Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1921-05-19
NIGHT RIDERS IN
NORTH ALABAMA
Trouble Is 0utgroWth of Farm
Tenants Organization.
CAUSE A REIGN or TERROR
Recalcitrants Are Dragged From Their
Homes and Beaten-Tables Turned
on the "Riders" When They Went
to Discipline Harry McGowan-
Union Has for Purpose the Fixing
Of the Rental Scale for Farms.

Union Has for Purpose the Fixing
Of the Rental Scale for Farms.
might riders" have caused reign
of terror in north Alabama. Inc
trouble is the outgrowth of the or
ganization of tenants union,' nav
Ing for it's purpose the fixing OF
rental scale, which calls for onc-thrd
Of the corn and one-fourth of the cot
ton crops to the landowner. Refusal
of any tenant farmer to join the union
or obey its mandates brings swift pun
ishment Many have been dragged
from their homes and numerically
f1ogged.
Conditions In Jackson county
(High Jackson') are declared to he
worse than during the dark days OF
reconstruction following the Civil war.
No farmer leaves his home without
shotgun under his arm and probably
a As Colt on his hip. "DaytimP or
dark" to quote Mayor Claude Timber
lake of Stevenson, the storm center or
the trouble. "the farmers go armed.
and they carry their shotgunS ON the
streets of the towns as we'll as ON the
lonely country roads"
Governor Kilby has sent 20 special
officers into Jackson county, but their
presence seemed to have no effect.
and appeals for state militia have
been turned down. The county Off
cials and citizens have declared that
unless the state takes steps citizen
army will go on the warpath with in
structiOns to shoot to kill.
"Causht Tartar"
While there had been sporadic out
breaks of night riding during which
farmers around ScottSborO, Stevenson
and Bridgeport had been roughly han
died, the trouble reached a climax on
February "a, when band of armed
and cowled horsemen raided the home
of Harry MCGOWAN, near Bridgeport.
Tenant farmers In this section had
received repeated warnings to join the
union, and In anticipation of visit
from the night marauderS MCGOWAN
had asked three neighborS to join him
in protecting his home. On the night
were on guard. and when party of
masked men appeared and demanded
that MCGOWAN come out the four
farmers opened fire. which was re-
turned by the night riders, about forty
shots being exchanged. John Brown,
one OF the attackers. was wounded
and captured and later Jodie Beavers,
p,aYnhnr Of tho hand n
tured, and the two were taken to jail
at Scottsboro. The attack on Me
Gowan so aroused his neighborS and
friends that the prisoners were re-
moved to Huntsville for safekceping.
A few nights later the night riders
descended on the home of SilaS Blev-
ms, tenant farmer near Stevenson.
and five others, who were taken out
and beaten.
Called OF.
Following these outrageS state and
county officers made raid into the
Fabius section, across the Tennessee
river from Stevenson. and arrested
four men identified as night riders
and placed them in jail at Stevenson.
The officers were assisted by six
citizens, and the arrests led to one
of the most sinister phases Of the
trouble yet developed. Enraged be-
cause the citizens had lent their aid
in rounding up the band, 800 armed
riders gathered at Widows Bar on
the Tennessee river near Stevenson,
with the avowed intention of storm
Ing the town, lynching the six citi-
zens and liberating the prisoners
Warning was sent to Stevenson and
posse of a hundred determined men
was organized. The night riders there
upon called Off their expedition.
Next day officers raded the Fahius
section, the mountain stronghold OF
the night riders, and arrested thirteen.
four Of whom were placed in jail at
once, but before the other nine could
be brought In the captorS were
obliged to fOrtfy themselves in
farmhouse and send for reinforce
ments.
There are now more than twenty
men under arrest in connection with
night riding activities, and the officers
are continuing the raids.
While leaders Of the tenants union
have repeatedly denied any connection
with the night riding, and have con-
demned lawlessness, 1t is said that the
members who reside in the Fabius ter
ritory refused to be controlled. This
section Is reported to be center for
moonshiners, who ply their trade in
the businesses of Sand mountain and
they are bringing the tenants union
into Ill IeDute.
rPlIc0E,c IcI ANN RESORT