The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-09-23

knowing st what moment they might be At
tackled themselves.
About this time I WAS appointed by you
as United States Deputy Marshal, and
have been acting in that capacity ever
since
A short time after the murder of Wilson a
man came to and told me that he be-
longed to the kukluN but said he WAS tired
of them. and if would promise not to modest
him that he would expose their proceeding
and their objects to me. l promised him
that if he would keep me posted in regard 10
their movements | would not modest him
He then told me that there was a gang o:
fifty organized on Twin Creek, whose Object
was to drive the negroes out of tine country
He stated that their regular meetings were
on every second Saturday night in each
month. On one Tuesday he came to me
and told me that they had called neeting
for the following Thursday night. for the
purpose of going to the house of Vim. Plas-
tiers and killing him that night and burning
his house, and that they were then to come
on to Gratz and kill me and burn Gratz and
then go down to Browns Bottom and
kin all the negroes. l notified Plas-
tiers of the danger and he got Out
of the way and came to Gratz that
night. The Khan went to Plasters. and not
finding him at home, tore up nearly every
thing in his house. Finding that the citizens
of Gratz were prepared for them, they did
not come to that place, but went on to Owen
ton and stopping at Walkers Hotel called
for me, and told Walker to tell me if 1 did
not stop arrestAg kuklux they would hang
me to the highest tree in the woods, and then
left. | then sent word TO the leader of this
gang if they did not disband l would have
every one of them arrested. After that they
kept themselves and their meetings quite Sc
cret
In February you sent squad of soldiers to
Owen to act in conf junction with me. Since
then l have made several arrests. l arrested
Jim Oskins, John Oman. Billy Walston
VIM. Razor, Fielding Douthitt, Reuben
Clements, Joseph Hoskins and VIM. Smoot
On the way to Louisville VIM. Smoot made
to bond for their appearance at the October
term of the United States Court at Louis
vile.
About this time Bluford Woods. one of the
men who had turned States evidence at the
trial of Oman, was either run off or killed.
think he was murdered, as he has not been
seen or heard of since.
Last May. James NJ. Walker was shot and
cruelty murdered by William Smoot and
John G. moot in the town of Owonton He
was quietly walking down the street, antici-
pating no trouble whatever. when the two
Shoots commenced firing at him out of Hills
Hotel. The detachment of soldiers had been
removed from Owen county the day previous
as everything was qnet at the time, and it
was thought they would be n 10 longer needed
The next day, these two Shoots, for whom /
had writs of arrests came into Owcnton and
inquired of little boy from Monterey if the
soldiers were gone. Being informed that
they had gone, the Smoots then replied tina,
they had some work to do. They said that
there were wrts against them from the Fed
eral Court for shooting q damned negro and
that they expected to leave the country but
before they left that they intended 10 fix some
damned white men who had been instrlme en- t.
al in having the writs issued. They carried
this threat into execution by killing Walker
that same evening. While the Smoots were
firing ut Walker, at least forty of their khan
were Yelling all over town, and several OF
them fired at Walker from the Courthouse
yard. He was literally riddlcd with bullets
After this murder they reloaded their pistols
and leisurely walked out of town. remarkins
that they had killed one of the damned Rad
zeal dogs, and that the balance had better
look out. The Sheriff of Owen county was
in town with three deputies, and could easil '
have summoned a sufficient posse to have ar
rested them. but made no effort whatever
The town Marshal did attempt to make the
arrest, but the Smoots and their khan drew
their pistols and forbade him making the ar
rest. saying if he attempted it they would
Kill him. Seeing that the civil officers did
not intend to modest them, and fearing that
shoot me, | dispatched to you for n squad OF
soldiers, which was Immediately sent Hav-
ing writs against those men, l secured the
hills in search of them, but the country being
mountainous and rough, and they having SC
many allies to carry them news l found il
impossible to arrest them. The soldiers Were
withdrawn about the 1S of July. As soon
rs they had been withdrawn, the Kuklux
became more boisterous than ever They
made q raid on an old man named HAYDEN
living on Elkhorn. and threatened to come
into Monterey and burn the town. At a
Masonic barbecue given at Monterey some
BARR slipped up behind Charles Waakerand
attempted to shoot him in the back and. but
for the timely interference sf friend would
have murdered Charles Walker, as they did
his brother a few weeks before at Owentown
On election day this came man, Green Barr
crime into MoHterey and fired out of small
piece of woods at Henry Triplett. Triplett
had no intimation of it until Barr com
menced firing at him, and the only reason
that can be assigned is that Triplett is q wit
ness against the Kuklux who are indicted
in the United States Court. After the shoot
ing Barr immediately galoped away Ever
since then Barr has been lying around in the
woods with the SInoets: making threats that
and all others who had rendered me assist
ance. / could hear of them mastering their
forces. riding the road with double-barrcled
shot-gurs, and / was advised to leave Monte
reg by nearly all my friends, but there were
some who desired me to stay. saying that they
had given me assistance that if / left the
kuklux would kill them. l summoned q
few young men to stay with me- expecting
every day to be attacked by the Khan. On
Saturday, August ~, the day set for the trial
of Barr and Triplett. Barr sent me word by
the Constable that he was coming to town
with leo men.
/ could hear them firing their guns around
Monterey that morning, and believed from
the signs that they We're coming. A bout /
oclock, five or six men rode into town armed
with pistols, all of whom were well known
ku-klux. They were led by County At
torney Perry, who also was armed with two
pistols. Perry is said to be one of their lead
ers. He has been known to say in his public
. . "a To rts.
them. as he had nothing against them. but
his oath compelled him to prosecute them.
George T. Mef.oPd, one of the men who
helped to murder James NJ Walker, was
also in the crowd He is noted kuklux.
and has been known to command them.
When these men came into town a boy came
running aud said there We're fifteen or twenty
men olgt on the road. with shot-guns. among