The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-21
THE RED MEMS TRIAL
THE kv.KLux OF WEST VIRGINIA.
Tho Signs and CouutersiEns Of the Order Given
AWay-A Masonic Secrecy Observed Amosw
the Members-A Drunkeu Witness
Jalled-The Details or thu Trial.

CLARKsDuRG, W. Va, December l9.-
The Red men mail robbers trial Is still
under way. The interest ln,s increased
rather than abated. The defendant Price,
has examined up to this time, about
twenty-five Of his one hundred Witnesses.
One ofthe witnesses gave the Red mems
signs md grips away He said he went
into the thing with good intention, and
finding It bad thing, he quit them and
the first chance he got "blowed" on the
boys. The first Sign Is 10 place the fore
finger OF the right hand on the top OF the
nose, lengthwise. 1t Is answered by the
other party placing the two front fingers on
either side Of the nose, tengthwise. II It
Is dark, and one brother desires to chal.
lenge another, the challenging party saws,
in a distinct voice, 20. X" II the one
challenged Is member, he responds
Like" The grip is given by taking a
firm hold OF the entire hand, and letting
the thumb Of each hand rest between the
knucklet of the little finger and the ones
next to 1t. The obligation is a pledge to
stand by each other; 10 aid each other; to
keep each others secrets.
The story was given out that the deien.
dant Price now under trial, Is a member
Of the Red Men.
The Red Men call themselves "Regents
Committee" Their object is 10 take the
law in their own hands. They have
whipped scores OF citizens with cowhides;
have driven men out Of their neighbor.
hood; have frightened inolIensive citizens
well nigh to death; have pillaged and
robbed, and 1t was stated by one OF the
witnesses that one man was shot by them.
silas Price, brother OF the defendant
Price, was present one night with a band
Of masked men, Of which he was a mem.
Der, who broke into house, took man
out OF his bed; two men drew him around
a tree, one holding each hand, while three
men struck him ten licks piece with
cowhide on his naked back. This man
WIS castigatcd because it was said that he
whipped his wife.
Eleven witnesses to-day swore that they
would not believe Marion Hawes, one OF
the Governments witnesses, on oath. Wit.
ness Lafayette Keller was sent to Jail last
Saturday for appearing in the court room
under the influence OF liquor and attempt.
ing to testify. He came into court to-day
and stated that he had been approached by
some parties who told him that he had
better correct his testimony. lie had said
on Saturday that he was not Redman,
and now wished to sayhe was member Of
said order, or rather it was the same order,
called BY its members us ''Resents Com.
mittee." Ia his cross examination, be had
forgotten" everything he ever knew about
this recent organization.
| forgot to state that the Red men wore
masks over their faces, and long, loose
gowns. made like woman's dress. These
were worn to prevent recognition.
MIR. Davis, chief counsel for Price. said
that ne had in his possession the oath, con.
stitution, bylaws, &C., OF the Red Men.
which he proposed to introduce at the pro-
per time. The judge required It to be read
ut once. They were read and were rig.
mnrole statement OF the necessity for people
to protect themselves and property; to as
sist officers to prosecute and punish all
violations OF law; to regulate matters in
their respective localities; to assist members
ofthe order; to not dcfraud members OF the
same; to not testify against each other; TO
Aioe wa a. tatAH luAI lakSb plAce Wnel
men are punished by the order; to stand by
each other under all circumstances, The
penalty to be inflicted for any violation Of
the obligation, is left entirely to the lodge.
It may be death, il SO deemed by the lodge,
The constitution and bylaws gave the
different officers, and instead OF the real
name OF the officer being written down,
such nom de plunes rs Spotted TAIL" for
President, Captain jack as Secretary,
"Wildcat" as First Lieutenant, "Staudiastd
Second Lieutenant, &c.
The lodges met III school houses, always
at night.
There were places in the Obligation where
figures such US 9-S-7 VI-5.4, and various
other characters are used. Each figure
means certain thing, and is only known
to the Chief officer in the lodge, who trans-
lates them as lie goes along.
The thing is Ku.Kluxism under another
name,