Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-04-01

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Organized banditry doesn't. flourish
under our contemporary conditions ir
the United States. Sporadic crimes
such as those of the train robber. Of
the so-called Black Hand, and the LONE
highwayman are pregnant enough t
occupy a considerable portion Of the
newspapers as they are in all civilized
communities. But we must look bach
to a much earlier period to find 6
chronicle Of an attempt 10 bring to.
gether in a widely extended conspiracy
under q single head, all tie forces oi
evil which festered over 81 900 SQUARE
miles of sparsely settled territory.
The field Of this satanic campaign
extended from Cairo, ILL.,. to the Mis-.
sissippi delta and cut the width of Q
broad swath through a half score Of
slave states. Wholesale and retail
robbery, counterfeiting. land swindl.
ing, negro stealing and selling, black
mailing and even murder and assassi-
nation, all played their part in this
vast campaign Of crime.
John Murrell, the apostle and leader
Of this Internal cult, the would-be Ma
poleon of chaos and crime in the Mis-
sissippi valley, the organizer Of q des-
perate clan of some twelve hundred
miscreants, taught his followers that
| 1t was the safest way In most cases to
kill the victim, unless there was some
obvious reason to the contrary. 80
His organized money-getting schemes
through robbery and web Of affiliated
/ IL LaI Ia a
period of ten preliminary years, gave
him the means Of gratifying the basest
forms Of lust and riotous living. These
he INDUCED in to swinish extent al
New Orleans, Charleston and other
southern cities at periodical times. His
appearance of wealth, his fine clothes
his lavish extravaganza, and a certain
dashing vivacity, which he could as
Bume at win, gave him the entree even
into the society Of the wilder young
men Of fashion, against whom his In
ner spirit gnashed its teeth In the
thought that he would one day cut
their throats. r
But such use of wealth was entirely
subordinate to the zeal with which he
purchased arms-rifles, pistols, pixies
and knives-and cached them at nu-
merous convenient places. The time
mas night, 1885. -.t-
About eighteen months before this
expected. climax, an interesting en-
counter occurred in the woods Of Mad
ison county, west Tennessee, in what
was then known as the Choctaw Pur-
chase. -.Gs E
Virgil Stewart, a young Georgian.
had come into small Inheritance
from his father year before and had
then concluded to invest In the virgin
lands Of that newly opened tract. He
had made his entry, paid the fee, and
after keeping the store Of one Clanton,
a probate Judge. for while, had re-
turned to Georgia to complete the
purchase and take residence. ~
Stewart was out riding one evening
in the early dusk when he overlook q
striking figure mounted on a fine
hunter, which he sat with the ease of
a finished horseman. The stranger, q
man Of erect spare figure, had pecul-
lar face which at once riveted Stew
arts attention. The eyes, of q cold,
piercing gray, were set close together
under beetling brows, and the mouth
had thin lips, which In their curves
carried suggestion Of cruelty. 9th
erwise the features were good, and the
manner was perfect Of its sort, as he
accosted Stewart with well-bred ease
and resonant voice Of one accustomed
to public speaking: ~"
Good evening sir. hope that you
are entoyin' your ride in the twilight
cleaning. There Is something delight
full at this hour in the woods. Nature
declares the glory Of God"-partly
shutting his eyes with an air Of PEN
sive enthusiastically this meetfn' of
day and dark among the tree-pillars
always makes me think of q great
church made without hands"
Stewart stared at this salutation,
which he politely returned, and for a
moment fancied the stranger an itin-
Grant minister Of the better class. But
he thought 1t odd that a gospeler
should ride thoroughbred hunter and
carry heavy pistols in his holsters,
with knife In his belt and sawed
Off shot gun on his pommel. Yet al
most all white men were wont to ride
armed then In that country and there
was nothing suspicious in the fact, ex-
cept the pious twang Of the overture.
my host, who lives about ten miles
thought God would send me a chance
for a buck. I don't believe in slayin'
the beasts of the field wantonly, but
they were created for the use of man,
We are Taught In the Holy Scripture.
Do you reside in this district, sir?"
Probably shall,' answered Stew
art, as I have recently bought land
here, and am on the outlook now for
some likely slaves. ! may have to run
down to New Orleans to get them,
though It Is costly trip, for q good
lot Of them have disappeared from
here Of late-run away or stolen.
That's fine horse you're riding"
YES" said the other with a sinister
twinkling in his eye which Stewards
keen observation noted, I'm good
Judge of hoss, or Of the sons Of Ham
whom God made for service. I trust,
sir. you will find a nag as good, and
all the black boys you need. I shall
be hereabouts for the next fortnight,
and then I shall obey the command Of
the campmeetin' over in Shelby coun-
ty, up Memphis way. Pardon me, sir,
but I took an instant likin' for you
and l hope we shall get further ac-
quainted. I ride in these woods every
evenin'. Good-by till we meet again"
He doffed his hat with great pune
tilio and spurred his horse through by
a byroad in the darkling woods. Neith-
er had mentioned his name to the 9TH
er.
A few days later he again crossed
the stranger not far from the scene Of
the first meeting, and the latter greet
ed him with an air Of unmistakable
pleasure:
II have thought a good deal about
you, sir, since I met you the other
night. I reckon we're kindred spirits
somehow, for / know human nature
pretty we'll and rarely make a mis-
take" with an air Of great compaa-
cency. Il thought I'd like to have a
long powwow, for I'm q lonely man,
though know many people. am un-
expectedly called away tomorrow eve
ming. Pray, sir, come and spend the
night with me at the Corners. My host
of the tavern has fine old APPLE and
brace Of wild ducks fit for king for
for" stopping with lips pursed into
an enigmatic smile.
Stewart gladly assented, and they
rode together a few miles farther to
the Corners, which consisted of g. log
tavern, a ramshackle store and q rude
blacksmith shop.
After supper under a huge gum tree,
and with a tongue we'll loosened by
frequent libations of apple toddy, the
man of mystery began to unbosom
himself.