Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-09
cOsIpLETELY BROKEN UP.
what Judge Fire Says OF the Ku-IKIux
of Putnam, Jackson, smith and De-
KaTb Counties.

what Judge Fire Says Of the Ku-IKIux
of Putnam, Jaeks0a, smith and De-
KaIb Counties.
a representative of this Paper took ad-
vantage yesterday of the presence in the
city, OF Judge Samuel NJ. Fife, of Carthage,
| to interview that gentleman with regard to
| the Ka-Kiux difficulties in Putnam, Smith
and Jackson counties. In answer 70 an in
| auiry in relation to recent arrests in that
section, the Judge remarked:
SIN order for you to understand the stu
alton, viii state that for some time past
we have known of the existence of a secret
| organization composed Of residents OF
Smith, jackson, Putnam and DeKalb
counties, who made the village of Chestnut
| Mound, in Smith county, a sort of centre
| of operations. A few of this clan resided
| in Chestnut Mound, but only a few. We
have been trying to get some of these men
| indicted by the grand jury, but have not
been able to until recently; but consider
| that the backbone Of the organization is
broken nOw.n
SLOW did you manage to break up the
gang?" was asked.
"a few of the khan were engaged in the
raid upon the poor old negro, Dick McKinly,
in which he was killed, as you remember.
There were only eight connected with his
murder, and am satisfied that this bloody
deed was never contemplated by the khan,
which numbers several hundred men,"
"What possible motive could these eight
men have had for killing this helpless ne
gro?'
"Well,> replied the Judge, s'the real OBJ
ject of this organization, on the part of
few of its members, was TO intimidate the
negroes. But most of its membership was
made up of boys, from sixteen to eighteen
years of age, who joined 1t merely to ride
about the country in disguise and have
good time, as they considered. Old Dick had
been warned, but he paid no attention
to the threats, and so a party of the Khan
got drunk at Chestnut Mound one night,
called at old Dicks house, where they got
into a fight with him and killed him.
Then this man Hall turned States evil
dence, and James Bush and Callicut were
arrested. You are familiar with the facts
connected with the murder Of Hall, by
party of eight men, who broke open the
Jail at Cookville, where be was confined for
safe keeping. These eight men belonged
10 the Klan, and were evidently of the
opinion that their safety depended upon
Hall being put ont of the way.
"These two murders having been COM
mitted, the boys belonging to the organiza-
ton became alarmed, as this was going
clear beyond what they had anticipated in
going into the Khan, and soma Of the old
citizens approached me with request that
| would use my influence with the Gov
ernor to secure the pardon Of the
members Of the gang who had
committed no violence, provided
they would give themselves up, and assist
in securing the arrest Of the murderers Of
Mckinley and Hall. To this | consented
with the understanding that these members
of the Khan were to be indicted and fined
the lowest fine allowable by the law, and
last Thursday they began to come in to
where l was holding court at Carthage.
Between sixty and seventy came in and
they were each fined Sl00 and costs, SEN
fenced to one days confinement in the
county Jail and bound over to keep the
peace for one year; and to never hereafter
violate the law known as the Ku-Klux law;
whereupon they were all pardOned by Gov.
Brown, and relieved Of the fine and i'm
prisOnment-
aSinee that time, Others have given them
selves up, each being fined 500 and the
costs of their trial, aud bound over TO the
required to give bonds for their good be-
hayior, as the first lot were. These last
were not pardoned at the time, but no
doubt they will be when they come up for
trial"
aOf the men suspected of the murder of
Mckinley and Hall, who have been ar
rested?"
stCallicut and James Bush were in Jail
here, but Judge Guild released Bush on
$4,000 bonds on a writ Of habeas corpus.
These men were charged with being in the
party who killed Mckinley. OF those in
dicted for having broken open the Jail at
Cookyille and taken Hall ont, Wit PeIsley,
VIM. Thompson, Tom Manner, and a. L.
II. Roberts, have been arrested, and are
now in the Jail in this city.
ssAfter the killing of Mckinley, a man
by the name Of Lawrence HON was APP
pointed special constable for the purpose of
arresting his murderers, and he did arrest
Hall, Bush and CallicUt. In consequence
of this, it is charged that some time ago,
Frank P,rsley-the father Of VII Persley,
Andrew Mcdonald, 4. Manier-a cousin
Of Tom Manier-and Amos Kirk
patrick, came TO this village of
Chestnut Mound, got into a DIFF
fculty with Horn and beat him over the
head with pistols so that they nearly killed
him. They were indicted at the last term
of the Circuit G urt at Carthage, and when
these sixty odd men, charged with Ku-
Kluxing. were being tried last Thursday,
the sheriff of Jackson county marched them
into the courtroom, having arrested all
four Of them on the charge of assault with
intent to kill. They were released or
bond, and that, believe, is the full his
tory of our KU-Klux Outrages up TO this
time. As said before, the organization is
completely broken up, and there is no
doubt that the members of the gang who
committed these deeds Of violence will be |
brought to just and well-merited punish |
ment. The younger members-the boys
have been taught fearful lesson, and no
more fears are entertained as to violence on |
their part"
Whis this the interview terminated