On the night of the 16th of June, 1871, two negroes, named John Stanford
and Edward Nash, were proceeding to their homes, near Oltewah, Hamilton
County, Tennessee, when they were met in the road by some fifteen men
armed and disguised, who ordered them to stop. They were then interrogated
by the leader of the band as to why they had voted the Radical ticket at
the previous election. Stanford replied that they had done it because it
was right. One of the band said:
"There's a sting in that ticket, and you may as well have the whole of
it," at the same time striking at Stanford with a wooden club.
The latter is a very powerful negro, and having some spirit, resented the
attempted injury, dodged the blow, and instantly seizing his assailant,
threw him heavily to the earth. Nash showed fight also, but being a much
weaker man, was soon overpowered and pinioned fast. Several of the band
seized Stanford, who, from his superior strength, dashed them one side,
and darted away, followed by half a dozen of the Klan.
As he ran, he managed to pick up a piece of board in the road with which
he turned on his pursuers with the intention of defending himself, when a
well-directed shot struck his elbow, shattering the bone, and compelling
him to drop the board, and again attempt to save himself by flight. A
second shot struck him in the ankle, and impeded his further progress. His
pursuers again came up with and secured him, and conveyed him back to
where Nash was pleading for his life.
A council was held by the Klan, in which it was decided that the negroes
should be severely whipped, and if ever known to again vote the radical
ticket, they should die.
Stanford was tied to a tree, his immense strength still being feared by
the band, and was beaten until entirely insensible. Nash received a
similar castigation. Both the negroes were then untied and placed across
the driveway of the road so that a wagon in passing would be likely to run
over them, unless they should in the mean time become conscious, and get
out of the way.
In his desperate struggle with the band, Stanford had displaced one of the
masks, which enabled him to recognize a man named Goal Martin, who lived
in the vicinity. Upon the statement of these negroes, and from evidence
furnished by other corroborating circumstances, several of the members of
the band committing these outrages were arrested and brought to
appropriate punishment.