The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-08-19
The Tables Turned on
The Illinois Kuklux.
They Go on a Mission Of Blood
and Get Bled.
ONE OF THEIR NUMBER
KILLED.
Before Dying He Re-
veals tho Names Of His
Accomplices.

cnts that he had Just received important |
information from Franklin county in re. |
gard to the ku-klux who had been in |
testing that part of the State for some |
time. which he would
CLApLY MAKE PUBLIC,
lie began by giving n brief history of |
the transactions of the outlaws and what |
action he had taken In the premises. Late
last fall or early in the winter the Cover
nor had some intimations that few law
less men. near the line between Franklin
aid williamson counties, were riding
around nights masked, alarming the citi-
Zens and committing depredations. but
no specific charges were made. He
heard nothing more OF such lawlcssness
until last Friday afternoon. when n gen
tlcman from Franklin county called on
him with letter of introduction from
some leading citizens of Benton. This
gentleman advised the Governor of the
existence Of such
ACLAss or MEN
in TINT section of the State: that he
knew some fifteen or twenty OF them,
and knew where they kept their masks
that they mad arranged to call upon "a
ncighbor of his on Monday night. and
upon him few nights later in the week;
that the country was Il good deal excited.
aud no attempt had been made BY the
citizens or authorities to put stop to
such lawlcssness. and that il was either
to leave the country, fight or be whipped.
As an old soldier, he did not propose to
run, but would resist all such attempts.
AND DEFEND HIMSELF
and family if he had the means where
with. assuring the Governor that he
could organize sufficient force TO cap
tlre these fellows ii he had the means.
The Governor told him hc would furnish
him with one hundred stand of arms and
| ammunition, and authorized him to or
game Il militia company. and also al
Nlsed hn to get such a force together a.
he could by Monday night. and meet
these dcSpcradoes and he was ordered to
capture them. and, il necessary to protect
| thcmsClv =.
SHOOT ALL MEN IL DISGUISE,
This gentleman returned home by Dri-
puoin and Benton, and il i presumed
| that he had conference with the sheriff
OF Franklin county. The arms and am
lnunitlon were Immediately shipped, a.
agreed upon. On Saturday the Governor
wrote to the sheriff OF franklin county
the following letter:
To Hon. Jos. I. Mason, sheriff OF Franklin
County:
SIR: In view of the recent distlrban-
ces III Williamson county and your proN-
unity thereto, / would suggest the pro-
pricty of organizing an independent mill
tary company at Benton. An oryanizl-
ton without any reference to affairs ia
Williamson, and composed OF good, re-
leable men. would always be ready TO aid
Ia, ,riy
strength to the civil authorities Of the
county in
PRESERVING PUBLIC ORDER
and enforcing the laws. The expense
would be small, as uniforms would not
De required. Arms, etc, can be furnished
by the state, Suppose you confer with
some of the prominent citizens of your
county, and advise me of your determin-
alton In the premises.
Yours, very respectfully,
JOHN l.. BEvERIDGE."
On yesterday the Governor received
the following dispatch from the said gen
tlcman
To Governor l.. Beveridge, Springfield:
am here aud have just received the
guns. Things are somewhat excited
will let you hear from me again tO-mor-
row Will raise company ut Benton to-
morrow answer Immediately.
10 this the Governor replied.
To Captain, etc;
Raise a company as soon as possible,
and send the muster roll. wrote to the
Sheriff, and have suggested the organic
ing of the company at Benton.
lSighed JOHN l.. BEvERIDGE.
This evening the Governor received the
following telegram from the States Attor-
hey OF Franklin county, from
BENTON, VIA DuQUoIN, Aug. II, 1875.
TO Governor John L. Beveridpe The
Sheriff OF Franklin county and posse had
a desperate fight with fourteen Ku-KluX
last night. They were all disguised In
the regular ku-Klux uniform. One of
them was mortally wounded and five
Others severel y injured. will call upon
you tomorrow. A militia company is
being organized. Some thirty are known,
ana the Sheriff, with force of fifty men,
are now hunting them ont.
[Signed W.. II. BARE.
States Attorney for Franklin County.
\ FEARLESS MAN.
The GovcrnOrdoe not think best to dis
close the name of the party who called
upon nm AT present. This man was OF
the oplolOn that there was a large organ
iZatlon of ku-kluX in the two said cOlln-
ues, ana their disguise consisted OF a white
robe, with n dark face, and composed of
men who were determined not to submit
to Tie civil authorities and if attacked,
they might rally, and give the people
trouble. But this fearless man was
willing, with the approval OF the author
tiles. and furnished with arms, TO make
the light. The Governor thinks this gen
tleman communicated his action and nil
the facts to the Sheriff, and that the Sheriff
determined TO capture these fellows. lie
approves highly of the speedy and effect
i've action OF the Sheriff. and has no doubt
that with u well organized force he will be
able to arrest them and bring them JUS
lice, and that
LAW AND ORDER
will be eventual. From numerous in
quiries made, the Governor is of the opin.
ion that the Ku-kluX have no connection
with the Bulllncr- Russell-llcn tcud
OF williamson county, though doubtless
one gives strength to the other. lie ey-
poets a full report Tomorrow on the ar
rival of the States Attorney, and will
await all action until fully advised by Mr.
Barr.
THE FIGHT DETAILED,
BENTON, ILL, VIA DUQUoIN, ILL.,, An
gust ia terrible fight occurred last
night In Franklin county between
the sheriff of the county and
his posse and the Eu-kluv Lo 80