisenbury Tate,
each three months.
Alfred Burke, of Spartanburg county.
was sentenced to pay fine of $1,000, and
to six months imprisonment for illicit
distilling, and like sentence was imposed
upon James Scruggs, for retailing spirits
without license.
Several others arrived to make confess
sions of their guilt, but their cases were
postponed until tomorrow.
The most ef the prisoners are young
men, and but few are able to read or
write. a few had been soldiers in the
army of the rebellion. Altogether, they
We're squalid looking set.
Quite number of them were on the
raid upon Justice. the editor at Ruther-
fordton, North Carolina, and Jonas Vas
sey, the Chief Of klan, among them.
With hardly an exception, they had all
indulged in the whipping of colored men
and women.
The grand jury returned into court a
large batch Of true bills.
The petit jury was finally discharged,
with the thanks of the court.
The court then adjourned till eleven
this morning.
True bills have been found by the
Grand Jury in some hundred additional