Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-11
A NEGRO LODGE BROKEN UP.
Members Had to Submit to the Chain of Or
 der Degree. N-

Members Had to Submit to the Chain of Or
 der Degree. N-.- Scottsboro Citizen.
 One of the most peculiar suits ever in- stituted in the courts of Jackson county was brought before Probate Judge Bridges last Monday.
 Some time last winter a shrewd negro by the name of Johnson,' a preacher hailing from Ohio, came to Hollywood and Scottsboro and organized a society among the negroes, which he claimed was for their mutual benefit and protec- tion-a kind of fraternal, brotherly love society. Men and women were admit ted, the initiation fee being about $3. A large number of colored people, especial ly at Hollywood and vicinity, Joined the new order, and everything went along harmoniously until the initiation had to be gone through with. The candidates submitted to cruel and barbarous ini- tiation, and were threatened with death if anything was revealed. They had to take their medicine and submit to it. Johnson finally skipped out, after hay- ing succeeded in getting all the money, and Elder Frank Cobb, who was elected grand commander, or rshighcockalOrum, is the defendant in the suit.
 John Sullivan a son of Ham, and in no way related to the great slugger, Is the man who brought the suit. and Vir- gil Bouldin and Solicitor Hunt represent ed the prosecution and Tally & Proctor the defense.
 Uncle Dick Henry, an old-time negro, told the story of his initiation and treat ment He was blindfolded, tied and laid across bench and given the trace chain degree, which consisted of a number of lashes, administered with chain, across the back and hips. The old man submit ted to his whipping like hero, although he had to go to bed and remain in it for m n punishment Other negroes received similar treatment John Sullivan was given an unmerciful- beating while talk ing the "chain of order degree" and hence the suit. Elder Cobb, it was claimed, held the victims and told John son how many licks to administer. AS there was no special love existing be- tween the plaintiff and defendant, Cobb ordered Johnson to give Sullivan a few E extra licks.
 Sullivan brought suit against Cobb s onthe charge of assault and battery.
 A number of witnesses were examined, |, and their testimony was rather amusing. They all testified that the. scoundrel e Johnson administered the fogging, or chain degree, and that Elder Cobb, as Eithe negroes call him, held the negroes ! and saw that no mistake was made in the initiatory part of the proceedings. The women belonged to the order, but nobody seemed to know anything about their initiation. ss reas.qse ..a. sg E Such high sounding name was given to the order that only one witness could remember or repeat it, He gave it out as follows: "The Grand United Order of the Sons and Daughters of the Le- gion of Honor of the United States of i America" aud .f ,-.s E Johnson preached to. the Scottsboro ne- groes, won their good opinion and got their names and money. but skipped out for parts unknown before organiz- ling the lodge at this place. It is said that Johnson went from here to Georgia, where he got into trouble and landed in the penitentiary. However, no one seems to know whether this is so or not.
 The court room was packed during the progress of the trial many whites being present.
 Judge Bridges fined Cobb $200 and costs. He secured the fine, and took an appeal to the city court.