The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-07-13

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| etfective--at least il so seemed TO the plia-
bic consciences Of these night-riders. The
organization was born, but left
| without "a local habitation and name"
in order that its members could truth
| fully swear that they ''knew of no Ku-Klux
organization in the county" Hardin and
jenkins having satisfied themselves that it
was the intention OF the conspirators to as
sassinate persons who were important WIT
nesses against Logan Belt in trial Tor
murder pending in Gallatin county, and to
commit other crimes that they were NOT
sufficiently hardened to take hand in, De-
termined to disregard the infamous oath
| that bound the members under pains and
penalties 10 stick to one another until
DEATH" They resolved finally to consult
w. S. Morris and j. Q. A. Ledbetter, able
and courageous attorneys of the Elizabeth
town bar. Tremblingly and in whispers
their terrible secret was revealed, and the
prosecution began, but they do not appear
to have relieved their perilous situation, for
they are kept in constant apprehension OF
sudden and unexpected taking off"
INCIDENTS OF THE TRIAL.
The sheriff took time by the forelock,
and had important business up the river
the day the trial commenced. Indeed, 1T
has been stated on good authority that he
declared to the commissioners of the coun-
| ty he would resign his Office before he
would attempt to ''force the formidable
| Belts into a favorable opinion of the law"
Prudent people are not disposed to blame
him much tor fransacting long-neglected
business in the farthest corner of the coun-
ty while the ferocious clans were gathering
at fhe county seat with knives, pistols and
shot guns eager to obey their leaders COM
mand. say clans, for be it remembered
there are three of them, which may be de-
signated as the Belt, Simmons and Oldham
factions, the two last having declared war
for self-protection against the Belt faction.
But more of this civil strife and the cause
thereof hereafter. 1t has been estimated
that not less than 100 armed men attended
the trial. Near the close of the investiga-
| ton youthful Beltite, not one Of the de-
| PENDANTS, was seen TO enter the temple OF
justice bearing carpet-bag full OF
pistols. Logan, Belt, shrewd villain,
with some knowledge of the criminal law
\ $50 much long communion tends to
make us what we are"-conducted the de-
Tense. He generally kept raliclously COOL
but once or twice he scattered fire from his
lead colored eyes and nervously fingered a
large pistol concealed in the right pocket
of his pantalooNs. His favorite method of
cross.examination of witness whom he
disliked was to tell him she had sworn an
infamous lie A question arose as to the
competency of evidence offered by the state
when ne coolly informed the court that if
decision was rendered against defendants
he shoul. decline TO make further defense,
What he meant by this statement was not
clear 10 those who heard it, but fortunately
the court adjudged the evidence improper,
and the trial progressed peaceably to the
close. The defendants proved by them
selves that their purposes were lawful and
praise-worthy. Jonathan Belt himself an
indicted murderer, tearfully declared that
Hambrink was kind, good nelghbor, and
that, "law or no law he intended to
drag the assassin of the lamented Hambrink
TO justice.
To say that the times were getting sQual-
| ~ to the court conveys q very poor idea of
| the difficulties and dangers of the situation.
| The end came at last without bloodshed,
and the defendants were held in the sum of
$500 each TO answer indictments. They
were released on their own recognizance
Indeed, the Judge seemed ANXIOUS to get
rid Of them on any terms, and your cores
,,N,1ant is tla mo 10 b;p, fc,I
it. think should have released ther,
without any bail, and then set up the drinks
on condition Of their leaving town immedi-
ately. After old Jonathan Belt had made
An Intellectual effort to get up a shooting
scrape" with Morris, the lawyer, who had
| pressed the prosecution with great courage
and ability, the whole party retired to their
guns, which were hid in the edge of the
town, and thence retreated to their native
Businesses, But they intend to give
Elizabethtown only short respite. They
have had Hardin and jenkins arrested on a
charge Of perjury, and will return next
Monday in force, TO prosecute the
charges.
THE PEN AS WELL As THE SWORD.
~ was piO'Su VI uil lllt tliuls lilNl WICl-
ever the clan deemed il necessary, threaten
ing letters were sent out. 4 number of
such notices were issued, some of which
were read in evidence. The following is
fair sample;
LIcRpoRT HEADouARTERs:--To Jack
Oldham and the balance of the damned
Oldhams; You have two weeks to clear
out or he'll will be your doom.
Robert Hasty, Thomas Oldham and
Others were in a like manner informed that
they ought to leave without delay the
homes OF their fathers. A notice was found
among the papers Of Hambrick which
threatened his life if he failed to drive of
two persons who were living on his prcmi-
ses. Notices, supposed to have come from
the same fruitful source, since il was
proven tina, branches Of the clan existed in
different parts Of the country, were found
about ten miles north Of Elzabethtown.
Ben Burton, few mornings since, went
into his stable to feed his mare, and found
her tail shingled and the following notice
tied TO her name;
This is to hint the way you see your
| ,noroo tan 10 tl,a What ,,,;n a.. q. ...,...