New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-24
LAW[ESSNESS IN ALABAMA.

PRESCRIPTION IN SUMTER COUNTY-oNE HUNDRED
REPUBLICANS SAID TO HAVE BEEN AsSAssINA-
TED SINCE TIE wAR-DETALs OF TIE KILLING
OF WALTER P. BILLINGS.
The following extract from a private letter
gives picture Of the political condition o. Western
Alabama. One hundred Republicans said to have
been assassnated in single county since the close OF
the war; aud an account is given OF the recent mystic
rious murder of Walter p. Billings rising Republican
politician:
The isolated position Of Sumter County, with its
dense aud wanps the Ignorant and tyranuica
condition OF the save-hoders aud the aec condition
OF the coored people enabled the whites 10 organize 10
perfection the Oatb00un1 gang OF IuurtererS known as
The lKlux Klar all t1e more dangerous from Their
preserved secrecy the death penalty being the
punishment for the revelation of any OF the secrets of
the order even FOR the recognition OF brother men,
Der IN pubic IN sumter. as Wen as IN tLe otheT couh
Iies was made part OF the obligation OF each mem
Der of The Khan TO abb If OF the Khan
arrested If that failed 10 clear the cuprit then
10 muster IN Sufficient force and break open any jail In
order OF the Kan, aud sci MN at hperty'
How wei these obligations have protected the lndl-
than 1co assassinatons Of bo,h white ana colored r.
puDoans have taken place in this one county since the
close OF the and not single has been punished
fOrit
The III feeling toward Mr.. Billings began Immediately
the 4tb July Convention. aud caused by the
Union men placing him at the head OF the Republican
delegation 10 the State Convention. also in the Con
Chairman OF the Executive Committee OF the Repub
party OF sumter. immediately after his election
10 consult upon general plan OF operation which
would result bringing out the full vote OF the county,
and also plan whereby free speech might be secured
for all parties and make effort 10 have the public
schools TeOpened so that the coored Children might be
Taught.
Here ought inform you that the proSlavery party
OF Alabama. enormously called Democracy, deadly
opposed 30 having the negroes educated, aud many
instances refuse furnish provisions the negIo while
be is making crop. If he sends his children
AS The farm hands only get paid once this had
the effect Of starving them into ignorance.
Outrages o. this aud similar description openly
ned nv had hrnu hit an
NewYork State aud he promised the coored people that
he would do his best 20 help them, and make known the
true condition OF their deplOrabie situation the people
of the North. This the condition OF affairs prior
TO the Five days before he killed, No Bill
lngs came u Selma 10 meet H. j. Create, his law art
Der and myself for the purpose OF attending the IVh
District Congressional Convention at Uniontown We
left Selma together and met the OTHER of the
delegation the 10Th day OF July al UnloDtOwn; aud
one intelligent coloIed man told Mr.. Billings that the
Democrats had said that he would not he alive three
weeks longer He laughed at the threat, aud paid but
lille attention TO IL, and lett me- agreeing 10 meet
me two DAYS prior to the State Convention. On his
whom he left Livingston the county seat of Sumter
County. On Saturday, Aug "a the day OF the assass
ing at plantation called the Parkers' Place. After
making speech he mounted his horse and rode TO-
ward his bone, entirely unarmed and nothing more
was heard Of him until the following morning. when
he was found lying dead with Is buckshot in him,
one side OF tue road and his morse cohpeteV rludied
OF mile from his house. About dark y p. m) on the
previous evening, i've reports Of shotgnns were dis
uDcy heard his house, fired In rapid succession.
wall and shot, but 1t was supposed that
some hunters had come upon some game
and we're firing at it, The proSlavery party advanced
the theor mat the murder was committed for
robbery that is conradcted by the Tact that his
pocket-book lett untouched and 1t was known that
Le carried large with him. only one thug
was missing and that his hat. Will here state
that as il is custom OF the red Indian to take the
tom 10 hat 10 TO the "Cyclops" taat the
deed Is done.