The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1879-07-13
DARK & BLOODY GROUND
KUKLUX IN HARDIN COUNTY.

WITH HEADQUARTERS NEAR cAvE-IN-RocK,
ENACT DAMNINe SCENES OF MURDER, AS
sAssINATloN AND BLooDsHED-THE LAW
ABIDING PEOPLE TERoRIzED, AND THE
LAW NfPoTENT--AN APPALLING CHAPTER
OF HoRRoRs-TuE c0YJEcTURED OUT
CONE, ETC.
In answer to general demand for in
formation concerning the carnival Of blood
. and reign of terror in Hardin county, We
print below what seems TO be a truthful
and impartial statement Of the facts in
volved from the commencement of the
bloody doings there, up to the tarcical trial
of some of the desperadoes upon whose
souls rest the stains of the crimes that have
given to Cave-in-Rock and its vicinity such
an infamous eminence.
The facts we give below, were originally
published in the Louisville Courier-Journal
and were gathered by correspondent on
the ground;
"Old citizens of Illinois and Kentucky
need not be reminded" says the cor
respondent, ''that Ford's Ferry and Cave-in-
Rock, on opposite sides of the Ohio river,
long since became notorious for the robber-
es and horrid murders perpetlated by Ford
and his confederates. These tragedies
have recently been revamped by some OF
the Kentucky papers. Your correspondent,
who had occasion TO make business trip
a few days ago through Hardin county,
Illinois, has to speak of modern barbarities,
which he ventures to say even the red
handed Ford would not be ashamed TO own
were he living among the desperadoes who
seem TO have taken their cue from him.
Verify, they are fit successors for the dead
monster, and are entitled to undisputed
posse sion Of dark and bloody" patch
Of ground.
Belt is the name of large family living
near Cave-in- Rock, Illinois, which for years
has been more terrible 10 the timid than
were ever the names OF Little and Strong
in the Kingdom Of Breathitt. 1t
can be found on nearly every Grim
inal docket that has been made up
in Hardin county during the last if
teen years, and is not entirely unknown TO
criminal fame in several Of the adjoining
counties. will begin with the last ex-
plot of Hardin county lawlessness; will
then advance backward" and tell Of deeds
of theft, assault and dark assassination that
have been mysteriously withheld from
courts, grand iuries and even Argus eyed
reporters for the great dailies.
On the 30th day of May last, upon COM
plant made by Frank Hardin and B. 2,
Jenkens, warrant was issued charging
with unlawful conspiracy Il. c. Kukluxing)
the following parties: Logan Belt Jona-
than Belt, H. j. Belt, James Belt, Elisha
Morris, son-in-law of Jonathan Belt, VIM.
Fraley, brother.in-law of Logan Belt, Geo.
Ratliffe, nephew Of the Belts, Frank Justice
Tom Leepcr Robt. Sheridan, w. d. White,
Bill Lyons and II. Holloman. All except the
two last-named, when they ascertained that
u charge had been preferred against them
gave themselves up TO j.. +. Taylor, the
county judge for their trial, which began
at Elizabethtown on the Attn and ended on
the 9TH Of this MONTH Hardin and Jen.
kins were the principal witnesses for the
people, and stated substantially that by
various influences and false pretences, EN-.
ployed from time to time by Loge Belt and
Bob Sheridan, they were persuaded to join
the conspirators on the night Of the 9TH of
May last. The place Of meeting was a
sequestered gulch near the Ohio, the pre-.
tended purpose was 10 ferret out the mys.
FERROUS murder Of one Luke Hambrink.
committed in that locality on the night of
the first of last April 1t was also
suggested that man named
Covert should be whipped or XIII.
ed, and that society thereabouts should be
regulated generally. Speeches were made
by several ~ the midnight regulators, grips.
signs, uniform and password adopted. Their
faces were to be cowled, and light was 70
be carried In the hat Of each during raid
on eviI-drcrs Steps were taken to arm all
WHO were too poor to furnish their own
weapons. The question whether fellow
should be whipped or "treatcd worse" was
TO be left entirely to the discretion Of The
clan. In the event Of one Of the brethren
should getinto the clutches Of the law be