New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-01-09
FROM toe Wa-hinyteu Chronicls
4 Sad Spectacle.

The details Of I'D &c Dona S action in soutl
Carolina, in which ten members of the Ku
klux organization we're sentenced for psriici
patton in revolving murders and cruel Win
pings are going the rounds of the press. Ii
the trial it was admitted that the delibara
tons Of the ku-klux had been held at Bap
tist church, with the minister as membe
and participant in the crime. The crimes o
the band having been committed some tim
since, and confessions having been made b,
which the guilt of.the condemned men wa,
established, it was impossible to avoid con
viction and sentence.
| Most of the party were sentenced TO fiy,
years Imprisonment and the payment OF
small fine. 1t was evident that many .haf
! joined the organization with very faint con
ception Of its objects, but having bound them
selves by its oaths, were obliged to ABIDE b,
the decisions of the master-spirits. 1t wa.
just such combinations that led tens Of thous
ands into the rebellion. The Baptist minis
ter confessed that the acts of the Khan were
abhorrent to humanity, BAT he denied having
participated in them personally, although hi
was present. as he was bound to be, by hi:
oath. He hoped to be abse to restrain the
excuses of the young, but Gould not accom-
plish nything outside of ~ e-der, such was
the state of sentiment in the community.
| This Is deplorable picture of things as
they were prior to the passage of the Ku.
Klux law. 1t is to be hoped that evil period
has gone by, never more to return.
A mistaken lenity is often the greatest
cruelty. But in view of ell the facts it can.
not be doubted that the exercise Of Execu-
tive clemency in relation not only to these
latest offenders, but to some who were pre-
viously convicted, would exert a kindly in
fluence in convincing the South that there is
nothing of vindictiveness in the North, not
outstanding the atrocities Of the secret Or
ganization, now that it is abandoned and its
criminality confessed.
A correspondent Of the Cincinnati CONNER
ciGl describes the scene at the trial. We Guote
a portion Of his letter:
II. D. Mathews came next. He was not
inclined to say anything only as pumped out
of him. He was thirty-eight years old and a
man of family.
"How many raids have you been on ?"
asked the Judge.
several, sir, but no killing raids
"Were you on the Goings raid ?"
District Attorney. L will state, your
Honor, that Goings had just been elected
Probate Judge by the Republicans when
raided upon.
Judge. did you whip goings?"
YES, sir; some of the boys did; held
the horses"
"It's hard to find anybody that didn't hold
the horses" said the Judge "but how much
was Goings whipped ?"
ga good deal-half an hour or so-until
Charles Smms, the chief, told the boys to
STOP"
The prisoner was asked if he had been
whipped the same way if he would not de-
sire that the perpetrators be punished. He
said he would. The Judge thought so too,
and sentenced him to five years. imprison-
ment.
Marion Fowler, who had been on five raids,
was sentenced to four years. imprisonment,
and r. w. Moore to five. Moore seemed
rather to enjoy his sentence, and cracked
jokes about it with the boys. The others,
however, did not appear to see anything very
cheerful in the business.
The next cast vas that of Rev. John S.
lansDurg, {. man Of ability, intelligence, and
influence with his rock. His counsel SUBJ
mitted atiidayits and petitions in his behalf,
praying for mercy. The reverend gentleman
himself read written statement, telling all
about his connection with the Khan. He had
Joined because nearly everybody else in the
country belonged to it, and he thought 1t a
good thing. He repeated the oath of the
Khan, which is the same as heretofore pub.
iIShcus uluuiho tHc plitIeS u forever oppose
the Republican party, to stand by the Con-
situation as originally made by our forefa-
theirs, TO do all in their power against the
thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth amend
ments, protect women, regulate society, pre-
vent crime, &c. The penalty for divulging
any OF the secrets, oaths, grips, and pass
words OF the klan was death. He had Joined
in 1871. He had never been on raid, never
saw one, and nobody could complain of any
act Of his 4; but by joining and participating
in the KIN councils he had prevented many
persons i.,m being troubled. He had visited
other klans in adjoining counties, but had
never attended grand council, which was
mac up of representatives from subordinate
klans. He said he was now sorry that he
had ever belonged to such an organization
that it had turned out not to be such a good
thing as he at first supposed. One object in
joining was to restrain young men and pre-
vent them from going to extremes.
At this voice among the negroes ex-
claimed, "That's too thin!']
Judge. "Have you now a congregation ?"
"Yes, sir; my church and congregation
are at Spartansburg."
"IIOw many of your congregation belong
to the Ku-Klux."
81 do not know, but the most of them, /
suppose. Nearly everybody in that neigh
borhood had joined the Khan, and among
them are, Of course, number Of my congre-
CATION"
did you ever preach from the pulpit
against the organization or any of its acts ?"
No, sir; for if had been disposed, such
course would not have been safe. Nor in.
deed did | believe there was safety outside
the Khan"
Do you now think you should not have
joined?'
- From the turn matters have taken,
think would have been better off not to
have joined"
- Did you ever know any other clergyman
to belong to it:'
mo, SIR"
Didn't the Rev. Mr.. Carpenter run away
for fear of being arrested for belonging to
it?"
"Oh, y, 5, but he is Methodist; | ana
Baptist minister" [Laughterl
Then. even if you did not agree in theol-
ogv, you agreed in the creed Of the Ku-Klux,
didu't you?''
"Well, yes, sir; it would appear sou
Did you ever advise the breaking up of
the organization ?"
YES, ,ir; have attended no meeting of
the Khan since June last, when advised that
it be broLen up"
''Thi. was after the act of Congress. was
passed, was it not ."
"Yes sirv