The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-06-18
ROPER kUKLUXED.
The Revenue Witness Shot and Thr own In
Copper PIT sixty Feet Deep.

The Revenue Witness Shot and Thr own In
Copper Pit sixty Feet Deep.
Dalton, Ga, June 17.-(Special. LAST
Monday a revenue man named Roper, we'll
known in Whitfield and Murray counties,
also in atlanta, as a witness against the
moonshners of north Georgia, was called
upon by the kukluX of Murray county,
composed of five disguised men. They
carried him over about the Cohutta noun
tains, twenty miles east of Dalton, to an
old copper pit, sixty feet deep. They asked
him if he could pray, as they were going
to kill him Roper replied that he could
pray a little After he said his prayers
the kukluX shot him four five times and
threw him into the siXtyfoot pit to die
When he was missed the people began
search for him. securing the country in
squads. Today a party passing near the
pit heard some groanS and aroused the
man enough at the bottom to learn that 1t
was Roper They sent down a rope, which
he tied around his body, and was drawn up
by his friends. Roper is apparently shot
all to pieces, and although he has been in
that bad fix without food or water for
seven days, he is still alive.
They carried him to his home in Murray
county today and his home is guarded to-
night to prevent the WhitecapS or kukluX
from killing him. He says that he knows
the five men, because after he said his
prayers and they decided to kill him they
removed their masks, believing that the
shots and the fall of sixty feet would kill
him and further concealment was unnec-
essary. Roper says that he lay near some
vines and roots that grew in the bottom of
the pit He ate and sucked the juice from
the roots, which saved his life.
People who came from him this evening
say he is the worst looking sight they ever
witnessed. The blood that covered his
body had dried on him and water Will not
wash it off. Although he was formerly
large, healthy man, he looks like skele-
ton now. Fears are entertained for his
safety, as those who began the job Will
evidently kill him tonight if they learn of
his being alive and able to testify against
them.
1t is said that those who join these ku-
kuX clans take an oath to obey the orders
Of the elan and that When man is to be
killed they use a machine like lottery
drawing. The five who draw the numbers
must kill the man named or they them
selves viii suffer the same fate by their
own members.
Many Of their members wnen they join
not aware of what they have to do,
but their oath is such that they are COM
PEELED to kill an informer when it falls to
their lot or suffer death instead.
Thanked Senator Walsh.
Savannah, Ga, June u.-(Special)-At a
meeting of the Savannah board of trade
this morning resolutions were adopted
confirming the action of the committee
appointed to meet the Charleston COM
mittee with regard to means of securing
a restoration of the differential rate on
cotton to II cents. The resolutions adopted
by the conference Were fully concurred in.
Resolutions We're also adopted warmly
thanking Georgia's junior senator, Hon.
Patrick Walsh, for his efforts in retaining
the rice schedule fixed in the Wilson
tariff bill in the house. 1t was urged
upon the city council most important
Tor the port that the present quarantine
charges for Immigration and discharge of
ballast of vessels be removed and the quar-
anime be supported by general taxation.
PareiieIing the south Carolina.
New York, June 16-Chairman August
Belmont, Of the Louisville and Nashville,
says The matter of paralleling the South
Carolina road is not sufficiently advanced
20 talk about at present. The project in
wolves the building of a spur from the Port
Royal ana Augusta railroad to Charlest ton,
Louisville and Nashville has one-sixth in
terest IN the lease of the Port Royal and
owns the terminals of the South Carolina
in Charleston. The road would therefore
get the haul from Augusta to Charleston.
when the South Carolina now gets.
Turpin Was Acquitted.
lebanon, enn., June 1.-the jury in the
celebrated Turpin case brought In a YER
dict of not guilty yesterday and Captain
~ y. Iurpin, indicted the murder of
William Garter, in Galatin two years ago
was given his liberty at o'clock. The de-
PENDANT was very much affected by the
jury's verdict and tainted when it was "a
nOunced. The trial just ended is the fourth
Turpin has had In the first he was con-
Victed and sentenced to be hanged The
Lsxt two. at Lebanon. change of venue
having been taken to this county, resulted
in hung juries
Proceedings Against Judge Tally.
Montgomery. Ala. June l1.-(Special >