The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-06-08
Alabama Barbarism.
A Village of Northern Men Brolsen Up by
the K. K. K.
Providence Journal.1


just after the war, S. II. Lee, of Rush coun-
ty, Indiana, who had been soldier in cav
airy regiment from his own State, removed
with his family to Morgan County, In the
State of Alabama, and being an energetic
man he had induced other families to settle
in his vicinity, until in 1879, there were about
one hundred northern families there, and
thriving little village called Leesdale. One of
Lees sons opened school for white children
shortly after his arrival, and soon afterwards
found on his school house door, written no
tice substantially as follows:
"We have been watching you and your old
dad, and are satisfied you are two OF the grand
est rascals unhung, and that the rope Is made
to hang you both, and Is in good hands; 1t is
not too late yet. To cut the matter short. il
you continue keeping school, we will kill you
dead as hell. The idea Of id yankee teach
ing our southern blood is all a d-d humbug
s1. QD3 (Signed),
GREAT DRAGON, commanding,
Middle Division of X. X. X.
No notice was taken of this and nothing was
done in carrying into execution these threats
The Lees were fearless and could not be driv-
en- away by such means. In April, 1879, s. III.
Lee received a letter calling him vile names,
saying, 1--WE are satisfied you are going to die
soon," and threatening to kill him, signed,
"Your Brother in Hell,' adding that Lee could
not come there because he would steal Satan's
Kingdom" In December, 1879, he received
him he had just twenty days TO live.
On the 14th day of January, 1880,
Lees daughter went to the spring for
water, and was frightened by encountering q
man armed with q double-barrelled shot gun
with his face blacked and coat turned inside
out, who asked her where her father was.
The daughter hurried back to the house and
told her father, who seized his own gun and
with more courage than discretion, rushed
out of doors and called upon his enemy to
show himself, but the cowardly assassin,
from the secure shelter of lvrge tree fred
upon Lee, who fell dead, pierced by several
buck-shot one Of which passed through his
heart, and the murderer made good his escape.
Upon Lees person and the fence where he
stood, the marks Of eighteen buckshot were
found, showing that the gun had been heavily
loaded. No effort was made by the local au-
thorities for the detection or arrest of the MUIR
to the Governor Of Alabama, asking that re-
ward be offered for the arrest and punishment
OF the guilty man, was answered by q state
ment from him that under the laws Of the
State no reward could be offered for the arrest
OF murderer unless the criminal could In the
advertisement be accurately described and
identified. There was in Leesdale the Rev.
I. p. Taylor, who had been living there since
April, 1873, having been sent from Michigan,
under the auspices Of the Free Will Baptist
Home Missionary Society, and who in addition
to his ordinary labors a preacher had also
organized several churches in Morgan County,
and who in his seven years residence had voted
only once and then only to favor personal
friend in an unimportant local election. About
the 18th of March, 1880, some two months after
the murder of Mr.. Lee, Mr.. Taylor received q
letter written with lead pencil, which Mr..
Higbee had in his possession. 1t was as fol-
lows:
''Mr. Taylor: it is generly knone that you
are an old anty-slavery man, and we do not in
tend to let such men stay here, SO you had bet
ter leave the country. Leesdale will be cleaned
out"
There was no signature, but Mr. Taylor
deemed 1t prudent to preach the gospel in
healthier climate, and returned to the North
promptly, leaving his wife to come later under
the escort of Mr.. Higbee. AS fast as possible
the Northern families in and about Leesdale
are returning to their old homes, but many are
obliged to make great sacrifices Of property to
get away, and some who have large farms may
be obliged to remain year or two longer be-
fore they can get away without absolute ruin.