On March 19, 1868, The New York Times reported the murder of a supposed Ku-Klux Klan member by a “Negro” in Memphis, Tennessee. The paragraph summary reported that a group of Klan members went to the African-American’s home the night prior and “demanded admission” there. Henry C. Blair, the supposed KKK member, shot and killed by the homeowner during the confrontation. The New York Times...
 “The group asked him to outlaw the Ku Klux Klan, but while repeating his longstanding opposition to the organization, the Governor said it did not appear constitutionally possible to abolish it.” On January 10, 1952 The New York Times reported that Governor Warren of Tallahassee, Florida announced that he was increasing the reward for the finding and conviction of the murderers of the Moores’...
In 1868, a Klan member from Lincoln County, Georgia sent a letter to African American elected official Davie Jeems. In this letter, the anonymous Klan member threatened Jeems with both physical and mental harm to “show Jeems his place.” He warned that he had his eye on Jeems every single day and advised him not to make any wrong decisions that would anger the KKK. The Klan member sent this letter...
On May 18, 1872, Pennsylvania Senator John Scott delivered a speech before the United States Senate.  Congress was deliberating the extension of a bill granting the office of the President power to suspend the right of habeas corpus under certain circumstances: namely, armed, organized resistance to the government of the United States or violent violation of its laws.   Scott began his speech...
The United States Government took action against the Ku Klux Klan in Spartansburg and eight other counties located in South Carolina. The Farmer’s Cabinet claimed the Klan received a warning from government officials on October 12, 1871 saying “that unless they dispersed and gave up their arms within five days, martial law would be proclaimed.” Needless to say, the Klan did not disperse or...
In a news brief on March 25, 1871, Harper’s Weekly declared, “It is agreed upon all sides that the condition of the late rebel States is deplorable.” This magazine did not mention, however, that the reason the conditions of the rebel States was deplorable was because of the presence of the Ku Klux Klan. In response to the violent acts that the Ku Klux Klan had committed, a special committee of...
Major Harwell Goodwin Davis is sitting at his desk and he hears the distinctive ring of the telephone. He picks up the receiver only to find out that the head of the Ku Klux Klan in Alabama is the man at the other end. In the 1920s, anybody would listen to what this man had to say, even a man running for Congress. Davis was fast-rising politician that just finished a well-known court case as the Attorney...
”This is an institution of chivalry, humanity, mercy, and patriotism;” These are the words that the founders of the Ku Klux Klan used in describing the purpose of their organization. This line comes from the founding document of the Ku Klux Klan. Written in 1868, it outlines what they claim to believe, their purpose, as well as a litmus test for all potential new members. It is impossible to...
The murder trial of Fr. James Coyle in the deep south during the early twenties provided an ideal setting for the men who formed the core of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan to further disseminate their message of hate and intolerance against some of their main targets of the time: immigrants and Catholics. The trial transcripts, particularly the closing statements delivered by the leader of the defense...
Thomas Heflin’s address to his colleagues in the first session of the 1928 Alabama state congress contains within it several of the main fears associated with the anti-Catholic sentiment in the South at the time. Heflin, a known member of the Ku Klux Klan, used his position as a sitting congressman to roundly abuse his fellow Catholic politicians, and perpetuate several of the anti-Catholic suspicions...