The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-09-02
Tha Knklnr Trial.

bright spring morning that a crowd |
gathered at the house of Justice
Brownlow on the south side of |
Giles county for the trial of Silas
Cox and Ben Slayden, who had
been arrested and placed under
bond, charged with assaulting and
beating the prosecutor while In
mask-in short for playing kuklux.
In that crowd two Justices of the
peace-the court-two lawyers for
the prosecution and one for the de-
fence, several witnesses and nu-
merous citizens drawn to the trial
by curiosity and universal desire
among country people to hear
"speakin" and witness trial.
The defendants were only part
of those engaged in the assault but
the others had not been arrested.
On the arrival of the lawyers, those
for the prosecution collected their
witnesses at one point and the de-
PENDANTS their lawyer and witness
es convened at another. The attor-
ney for the defendants went over
the case with his clients and learn
ed what the several witnesses would
swear and determined upon course
of action.
After considerable delay and par
leying between the lawyers court
convened in log cabin. The war
rant was read and defendants attor-
ney moved to quash it and dis
charge the defendants; and imme-
diately proceeded to speak in sup
port of his motion. So soon as the
argument began the crowd filed the
house, and although there was
nothing remarkable in the speech
of defendants attorney, yet you
could have heard a pin fall. De-
PENDANTS attorney urged numerous
objections to theiwarrant, arguing
that the affidavit on which it issued
was not sufficient, that the warrant
was detective, finally that the act of
the legislature under which the
warrant issued was unconstitution-
al and void. He read authorities
in support of these various propo-
sitiops and consumed much time.
The justices were patient, desiring
to do justice to all parties. There
was a running fight between the
lawyers for three hours or more and
it was now the middle of the after
noon or later. The court concluded
to oYsrrule the motion to quash the
warrant and to proceed with the
trial.
At this juncture the prosecutor
and his attorneys discovered that
the defendants were not in court.
Investigation showed that they left
just after their lawyer began to
speak, and. in all probability, were
in Alabama, for their attorney
foresaw that they would be held to
answer, and that the extreme penal
ty of the law might be visited upon
them on a trial in the circuit court,
and he had told them what he was
going to do and that while he was
speaking they must travel. When
it was discovered that the defend
ants were gone excitement ran
high; defendants attorney was the
only man present who kept cool.
Now a rumor started among the
crowd that the defendants had gone
to collect other members of their
khan; that they would return soon
and perhaps kill the prosecutor;
and some of the crowd, friendly to
defendants, pretended to see Ku-
klnx on hill near by.
Defendants had become alarmed
and fed when the proceedings
began; it was now the prosecutors
turn to fee. He was intensely ex-
cited, called the court for men to
escort him to Pulaski; the court
could not comply with his request. |
He then called upon his lawyers and |
friends to protect him. he and they |
left in hot haste, forgetting to take |
q forfeiture on the bail bond, and |
thus ended the trial in a general !
stampede. KU KLpx.