Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-22
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U
ton of Ben Cameron, the man we be-
lieve to be the head of this Klan, I'll
give you ten thousand dollars"
The lawyer was whiting on a piece
of pine meditatively.
That's big lot Of money in these
hard times. I'd like to own it, but
I'm afraid it wouldn't be good at the
bank on the other side. I prefer the
green fields Of South Carolina to those
of Eden. Ny harp isn't In tune"
Stoneman snorted in disgust:
will you ask the mayor to call to
see me at once?"
I'VE amt got none" was the laconic
answer.
What do you mean?"
Haven't you heard what happened
to his honor last night?"
mo"
1.-The Klan called to see him." went
on the lawyer with a quizZical look, at
| 3 a. m. Rather early for a visit Of
state. They gave him forty-nine lashes
on his bare back, and persuaded him
that the climate of Piedmont didn't
agree with him. His honor, Mayor
Bizzel, left this morning with his ne
gro wife and brood Of mulatto children
for his home, the slums Of Cleveland,
Ohio. We are deprived Of his illus
trious example, and he may not be
wiser man than when he came, but
he's a much sadder one"
Stoneman dismissed the even-tem-
pered member Of the bar, and wired
Lynch to return Immediately to Pied
mont He determined to conduct the
prosecution of Ben Cameron in person.
With the aid Of the lieutenant govern
or he succeeded in finding a man who
would dare to swear out a warrant
against him.
At a preliminary skirmish he was
charged with a violation of the stat
utory laws of the United States relat-
ing to Reconstruction and arraigned
before a commissioner.
Against E!sies agonising protest,
old Stoneman appeared at the court
house to conduct the prosecution.
In the absence Of the United States
marshal, the warrant had been placed
in the hands Of the sheriff, returnable
at ten o'clock on the morning fixed for
the trial. The new sheriff Of Ulster
was no less a parsonage than Uncle
Aleck who had resigned his seat in
the house to accept the more profitable
one Of High Sheriff of the county.
There was long delay in beginning
the trial. At 1890, not single witness
summoned had appeared, nor had the
prisoner seen fit to honor the court
with his presence ...-.. - =.-.....
Old Stoneman sat fumbling his hands
in nervous sullen rage, while Phil look
ed on with amusement.
Send for the sheriff." he growled to
the commissioner.
In a moment Aleck appeared bowling
humbly and politely to every white
man he passed. He bent half way to
the floor before the commissioner and
said:
"Marse Ben be here In er minute,
sah He's er eatin' his breakfus'. I
run erlong erhead."
Stoneman's face was a thundercloud
as he scrambled to his feet and glared
at Aleck:
"Marse Benz Did you say Marse
Ben? Who's he?" Aleck bowed low
again.
de young Colonel, sab Marsc Ben
Cameron"
And you the sheriff of this county
rotted along in front to make the way
smooth for your prisoner"
"Yessah!"
us that the way you escort prisoners
before a court?"
Dem kin er prisoners-yessah."
"Why didn't you walk beside him"
Aleck grinned from ear to ear and
bowed very low.
He say sumfin' to me, sah!"
And what did he say?"
Aleck shook his head and laughed:
II hates ter insinuate ter de cote
sah!"
What did he say to you!" thundered
Stoneman.
He say-he say-ef walk 'longside
er him-he knock hell outen me, sah!"
Indeed"
"Yessah, en- spec he would" said
Aleck, insinuatingly. LA, he's a
gemman, sab, he is! He tell me he
come right on. He be here sho."
Stoneman whispered to Lynch. turn
ed with look of contempt to Aleck,
and said:
Mr.. Sheriff, you interest me. Will
you be kind enough to explain to this
court what has happened to you lately
to so miraculously change your man
aers?"
Aleck glanced around the room ner-
vously
| II seed sumfn'-a vision, sah!"
| "a vision? Are you given to Wis
ions?"
"No-sah. Dis yere wuz er sho' 'nuff
vision! l wuz er feelin' bad all day
yistiddy. Soon in de mawnin', ez l
| WuZ SWllle lOllB ue EOdu, Seeu q
big black bird er sittin' on de fence.
He flop his wings look right at me en-
say. Corpse! Corpse! Corpse! !"-
Alexis voice dropped to a whisper
zen las night de Ku Kluxes come ter
see me sah!"
Stoneman lifted his beetling brows.
That's interesting. We are search
ing for information on that subject"
"Yessah Dey wuz Sperits. ridin'
white hosses wild flowin' white robes,
en- big blood-red eyes! De hosses
wuz twenty feet high. en- some er de
Sperits wuz higher dan dis cote-house!
Dey wuz all bal headed, 'cept right on
de top whar dere wuz er straight blaze
er fire shot up in de air ten foot hight
What did they say to you?'
"Dey say dat eff l didn't design de
sheriff's office, go back ter farmin en-
lNl, = t,,'