The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1875-08-20
FRANKLIN.
MORE PARTICULARS OF THE BATTLE
WITH THE KUKLUx.
Aaron NcaI, the Leader. Under Ar.
rest.
Green Cantrell Found Wounded and Dy
ing.

The following account of the franklin
county fight is furnished by DEPUTY
Sheriff who participated In ii:
BENTON. ILL. August lS.-The posse,
consisting of twenty men. arrived at the
residence of Mr. Maddox at 10 O'Clock.
and were sccrctcd in the lane leading to
the house, and in the garden adjoining
the yard. They were armed with dotl-
5lc-barreled shot-guns. After waiting
patiently for two hours party of horse
men were heard passing through lane
half mile from where they were located,
but passed on. and were soon
out of hearing, Surprising that
they had got wind of the fact
that the residence of Mr. Maddox was
guarded. half of the posse concluded TO
get out their horses and give them chase.
While catching their horses, and before
starting, the alarm was given that they
were coming. They dismounied hastily.
fastened their horses. and by the time
they were secrcted party of men, COM
plctcly disguised. wearing masks ard
white coats aud numbering fourteen
dox's residence. When within twenty
sheriff TO halt. They made
TEMPORARY HALT,
J but seeing no one, again advanced. The
J Sheriff. stepping out, called to them. in
the name of the people of the State of
Illinois. and by virtue OF his authority
as Sheriff Of Franklin county. to surrcn-
der. They replied, mo, sir. well not. :"
| and Immediately fired at the Sheriff, who
had luckily stepped behind fence COR
ner. The posse commenced firing at
them, whcrcupon they fled. leaving one
of their number MORALLY wounded and
badly dcmoralized. Had the posse fol-
lowed up their advantage by pursuing
them. they would doubtless have cap
turcd several of them. As shown next
morning by going over the ground
they threw away their masks and coats a.
they ran. Thirteen masks were found
within mile ofthc engagement. six bad
~ riddled with bullets and bloody. show
ing that the shots effected something.
One OF their horses was found dead in the
road. abont mile from the scene of the
fight. Four other horses have been found
slightly wounded The wounded Ku-kluX
was brought to Benton. and has given
the names of several of the party. The
Sheriff and posse are now out in search OF
them. One of the men, Aaron Neal. sup.
posed BE the
LEADER OF TUE BAND,
has been arrested and Is now in jail. Oul
usually quiet town is ablazc with excite
nent. \ meeting of the citizens wa
called to-day, and the following rcsolu.
tons passed:
Whereas, Secret bands of outlaws ar,
now in existence in this county, calling
themselves kl-kluX. who are bOunt
together by oaths, and traverse the coun
ty in complete disguise, and in the nigh
time take pcaceablc citizens out of thci
beds, whip them and order them to per
form actions under penalty of death
which are inconsistent with the rights ant
privileges of trcemen and citizens of tn
county, and
Whereas, James +. Mason. the Shcrif
OF this county. having learned that ,
| body OF these kuklHN disguised and
| armed. would visit John ID. Maddox upon
last night for the purpose of terrifying
him into the performance OF certain
things which they were DESTROYS he
should do, summoned posse of mel
with arms, secreted themselves ut the res
idcncc of John Ii. Maddox, and whel
the kukluX, fourteen in number. mad,
their appearance about 2 o'clock-th,
Sheriff, in the name and by authority @
the people of the State of Illinois. de
mandcd their surrcnder--to which they
responded by Immediately firing upoI
the Sheriff and his posse. and afterwari,
attempting to flee, whereupon the Sheriff
and posse commenced firing upon them,
fatally woundlng one man and seriously
wounding others: therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That we, as law-abiding citi.
zens OF Franklin county, determined to
uphold the laws Of our country and pro.
tect our citizens from outrage, do hereby
cordially indorsc the action of the Sher-
i'll and his posse in their action last night
and that we condemn in the strongest
manner these armed and
DISGUISED MAEAUDERs,
and that to their suppression and tbc
maintenance OF the law and liberties of
our citizens we hereby pledge our live.
and money.
The above resolution was unanimously
passed and also Il resolution requesting
| the States Attorney. w. w. Barr.
Esq, to proceed Immediately to Spring,
fleld TO confer with the Governor for his
ADVICE IN regard to the matter. Our
county Is IN dcplOrable state OF affairs.
Sufficient evidence has been obtained TO
warrant the statement that there are not
less than one hundred of these men
banded together. Our citizens are deter
mined: II attacked by this force we are
powerless to defend ourselves. We de-
mand protection.
ANOTHER or THE BAND DYING.
Dr. QUoIS, Ill.,, August ls.-Thc Ia.
test news from the seat of war in Frank
I'm county was brought in by a hack
driver who arrived her from Benton this
afternoon. Two arrests have been made
since the fight OF night before last. The
names OF the parties arrested
are, Green Cantrcll and Aron
Neil. Both men live in Franklin
county IN the vicinity of Benton. Sus-
picloh was first aroused, which led 10
the arresl OF Cantreli, by attention being
attracted by parties going to and from
ms house earring ice and by seeing the
doctor visit his residence. These facts
were made known to some officials, VINO.
upon entering his house, found Cantrell
IN bed, seriously, ii not MORALLY, wound
ca. HE wounds, no doubt, are the