Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-07-11
The Late Grant Ku qKlux. Raid
and Riot at Th0S, w. BleaSe'S.

| uV AhtO VA ~~o iAAAuA' Ases'~
and Riot at ThOs, W. Blease's.
In the Newberry Herald, of th'
Sd, we find the subjoined letter from
Mr.. Thos. W. Blease, living ON th'
saluda side of our District, giving al
account of the late most disgracefu
and brutal conduct of one Mallory,
U. S. Commissioner, accompanied BY
"a gang of negro.dssperadoes, in theil
late riotous assault upon Mr.. Blease
and family, whilst.in search, as they
alleged, of certain parties charged
with Ku Kluxism. The story is moi
at all creditable to the U. s. Govern
ment, and the officers Grant has put
in authority to do his dirty work
Such indig,ities sui0 not be tolerated
alaoays. And when the people are
once aroused for Vengeance, tyrants
and tyranny must succumb. Read
and reflect,
On Sunday 25d June, one James
Maloney, who Is reputed to be Assist
ant United States Marshal, accompa-
MED bv Peter Simmons. IA black
"nigger, Oscar Cannon, copper
colored, Ia penitentiary bird,) and
Willis Johnson, ('fyallow niger, y
went to my store at the Cross Roads
and ordered lad, Master Wells, who
slept in the store with my son, four
teen year old boy, into the store, sta
ting that he should shut himself in,
and if he came out that the guard
that he (Maloney) was going to place
around the house would shoot him.
Mr.. Smith, who was paying visit to
Wells, was then rIdeIy assaulted, and
ordered to march to my dwelling
house, (about a half mile from the
store each Of the cowardly fellows
single filing behind him as close as
they could walk, lock step. Smiths
lite was threatened, and he assured
that if he made any noise whatever
that he would be shot. About half
way between the store and dwelling,
my son, going from supper to the
store, (where he and Master Wells
slept was pounced upon by two "big
niggers," who held his arms behind
him whilst Maloney stood in front of
him with a pistol presented to his
breast, swearing that he intended to
shoot him through After he had
kept the boy in this position until the
cowardly, tormenting, evil spirit was
satisfied, they turned him loose, tell
ing him 10 keep in the path to the
store; that if he turned to tb right
or left, he would be shot by men sta
toned in tho woods for the purpose.
Tie file being rr-arranged as be-
fore, with Smith being forced to lead,
the night being dark and the foliage
of the oaks dense, they came into my
yar:l near the piazza, where Mr.. .Jdhn
Perry and myself were SisstNsa. :: :; g
wife was in Ter room at the point Of
death, having been quite ill for some
time)-and they shouted, to our sur
pri, c, "Sboot every damned rascal
that comes out OF the house. Sho6t
shoot" l did not know what it meant.
Robbers, Lowrey's band, everything,
fitted across my brain. The shout
ing, shooting, all, all, what does this
mean +? advanced to meet them at
the steps; Perry vas with me; Barre
and Ward jumped into the yard.
Barre received IL severe wound. Sew
erl attempts wue made to shoot
Ward, but failed. The alarm to IN,
wife was so sudden, and when Barre
said, II am shot she thought it was
the voice of our Oldest son, and be-
came so frightened that her recovery
is now hopeless.
AS soon as l c,uld, 1 ascertained
what was the mater. Maloney said
that he had variant for Ward,
whom he had faihd to arrest. What
Ward was charged with he did not
make known. Sid he had a warrant
for Perry. PER-. said, "lf you have,
am ready to gowith you" But he
>Maloney) apoloqzed to Barre; said
he was very sorry that he got shot;
but l have wrrant for you, al
though it is of lille Importance; some
negro has a chage against you; you
can stay here with Mr.. Bleasc and re-
port to me, if YOU get well, at your
told my son to go
quickly for PHYSICIAN; that Barre
would bleed to leath. As he started
ott a "niggsr" .lrew down "a him
with pistol, sa'ing, II you leab de
house j will shot you" None Of us
we're armed, bit were enjoying the
1nietncss of tb holy Sabbath even
ng, and awaiting anxiously on her.
who appeared lmost done with earth
y things, whel we were pounced up
On by these feds who pretend to rep
resent the offers Of America. l know
Of theoficials Of the coun-
Try; never living taken any part
whatever in plitics; having all my
life pursued M peaceful avocation of ..
iarmer, artisan and merchant; but if
;hese be their representatives, "God /;
ave the county" 9
TiOS. W. BLEASE. )
4~-OI-.-
g La Loi Matiale Dams lie Sud-" G