Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-11
NOTIFIED TO LEAVE.
John C. Grey Driven From Alabama
by Klu KluX Threats Of Murder.
he BOUGHT lOOo,ACREs OF LAND.
Tough Experience Of Former Butler
County Farmer IN the South.
SOME STORIES OF RECENT OUTRAGEs


who was in the city yesterday, tells har-
rowing story of his treatment in Alabama,
from which State he was recently driven
by threats of slaughter from the Klu Klu1
| organization. He speaks also OF the murder
of negroes and other people not wanted,
which, if true, is not credited to the famous
hospitality of the South.
Mr.. Grey says any stranger could expect
to be roughly handled BY the Cracker
outlaws of the mountains of Tennessee and
Kentucky, but he looked for better things
his story he said:
"About 8 years ago read . glowing &C
count of the success of Southern farmers
The land was so fertile that all they had to
do was to tickle the ground with fine
brush and it woull answer the purpose OF
plowing and narrowing. With two COM
pauions 1 went to Alabama When the
people heard we wanted to buy land they
treated us royalty. was induced to pur-
chase 1000 acres.
Carried Of Fences and Floors.
'T then came north and went back last
spring. 1 found that the fences had been
burned on the plantation, the floors from
the cabin stolen, valuable timber cut down
and carted away, and all the window panes
smashed The sight of my destroyed prop
erty made me sore, but set to work and
put in the summer repairing. When had
finished 1 received a mysterious notice to
leave the country in o fixed time. had
heard of the outrages committed by the
Klu Klux, but thought the organiza-
tion was q myth. Shortly after
I got the warning I was in
formed of . negro who had been
called out of his house at night and was cut
to pieces and riddled with bullets 1t was
reported that he had been mobbed for at
tacking woman. Another Northern man
told me that not long before that he had
been dragged from his home and q rope was
thrown around his neck. He begged them
for the sake of his family not to hang him,
and after long parley they consented on
condition that he would not tell anybody
of the occurrence He overheard that 1
had been warned, and to save me from
harm, related his experience and advised
me to go.
"Here is another case that can vouch
for. Martha Johnston, a servant girl, had
worked for two months when she asked for
her pay, but they would not give her the
price agreed upon. She quit and went
home. Two nights afterward she was found
chopped to pieces near the house.
Murdered by the Klu-Klux.
SIT was reported that she had attempted
to burn the house of her employer and sew
eral other people not far from my place,
and her fate was to be an example for all
who attempted TO do likewise. 1 know this
story was a lie, and the girl had
been murdered by the Klu-Klux. You
frequently read in Northern newspapers
of colored men being hanged by mobs for
some otfense The truth is that in many
cases the poor fellows have incurred the en-
nifty of the Klu-Klux, and were put out of
the way.
Nothing would induce me to 90 back to
Alabama NV companions who bought
land with me were ordered out of the coun-
try as I was When 1 left 1 put tenant
on my farm, but he had to skedaddle, and
to day my property is neglected and going
to waste. 1 intend to go down next spring
20 see what can get for il, but L don't ex-
pect to find any of the tlmbzr or fruit trees
left One fellow had the nerve to write me
offering me $50 for the 1000 acres, but I
would rather lose all than make him q pres
ent of anything
1.-The coIored people of the South are
oftened sneered at bv the old plantation
owners as lazy and good for nothing. NY
experience with them was very different.
found them in nine cases out of ten hon.
est and Industrious, but badly imposed
upon by the whites. They are poor and
everything is done to keep them down.
Then we wonder in the North why the
negro doesn't improve.
Getting Control Of the Crops.
ssThe usual plan is for some merchant to
advance a colored farmer little meal,
some bacon, corn and so on to the amount
of about $50 In return he pledges his cot
ton crop until he can pay it. That time
never comes No matter how much cotton
the farmer may raise, whether it be worth
$500 or $500, the merchant claims all, and
will wrangle for it The storekeepers are
in combination, and the colored man can't
buy elsewhere until he satisfies the bill of
the first merchant. I have seen the game
played frequently.
'"Phe Klu-Klux Is composed of natives,
and they are closely banded together. If
you ask man it he is 2 member he will
protest vehemently and declare there is no
such society, but 1 known better. I read
an amusing account not long ago of q negro
having been scared to death by one of the
gang. He wore mask and supplied him
self with a leather pouch. Going to the
colored mans cabin at night he called for
water and apparently drank several bucket
fuls, remarking as he finished: That is the
first water have taken since the battle of
Bulls Run. The negro rolled his eyes
with fright and died. This may be true,
but know they don't often use such in
offensive ways of getting rid of people in
the alleged fair land of Dixie.