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


nett Wharf.-The owen Troubles-He,
IL Was I'm Garrsrd-Breathftt Count,
feuds-ku OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Correspondents Cincinnati Commereial.I
One of the principal sources OF the con
tinued lawlessness in Kentucky is the clos
communion between the law-breakers an
the civil authority. Ever since the war thi
has been fruitful magazine in PRODUCING
the explosions of crime that have well nIgl
shattered society and brought the State int
contempt. Years ago It was the chic
strength of a candidates claims for re-efec-
ton that he had faithfully and strictly full
filled the law, according to his oath of Office
now few men get reelected who can make
this honorable boast. An officer is expected
obliging friend, to overlook offense.
in those who have influence, TO uss
or abuse his office as it may aid
those Who control votes and belong to the
their Offices more particularly designed to
get COMMISSIONS on taxes collected than To
arrest criminals for violation of law. Com
monweaith attorneys and county attorneys
delay prosecutions or strike cases from the
docket with regard to the dictates of personal
friendship, or the prospects of political ad
vancement Some laws are treated as dead
letter, because the community is careless to
know Of their enforcement. Judges even
temper Instructions to iuricS or postpone
trials on trivial grounds. as personal associa-
tions may demand. Policemen catch the
spirit and desires of their superiors, and know
whom Ia arrest and when not to see at all.
Perjury Is COR n,itcd with boldness and n
frequency that are startling.
II these be the fruits OF the green tree,
what Is 1t not with the dry II the ordi-
nary class and wealth influences disorganizc
and PROSTATE the law and dcmoralize the
law officers, what is it not when partisan
sympatnies and race antagonisms come in
to help the overthrow OF public order :?
Let Us illustrate. In 1867, Governor Steven
ordered out the militia to subdue the local
disturbances in Boyle, Marion, Washington
Mercer and other neighborng counties
ku-k lux and Regulators were roaming the
country, killing, burning, whipping and ex-
ling citizens in large numbers One of the
fruits OF this reign of terror was the organi-
cation Of a band Of men under the Rowseys
IN the knob country Of Casey and Boyle
counties, as a foe to the ku-KLlx. The
country, was billy, and despite the large
their own until tho Governor sent his militia
to put down tho lawlcss and bring
order ont Of chaos. Now, it is an undisputcd
factthat the Governors officers mustered n
whole company Of ku-klux, under command
OF one Blufc kennctt, then a constable of
Marion comfy, rs a regular company oil
State militia, for the avowcd purpose of put
ting down the ku-kluSt We're not the mat
ter serious, il is enough to cause a broad
gun--thIs idea of mastering in Ku-klux to
put down themselves. This parody on law
5 witty brought its fruits. The Ku-KIux
kcnnett State militia at oncs set 10 work to /.
hunt down thor eHcmIeS-the Rowsey party. t
Before they were dong II on their own hook
now they had tho State 1T their back and
the faw power rs their friend. 1t didn take
long To XII! Eowsey and dispense his small +
band. And all in the name of law and
order.
The Owen county troubles are not unlike
tbs Stevenson alan in some respect. The
Wali,crs and Russels had been bitter enc
ltlr. OF the kn-k lux-the Smoots were gem
'rally recognized by law process and com
mon report members of tho ku- X lux
,augs. The Smoots doubtless expected to
lse the ku- klux in wosking their private
amilY grudges against the Walkers. The
ktS X Fux tr,hlg secret, mysterious, and hav-
ing committed murder after murder with inn
purity III Owen, Franklin and Henry conn
les, exercised great terror over the commit
nifty Men dared not speak roughly Of them
or fear OF their vengeance. This terrorism
was felt IN the recent county elections. The
'sndYlatc for County Attorney. Perry, who
las figured extensively IN the public
irmt-, published card denying that he was
,ppdscd TO the ku-hiux party, and in the
rial Of one Mcflord. rcputed Ku-
NluN, took occasion to explain
he same fact to his audi
nee The smoot party, embodened
~ this open recognition OF their power took :
.ccsson 10 murder one of the Walkers on I,
he streets OF Owenton. They killed him !
N sight and by concert OF action. Then
hey walked oil. Nobody arrested them. ,
>obOdy took any pains to arrest them
moot enjoyed very free and unobstructcd :
license 10 roam where he pleased. IL secnI.
hat The Ma klux element now bect'.se the
on ndant, and supporters of the county II +
cers They suddenly found occasion Ia sup
or, the law Process was issued against the !,
Walker and Russell parties, and while the
wo were IN civil custody the X u kluN posse !.
oniiiat,ts very naturally attempted and very !,
carly completed, their massacre. The State i
- - II.
hs Walker Russell party then so; In a chccl. !
= hot tho notorious Mctlord aud put Perry. :
he County Attorney, and his ku kiuN pow
= 10. flight. Then the militia were very ,
ccc>Nary So, Perry telesraphed the Gov !,
ruor
Talking Of this Perry, Attorney of the =
o,nty ~ Owen, suggests an incident: Sit !
ing al the table n the Capitol Hotel rank
ari, the other day, Perry, whom We did not +
now. and who had Just interviewed The Gov .
rnQr, came in and took char opposite ;
addressing an acquaintance, he narl atel :
nth much vivaclty what he called "a good !
Ike Said he: AS left Owentnn on the i
age a correspondent OF the Louisville :
H-rcgsr handed La a friend beside me a letter :
obtaining some correspondence for his pa !
er. TINS friend remarked that he expected
contained q pack al lies about the troubles.
Perry told him | guess he would have L. I
oliver it anyhow. lie SAID id If he dad,
nd tore II up and scattered the pieces along
lr rcaO THIS treaclerous piece vi raScalItyI
as what Perry, with much zcst, denomina- :
u y good Joke"
Governor I.csls, as IN duty bound end II
cry properly ordered the militia to Owen,
nder the call If the local authorities Yet u
al they been left unmolcSte,l 1t Is not doubt v
II that the Walker and Russell party would c
ave been speedily eatcrminatcd by the I
lnihined forces OF militia, Sherin-S posse u
nj EukluN under Smoot. 1t would have q
zen another Rowsey-k emmett affair. Mar
lal Murray did one of the most prudent! =
nj coniaenlable acts of his life when he 9
ricrcl the Federal troops to Owen to pre- s,
ant tho determination of his deputies and u
assist in putting down lawlessness. This L
t evidently compelled the surrender of o
moot, and equally caused tho arrest of the