The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-08-30
THE wnlrEcAPs.
This BAND Of Indiana Ku Klux to be Broked up..
A Detective Initiated with the League.

short time ago q detective was hired by
prominent Indiana men to investigate and
if possible expose the workings of the White
Cap" regulators He joined the organization
in Harrison county about two months ago,
being Sworn by n branch organization. Tna
oath demanded of every candidate is fairly
blood-curdling in its provisions the penalty
of its violation being death, as well as re-
quiring the deposit of $500 in cash with the
superior or head of the order as forfeit for
the least violation of any of the by-laws. 1t
virtually makes a man swear that he il a
criminal, and places the evidence of his guilt
in the hands ofthe Nv hite Caps" But the de-
tective complied with all those conditions.
Once admitted he was again subjected to
many curious tests in order to test his
sincerity one of these being frightiul ord aal
in which he found him self convicted of having
entered the order with sinister motives and
condemned to be shot therefor. At the
last moment. after being led to u dis
NAL swamp, gagged and blindfolded
he was given an opportunity to
confess and save his life. These stages OF the
initiation being passed, the purposes of the
order were then unfolded. These consist in
the enumerating of a long list of mock NOR
atty, precepts concerning the defense of
virtue, the sanetity of the domestic circle,
and the disapproval of drunkenness and
Righteousness in all forms. Those were really
a cover to the chief design; which was the
prompt avenging of any wrong, real or
Imaginary, to any member Of the organiza-
ton. Upon any pretext which he deemed suf-
ficient, a superior officer could order the fog
ging of any man orwoman, even though they
were unknown to the rest of the elan.
The members of the organization do not be-
ieve in the use of firearms except as last
resort. The chief headquarters are near
English, though each county and even each
township have separate lodges. The mem
bership embraces a most startling roll of
prominent names, including leading farmers,
merchants, and even many officials. There
are men belonging to the order whom the
general public would never dream of having
any such affiliations. 1t is this fact
which makes the conviction of mem
bers almost impossible. Being unknown
they can color a jury to their liking, thus
rendering their suppression a difficult mat
ter. A mistaken idea prevails regarding the
magnitude and mem bership of the organiza-
ton, for while it embraces many classes the
number of members is not nearly SO large
as is supposed Many raids are made by
men desiring to throw the responsibility on
the Nv hite Caps" The most of the members
of the order live in and about Leavensworth
Corydon and English, with a few in Orange,
Martin and Dubois counties. Their mode of
operating is as follows The head of the dis
trict is informed that certain party shall
be warned, whipped or ordered to leave the
country. He calls meeting, and with
out even putting the matter to vote
delegates certain men to perform the work,
which they are compelled to do without hes
itation. Although the detectives took part
in several raids he refused to go into details
or give the names of those participating, but
he will report to his employers and will
probably meet them at Louisiana. The pres
ent action of Gov. Gray has excited the
white Caps" somewhat, and they have is
sued the following circular to members:
On the Ohio, Aug. $40 all "White-Caps:"
1t has been announced in the press that Gov.
Gray has seen fit to interfere with our or
ganization. As our own counties are the best
judges of the cause of the "Whte-Caps."
and they have not interposed their authority
to modest us, this interference upon the part
of the state authorities is unwarranted and
uncaled for. We are willing to be judged
by our acts and by our neighbors and fellow
citizens, but declare our unalterable opposi-
ton to the invasion of our counties by the
minions of Gov. Gray in order to prosecute
the white Caps" 1t has therefore been de-
cided to resist this interference if necessary
with blood The first one of our members
who is subjected to inju stice shall either be
released or revenged.
There was no SIGNATURE