Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 149, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 June 1919 — KLU KLUX KLAN RODE IN AUTOS [ARTICLE]

KLU KLUX KLAN RODE IN AUTOS

MODERN DAY MEMBERS OF CARROLL COUNTY NOW FACING COURTS. \ Bench warrants were issued in the Carroll county circuit court on Tuesday for the* arrest of several of the most prominent citizens of the county on charges of malicious rioting and malicious trespass. The affair is a result of white capping in connection with the Fourth and Fifth Liberty loan campaigns. A number of widely known Dunkard farmers, who - refused to buy world war bonds, were the victims. John U. Shanks, president of the bank of Camden, and reputed to be worth $1,000,000, is one of those indicted. Arthur Ritchey, proprietor of a tile factory and former republican candidate for county auditor, is another. Bud Sinks, a wealthy farmer; Fred George,‘Edward Cripe and Gill Patty, active in democratic politics, were others arrestedi- -’ - - ' ' "No More. Startling. The deeds of the white cappers of old, the Klu Klux Klan and the night riders were not more startling than those charged to the men arrested during the day. As the warrants were served the defendants all gave bonds and will be arraigned at the fall term of the circuit court. The action of the grand jury had been hinted at for some time and it was known that an investigation was in progress, but it was not known that such prominent men were involved. There was great surprise throughout the county when the names of the men were made public. The scene of the attack was in Jackson and Monroe townships, where a’ number of the old Order of Dunkards reside. • Repeatedly they were solicited to buy bonds, but consistently they refused. They argued that they were opposed to war and would not buy bonds to support war. ; Something Happened. . Then, one night, something happened. A long line of automobiles drew up in front of the home of Daniel Miller at the midnight hour. The automobile lights were darkened and there was no honking of horns. The cold March wind was whipping across the prairie. Miller was summoned from bed, taken out of doors in his night clothing and threatened with vari-* ous kinds of violence unless he purchased SI,OOO worth of bonds. When he refused, the visitors, said to have numbered about twenty, started to wreck his home. Five windows were broken and the house was painted red and yellow. All of the men in the party were armed and all wore masks. They fired, revolvers into the air as they worked, and the reports could be heard for miles. Miller’s dog began to bark, and one of the party shot the animal. Miller was then informed that he would have a few days in which to buy bonds, and that unless he did so the visitors would come back and [take him to the creek. The next ‘day Miller made a purchase of bonds. ... . ,

Other Homes Vieited. The home of Charles Flora was visited next. The porch' and house were painted red and yellow and three windows were broken out. Flora was compelled to buy SSOO worth of bonds. Henry Wise refused to buy SSOO worth of bonds apd his home was painted red and yellow. The next day he bought the bonds. The home of Daniel Musselman also was painted by the night riders, but. it was said that Musselman did not buy any bonds. The most sensational work of the night riders was at the home of the Rev. Henry Leedy, a Dunkard preacher. He was taken from his bed in the early hours of the morning and dragged into the yard, asked whether he would buy bonds, and he replied that he would not His captors, it is said, then proceeded to cut off his hair and his whiskers. The ntxt day not even his next door neighbors knew him. Although threatened with bodily violence he persistently refused to buy bonds. . A ... It was said that sixteen indictments were reported by the grand iury, but only six arrests were made Tuesday. Charles R- Pollard, a widely known lawyer, has been engaged as special prosecutor in the case.