One of the most appalling tragedies ever resulting from the free
expression of political opinions, was that enacted at Irwinton, Wilkinson
county, Georgia, on the night of the 31st of August, 1871.
For more than a year previous to this date, a white man, familiarly known
throughout the county as Sheriff Deason, had taken a very active part in
politics, having espoused the republican cause, as one might say, in the
very den of the lion himself, and standing almost alone, in what he
considered a contest for the right.
Deason was a large, powerfully built, and muscular man, inured to hardship
from his youth, resolute in his purpose, tenacious of his principles, and
ready under all circumstances to expound them, whenever it seemed good to
him to do so. He was a man whose good nature was proverbial. He delighted
to get into the country grocery, and there, surrounded by an admiring
audience of colored men, and such of the whites as sympathized with him,
although secretly, express his opinion, that the principles of the
republican party were the only ones upon which a righteous government
could be founded, and which would eventually bring the ship of State
safely to a secure anchorage.
Among his hearers were many of those who had sworn to uphold the "white
man's government," and who believed that Deason's arguments were
calculated to damage their labors in this respect, but, bold as they were,
when in bands of twenty, armed and disguised, they assailed defenseless
men and helpless women, they dare not single handed to make even so much
as an utterance against his outspoken logic, and they writhed and twisted
under it in silence. They comprehended, however, that seeds were being
sown that would take root in the minds of thinking men, and produce
results which they did not desire to see accomplished.
A formal presentation of Deason's case was made to the Irwinton Camp of
the C. U. G., to which Order, at that time, two-thirds of the white
population of Wilkinson county belonged. As was usual in such cases, it
was decided to issue a warning to the intended victim, which was forthwith
done. Deason replied to it by pasting the warning upon the door of his
house, where it remained an ever present witness to the contempt in which
he held its authors, until it was washed away by the fall rains.
This was regarded as an act of defiance upon Deason's part, that could not
be overlooked. To add to this, he continued uttering his political views
with the same freedom as before, and it was resolved that he must be
stopped. This, however, was easier said than done; Deason was known to be
thoroughly armed, a man of undoubted courage, and a terrible opponent
when thoroughly aroused, although very quietly disposed when left to
himself.
The Camp saw they had a serious subject to deal with, and for nearly a
year after the first warning, he was little less than a thorn in their
side. His example worked steadily upon thinking minds, and it was evident
that he must be put out of the way, as the only measure whereby the spread
of the peculiar political principles advocated by him could be stayed.
A final warning was sent to him, the substance of which was, that he "must
leave the country, change his politics, or make up his mind to become
Buzzard Bait." In the Conclave of the Klan, when this warning was directed
to be issued, it was announced that this was positively the last
opportunity that would be given Deason to repent of his ways, and that in
the event of its failure to bring him to a change of his views, or his
location, the full penalty attached to the "negro worshiper" would be
enforced. This, however, had no more effect than the previous warnings,
and his death was resolved upon.
On the night of the 31st of August, 1871, twenty-five of the Klan who had
been selected by the Commander, armed and disguised themselves for the
purpose, and proceeded to Deason's house on the outskirts of the place.
Deason had retired for the night, having carefully locked and barred his
doors and windows as usual. It was about midnight when he was aroused by a
heavy knock at his door. He arose from his bed and requested to know who
was there. The reply was a demand for him to come out and surrender
himself to the Klan.
Deason responded to this with a defiant remark, telling them if they
wanted him, they must come and take him. The band then commenced battering
at the door, when Deason, placing his gun at a loop-hole which he had
previously prepared, discharged both barrels. It appears, however, from
some great misfortune to him, that neither of the shots produced any
damaging effect upon the assailing party. The band were somewhat
disconcerted at this, however, and withdrew a short distance from the
house and held a consultation.
At the time of this visitation, Deason's wife was away upon a visit, and
the only other person in the house was a colored woman who was a servant
in the family. She had already arisen and expressed her determination to
assist Deason in the fight, to the extent of her ability. The latter had
reloaded his gun and had just set it down when a sudden rushing noise, as
of men running, drew his attention, and in a second afterwards, the door
was crushed in by a joist, which the band, using as a battering ram, had
forced against it.
The Klan poured in at once, and in full force. A terrible hand to hand
fight ensued. Deason fought with great desperation, as did the colored
woman. One after another of the Klan were stretched out upon the floor of
the cabin, but the odds were too great, and Deason's immense strength
became exhausted under his tremendous exertions and the loss of blood
which he sustained. He finally sank down pierced with over-twenty bullet
and knife wounds, and died fighting to the last in the maintenance of the
principles he had so long and so earnestly advocated.
The woman was soon dispatched, and the Klan then retired, taking their
wounded with them. Deason's mutilated body was found the next morning on
the floor of the room in which he had met his dreadful fate, while that of
the woman was found doubled up in one corner of the apartment, as if she
had been thrown there like a bundle of worthless rags. The frontal bone of
the dead man's head had been broken, and the base of his skull crushed
in, apparently by a club. The body had been shot and stabbed in more than
twenty different places, and presented a most revolting spectacle.
The facts of the double murder soon spread abroad, and were reported to a
Mr. Bush, coroner of Irwinton, and that gentleman, being a member of the
Camp that had ordered Deason's death, empanelled a jury of his
fellow-brethren, and, according to his own confession, made since that
time, went through the form of an inquest, the result of which was a
verdict that the man Deason and the colored woman had met their death at
the hands of certain _colored_ persons, to the jury unknown.
The death of this noble martyr to the cause of truth, effected important
changes. There were signs of dissatisfaction among some portions of the
community, to whom the details of the awful tragedy had become known, and
it was necessary that some measures should be taken to appease the feeling
of indignation that was beginning to gain ground.
The Grand Jury of the county was summoned to sit for the purpose of taking
some measures to suppress crime. Every member of the jury was a member of
the C. U. G., or Ku Klux Klan. Their first step was to issue an address to
the people of the county, stating that evidence had been brought before
them to show that certain negroes had been guilty of gross outrages in the
county, which all good men should deprecate, and calling upon the citizens
to look out for the evil doers. This had but little effect, however, other
than to confirm the few well-meaning ones in their former belief that
Wilkinson county was in the hands of men who would leave no measures
unturned, to drive out of it, every one known to differ from them
politically.
Deason is not the first nor the last in the long procession of
illustrious martyrs who, in all ages of the world have forfeited their
lives in the maintenance of their principles. Unlettered, uncouth,
uncultivated in life, resolute and unyielding even in death, he stands
recorded upon the pages of this brief history, a noble and brilliant
example of the lineal descendants of those who came from the shores of a
distant continent, more than an hundred years ago, to seek that freedom of
thought, that civil and religious liberty that had been denied them at
home.
Many such as he, now live and suffer in the deluded and misguided land of
his birth, and like him, have for years carried their lives in their
hands, for opinion's sake. In the good Providence of an all-seeing
God--who has indeed imbued the present heads of the nation with the wisdom
necessary to appreciate the situation, and devise the appropriate
remedy--light begins to appear in the dark places, verifying the saying
that, "sooner or later, insulted virtue avenges itself on states as well
as on private individuals."