A DESPERATE BROTHERHOOD.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2289, 12 March 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A DESPERATE BROTHERHOOD.

A San Francisco paper states that the recent murder of a boy in York county, South Carolina, u ho detected negroes stealing cotton from his father's field, has brought to light an organisation among the coloured people which contemplates murder in the event of the detection of any member accused of a crime. Twenty-six negroes are under arrest. The inquest nn-the body of the murdered boy before a jury brought out all the facts. One of the negroes turned State's evidence, and another admitted that lie had killed a man who was found murdered in the country IS months ago. Several of the coloured witnesses at. the inquest swore distinctly that they had a club in the county for the purpose of stealing cotton, provisions, whisky, &c. The members were to steal whatever they wanted, and if detected were sworn to kiil the person who detected them. The club had different names, but was generally known as " The Rising Star Lodge, No. 24, of the Grand United Order of National Labourers and the Political Society of North America." The charter came from Charlotte, North Carolina, and is dated December 1884. The charter, however, would seem to show that the society had only benevolent and fraternal objects. Among other things revealed at the inquest was a plot to waylay wealthy men who had money.