New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-05
THE KU-KLUX STILL ACTIVE.
TERRORISM IN TIE soUTH-CITlZFNs THREATENED
BEATEN AND SHOT AT-A NEW CHAPTER TC
d" THE FOOLS ERRAND."


period. 1t is however. a narrative of events which
have occurred within the last few months.
The scene is county IN Virginia but its name,
as well as the names of the persons concerned
in it, cannot be gven for the reason that
the to be pursued has not yet
been decided upon by the Attorney-General
To people who have read L" The FOOLS Errand." it
will be an easy effort of the imagination to place
this occurrence in the neighborhood of Warrington.
Accompanying the report is letter of Judge Rives,
dated Charlottesville March 13. He says:
The enclosed shows a fearful state of disorder
ard terrorism. Consult with - and see how far
sure Mr. will give them all the projection he
can. think you should have Grand jury at.
and get witnesses before 1t to trace the conspiracy
in all Its ramiieations"
The following are the most interesting portions of
the report
DEAR SIR: have investigated the operations of
the Ku-Klux, Of - County, in obedience to
your instructions letter of recent date, and have
the following report to make. find that an or
ganization exists in - County, calling them
selves Southern Regulators. but better known by
the citizens of said county Ku-Kux; that
a number of persons have been cruelty |
whipped. the lives of some threatened and one man |
shot at by this organization; but the causes for |
such maltreatment have their origin for the most |
part in personal differences. Many of these persons |
who have been so punished are of questionable
The custom of the Klan is to paste notices warning
persons of the punishment to be inflicted, for in
stance:
SIR, We understand you have been befrionding
- by reliable men ana teilng nm 1acts we
far behind HIM, under every circumstance, and the
penalty is fOrtynlne asbes well LAID on. We mean just
what We says Here Is a sample. Anyone taking this
Gown takes fftesn. s. R H.
This copy of notice was furnished me by the au
A. Ia. r;ol ,tyb tba
original which he saw posted. The sample " re-
ferred TO in said notice was largo hickory switch
placed under the notice.
The following named persons have been
whipped by the Klan ring there given the
of eight men, two of whom arc colored).
The two colored mon and Mr.. - learn sustain
good characters. and especially the latter who has
been whipped twice. Mr.. tanother white
mani was whipped once and shot at once, the ball {
Just missing him and entering the facing Of his ,
door, I
b was candidate for Justice at the last i
Spring election, and c. D. voted for him. They G
were informed by the Klan at the time of the
whipping that they were whipped said i
account. Mr.. S. whipped because of his |
outspoken dsapproval of the khan aud their wan
ton assaults upon private citizens. G. H was ]
charged with theft. and they gave that as reason
for whipping him. but they the same night stole
his pistol and have not returned it, o
1T was my fortune to meet with one R H,
who gave the following information, to- wit:
That he R-- III had been member of the or
ganIzatiOn. He joined for the purpose of exposing
the klan. Ii was composed of the following named
persons. vz Here are given the of the
president and members.) Mr. R-H-- informed
his father of his object in joining the L
klan, and his father informed bis wife, j.
R H--s stepmother who is related Il
&c = l..
thought the order informed of his purpose. At
any rate short time after he his father this
information, he waited upon while chopping in ,
the woods, by thlee members Of the Klan, =,
and informed by them they had been IN
advised of his purpose and demanded to know ni
ii it true. He *. H. had great difficulty in NJ
convincing them they were in error and after they
had expressed themselves as being satisfied of his W.
innocence they told him that it their purpose al
kill him if they had found hin guilty. and if he Of
dared to inform against them they would kill him.
Since en however they have discovered truth of m
the charge, and he had fee the country to save
his life. pa
On a subsequent time his house was entered and
searched by two members of the Kan, O third re- ca
manning the outside and failing TO find him they tn
declared the presence of his wife their purpose to La
take his life. 10.
Three members of the klan were arrested short
time ago State warrant, charged with ire
being engaged in whipping and Others rel
aud tried before Justice H, of said county L.
who committed them to Jail after examination an
Of the charges, IN default of bail to appear before
the next county Grand Jury but they were
subsequently admitted TO bail in the sum
IF $1,000. They failed to appear and their 90,
bonds were forfeited. l learn Indictments were inf
ound egainst these and ten twelve others All
If the klan. and since then the newly etc
elected judge has appointed patrol of mil
wclve for that portion of the county L
o preserve order, and it is thought by those who
,now him best he will use every means ot HE nom Mu
nand to put stop to the operations of the Klau ia
md bring the guilty to justice but it is also be- 3 %
ieved that the sheriff and bis deputies are IN syn \
athy with the Klan. wa,
learn that number of citizens In the vicinity A
4 f----are apprehensive of visit from the iGve ior,
an having been threatened by them. About five ara
Months ago. Deputy Collector -, myself and | T
wo Others made rad on Bitter Creek for men ~, l.
ad processes for, and after riding all night | ma
topped with a Mr. >. for breakfast and renamed Inis
here TIL evening The following morning - 0In
)und notice posted near his house warning him serv
gainst feeding and lodging revenue officers sr
aud scO1Ddrels" and threatening that If he ho
epeaed the offence he would be surely punished cont
A very, large majority of the members of the m'ui
Ian disreputsbe men but there are undoubt have
lily of means and of former good standing egh
with it, The president of the order is the
an of means. and IL is he, Madame Rumor saws
no brought the authority from Kentucky for get
ng up the organization, though there is proof
l have reason TO believe there are
ndred organizations existing IN other parts Of ~
us comfy, and possibly IN parts of - County VI
so, but have faed TO obtain the names Of the from
embeIs. toon
the report number of afida- Unit
ts of which the following is specimen: s0''
do hereby solemny affirm that believe my life Is
naSe s RI0asi sd who
pGnE