St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1889-10-10
DIABOLICAL DEEDS BY WHITES
ON COLORED PEOPLE.

you want to see some fun, however,
Just come with me-"
Then the fellow went on to say
that he and party of his friends
who came over from Clayton county
to Join in the defense of the Point
were going to Conley's home and
give him a good thrashing. In a
short time he and half dozen friends
were in their saddles riding out of
town. Three quarters of mile away
from the Point they came upon a
house in the midst of a grove. Dis
mounting they quickly surrounded
the building. Then one of the num-
Der went to the door and began
pounding.
who's there" came from inside.
"Open the door, d-n you, and
see,'' said the man holding gun in
one hand and a pistol in the other.
But the door would not open.
"Open it or I'll kick it in exclaim-
ed the man as he began kicking upon
it
The kicks accomplished what talk
could not secure. Bolts began to
move and the door opened.
The man showed the muzzle of his
gun inside and in the darkness step
ped in.
1t was a mighty risky thing to do,
but he did it boldly and fearlessly.
Once inside he called out:
"Makea lightl'
In a second a match blazed up.
The light flickered and then went out.
"Oh, d-ny you, none of that. Make
light here and make it quick !"
That was enough and in short
time a chimneyless smoking lamp
was ablaze.
Now, watch out there boys, don't
let him get away" he called to his
friends on the outside.
Then, turning to the negroes inside,
he said:
"Where's Conley?"
Everyone swore that Conley had
never been there.
There were two men and several
women in the room. Calling a friend
in the leader instructed him to take
the two men into the yard and
guard them. Then with another
friend, he searched the house careful
ly, but Conley could not be found.
Stepping into the yard, he yelled
out:
Sam, bring that buggy whip here,
and bring it quick"
A long timber whip was soon pro-
duced.
Now said the leader. turning to
one of the negroes, "off with that
shirt"
But, boss"
But nothing. Off with that shirt"
Off came the shirt and the negrO's
naked back was exposed to the rain
and the harsh singing whip.
Now" said the man, raising the
whip, "where's Conley ~
81 don't know boss, fore God l
don't know" Down came the whip
with a loud whizzing noise. 1t hit
the negro's back with terrible force,
and the negro leaped from the earth
with yell of agony.
MAKE that noise again and I'll
kill you," yelled the leader, showing
a pistol into the negro's face.
Then he began to ply the ticks thick
and fast, and the negro, fearing to
make an outcry, stood his punish
ment silently. AS the leaders arm
grew tired, he turned the whip over
to friend, saying:
Give that one the same dose"
The other negro had watched the
whipping Trembling in every limb,
he stepped forward when called and
took the same punishment sullenlv
and silently.
When worn out the man ceased to
use the lash, and the negroes were
ordered to re-enter the house.
AS they rode away, the "vigilants"
met two more negroes in the road.
They were stopped.
Take off your COATS" said one of
the party.
Both negroes pulled off their coats,
and both were severely, and to the
satisfaction of the "vigilants," fog
ged.
Then the party sought group:.of
negro houses and from one to the
othercalled out the men and whipped
them until fourteen in all had been
severely and terribly whipped.
Two buggy whips were entirely
used up in the work and seven times
as many black backs were left sore
and bleeding. E. c. BRUFFEY.
Below is the editorial comment of
the Constitution on this affair."
A blot rests on Georgia's es-
cutcheon, until the men who whipped
the negroes near East Point are
caught and dealt with as severely as
the law will allow We have never
recorded more fragrant or ineXcus-
able outrage. That a half dozen
white men should give their consent
togo about neighborhood, rousing
peaceable and innocent negroes from
their sleep and whipping them, is al
most incredible And the burden of
this crime, the whole people of
Georgia must bear until the offenders
are brought to justice. The very
lowest view to take of it is that such
outrages will condemn to perpetual
exile that political party on which
the hopes of the South depend. A
broader view is that, while not one
man in 10000 in Georgia would be
guilty of such conduct, every Geor-
gian's fame is stained by the act of
these free riders. A better view is
that it is the cowardice of stronger
and more intelligent race, beating
and trampling the helpless of a
weaker race.
The ultimate view-and the one all
fair men must take-is that it is
crime against humanity-that hui
man beings, no matter how humble
or how black-should be torn from
their beds, taken into the night and
dashed until their backs are bleeding
by lawless mob The body of
peaceable and well-behaved negro is
just as sacred from lawless assault