One of the most brutal outrages to be found, even among the dark and
bloody records of the Ku Klux Klan, was enacted on the night of the 10th
of April, 1870, at the village of Cross Plains, near Paytona, Ala. The
details of this occurrence here given, have been collated from various
sources, a portion of them having been obtained from eye witnesses to the
affair.
William C. Luke, a Canadian by birth, and a gentleman of education, had
come to Paytona, and taken charge of the day school there. He was a
prominent worker in the cause of religion, entertained and advocated
Republican principles and took an earnest interest in the welfare of the
colored people, by whom he was surrounded. This drew down upon him the
malice of the Klan, and he was doomed to death. Luke had preached to the
negroes at times, and had taken occasion in his sermons to express his
opinion that negroes were now entitled to the same rights and privileges
under the Constitution of the United States as the whites.
This course could not be tolerated by the K. K. K., and they only awaited
a favorable opportunity for carrying out the Edict of the Camp.
On the 10th of April, Mr. Luke had preached at Paytona, and on the evening
of that day had returned to Cross Plains. He was there informed that the
Ku Klux had determined to come for him that night, and at once returned to
Paytona, accompanied by several negroes, who seemed fearful that he might
meet with violence. Up to ten o'clock nothing had transpired to cause
alarm, and Mr. Luke retired.
Between twelve and one o'clock he was aroused from his slumbers by three
armed and disguised men, who informed him there had been a fracas in the
village of Cross Plains, about which it was thought he knew something, and
he was requested to go with them to the latter place. He signified his
willingness to do so, dressed himself and went out with the party. Upon
getting out of the house he was surprised at seeing a large number of men
similarly disguised, and who had in custody the five negroes who had
accompanied him to Paytona.
One of the negroes named Jacob Moore, endeavored to break loose from his
captors, and had a severe fight with them. Being a very powerful man he
succeeded in breaking away and run down the road. The Klan fired several
shots after him, two of which took effect, and he dropped by the road
side. Mr. Luke and the remaining negroes were then taken to the northern
border of Paytona, on the Cross Plains line, where the band halted. The
intended victim was now convinced that his death was meditated, and he
said to the leader of the Klan, one Clem Reid, "Am I about to die."
"Yes, you have preached your d--d heresies long enough," was the answer.
"If you've got any prayers to say, you had better be about it."
Mr. Luke replied calmly, "I am not afraid to die, nor for such a cause. It
is hard to die in such a way."
Leave having been granted him to pray he uttered a most fervent appeal to
God, soliciting mercy for himself and the negroes, and forgiveness for
those who were persecuting them and him for righteousness and opinion's
sake. His prayers were rudely cut short, a rope was placed about his neck,
the end thrown over the limb of a tree and his body suspended in the air.
The four negroes were next dispatched.
John Goff, an eye witness to the proceedings states that the Klan tried to
hang two of the negroes, named Caesar Fredericks and William Hall, at once,
but not being able to make the bodies balance, Pat Craig, a member of the
Klan, shot Fredericks in the mouth, while Clay Keith murdered Hall in a
similar manner. The other negroes were then hung singly, their bodies
being drawn up slowly to increase their torture.
The defenders of the "white man's race" then separated, fully satisfied
with having performed one more service in support of the "White Man's
Government." This outrage was so flagrant that the farce of an
investigation was gone through with, and the suspected parties arrested.
An examination resulted in their being discharged. The witnesses were all
members of the Ku Klux Klan, and had sworn to regard no oath that would
injure one of the brotherhood, and the murderers of William C. Luke still
go unwhipt of justice. And these are the people who talk of their rights,
of the oppression of Radical rule, of their determination to establish a
Democratic Administration.