New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-12
WHITE LEAGUE.
The Assassins mt Memphis.

MEMPHIs. September 1.-THE men ar
rested at Pickettsville, on the charge of
participating in the assassination of the
negroes taken from the Trenton Jail, arrived
here this afternoon under the guard OF
soldiers, and we're taken to jail. They will
be examined before the United States COM
missioner tomorrow.
Another Witness.
Another of the negroes taken from Jail,
and who escaped, is here but, under advice
Of the United States officials, he and his
companions refuse to speak beyond the fact
tina. they escaped when the six men were
killed near Trenton.
The ku.klux Country.
The Aralanche gives the following his.
tory Of affairs in this section:
During the civil war this region was over
run by squads of guerrillas claiming al
legiance to both North and South. but
really serving neither.
Colonel Hawkins commanded regiment
of federal marauders, chiefly made up in
the counties adjacent to Gibson, and sew
over that region, both sides taking horses
and other property from the citizens at will.
Many deeds of blood were perpetrated
during this period.
At the close of hostilities many OF these
disbanded guerillas remained in the country,
and for three years or more there was
regular understanding between them in
the ranges of country embracing Dyer,
Madison, Gibson, Upton and McNairy
counties. Over the whole range of country
from the Mississippi to the Tennessee river,
rapine, arson, robbery and murder were
almost of daily occurrence.
One Budd Evans was the acknowledged
leader of these predatory night hawks, and
a perfect reign of terror prevailed among
the most respectable citizens. Governor
BrOwnlow and his administration were the
reigning authorities, but they. were power
less to stop blOOdshed, or check lawless-
ness. Men were torn from their shrieking
wives and children, and shot down and left
dead by the roadside-often not being
allowed to say single prayer-and for no
Otfense.
The Governor threatened to call out
the militia, but nothing came Of it, nor
could the authorities suppress the evil
deeds of these worthless men. The citizens
could bear it no longer, and during the
summer of 1868 a party of some forty or
more, headed by former army captain,
went forth to search for the rascal, Budd
Evans, and three others.
Evans. his kinsman, a man named Fax
anatils, and one named Stallooms, with
twelve more, were taken in quick succession
BY the captain and his followers, and all
were put to death without trial or delay.
Evans, the leader, when first taken and
chained, threatened dire vengence' on his
captors, and said his time for revenge
would yet come.
Tne captain replied to him that when he
got through with him he would not be in a
condition to seek revenge on any one.
Seeing his time had come, he begged for
delay; wished his wife to be sent for. but
his wishes were not granted. He was exc.
cuted. This action broke up the outlaws
entirely, and until the recent troubles
ness until the affair at Pickettsville, started
by incendiary threats and deeds by blacks,
and the subsequent breaking into the Jail at
Trenton to take out and mercilessly shoot
unaymed and helpless prisoners.