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THE
WHITE-GAPS
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A HISTORY OF THE
ORGANIZATION - IN SEVIER COUNTY
2
THE
WHITE-CAPS:
A HISTORY
Of the Organization in Sevier County.
E. W. CROZIER, PUBLISHER.
ILLUSTRATED.
FIFTY CENTS.
KNOXVILLE, TENN .: BEAN, WARTERS & GAUT, PRINTERS AND BINDERS. 1899.
Copyrighted 1899. All rights reserved by E. W. CROZIER.
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INDEX.
Chapter. Page.
I. Origin of the Organization 9
II. Plan of Work . I4
III. Progress and Growth of the Order
17
IV. The Blue Bills
20
V. Warfare Between the Blue Bills and White-caps . 23
VI. White-caps in Court . 29
VII. Crimes Multiply and Increase in Magnitude . 37
VIII. A Refuge for Criminals of all Classes
42
IX. Decay and Disintegration .
.
44
X. "A Daniel Conie to Judgment "
52
XI. Some of the Results which Followed White-cap- ping in Sevier County 59
XII. Thomas H. Davis . 69
· XIII. The Murder of Bruce Lewellen
XIV. The Murder af Eli Williamson . 84
XV. Battle near Henderson's Springs . 86
XVI. The Murder of Tom Gibson . 93
XVII. The Murder of Aaron McMahon . 98
XVIII. Capture of Green and Hendricks
109
XIX. Capture of George Thurmer . II5
XX. The Murder of William and Laura Whaley 118
XXI. Molly Lillard Whaley (poetry) . I33
XXII. Trial for the Murder of Laura Whaley 136
XXIII. Trial for the Murder of William Whaley 142
XXIV. Pleas Wynn . I45 XXV. J. Catlett Tipton 148 XXVI. W. R. Catlett I57 XXVII. M. F. Maples 165
XXVIII. The Robbery of John Burnett .
170
XXIX. The Robbery of Andrew Henderson 176
XXX. Whipping of Mrs. Mary Breeden and Her
Daughters . 180 XXXI. Retributive Justice 191
XXXII. Detectives Reeder and McCall
197
XXXIII. Trial of W. R. Catlett . 199
446071
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Page.
Judge T. A. R. Nelson . 40
Attorney General E. F. Mynatt 56
Deputy Sheriff Thos. H. Davis .72
Assistant Attorney General R. E. Mynatt 88
Green and Hendricks . 107
Cabin on the Wynn Farm 123
Scene of the Murder I28
Molly Lillard Whaley I33
Laura Whaley I37
Lizzie Chandler 139
Pleas Wynn 145
J. C. Tipton 148
Sheriff M. F. Maples 168
Detective C. W. McCall 184
Detective C. A. Reeder . 200
1
PREFACE.
The pages of this book have been written, some of them by active participants in the scenes herein portrayed, and others by persons who were in a position to obtain, in detail, accurate and reliable information.
This book is the first advance made in this section of the country by the hardy sons of toil on the reading public, and its capitulation may be looked for if the public should prefer facts revealed in the plain, uncouth garb of an unstudied dialect rather than smooth, flowing sentences and well- rounded periods of glittering generalities based on false or imaginary premises.
The fondness of the people for reading, aided simply by a rudimentary education, is developing a common ability to express in a few plain words the thoughts in our minds. And, everything considered, having something to write about is, after all, of more importance than the manner of writing it.
The hardy mountaineer, whose life is spent wrestling with the forces of nature and who comes in daily contact with nature's works, may have ideas, though in a crude state, of more intrinsic value than he who knows only the artificial life of the city and the intrigues and turmoils of an artificial humanity which
" * Never uses God's name except for gain,
And therefore never takes His name in vain,"
aud which finds that philanthropy converted into five per cent. bonds is a paying investment.
Crime in the country, to a great extent, is the result of unrestrained natural propensities-the animal in man-while crime in the city, in too many cases, is the fruit of minds diseased by pampered living and a false education, which
"* Hamper and entangle our souls and hinder their flight upwards."
While some chapters in the present volume contain harrow -. ing scenes of savage cruelty, affording us a glimpse into the
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depths of human depravity, others exhibit those inate quali- ties of love, mercy and truth which are slowly but surely civilizing man and which are our only shield and protection against the demon of evil in our nature. Especially is it shocking to the moral sense to recognize the fact that the cruel deeds herein related wcre committed in behalf of and for the sake of " good morals."
We are taught the valuable lesson that the injunction, "Judge not, that ye be not judged," should be as strictly observed, as the commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery "; for only "He that is without sin among you " is privileged to " first cast a stone."
Every citizen should obey the law, no matter what its defects or imperfections, until, by the exercise of the elective fran- chise, he can remedy those defects or imperfections through the properly constituted authorities ; above all, should he take care that the authorities themselves are capable, cour- ageous and law abiding.
Of the many defects in our civil law, the " law's delay " seems to be the most exasperating to the good citizen ; yet experience and observation teach us that all law, both human and divine, move along with a mysterious tardiness that puzzles our com- prehension, unless it be that deliberation is an essential requisite of perfection.
Thousands of years have passed since the foundations of the earth were laid, and it is not yet completed. Nineteen hundred years ago the herald angels shouted the glad tidings, "Peace on earth; good will toward men;" yet there is no. peace, nor has been all these years, and " good will toward men " is not the universal rule, though it is encouraging to note individual exceptions.
A perusal of the following pages will confirni once again the many proofs in the annals of human affairs that organi- zation, no matter what its character, rather retards than expe- dites the object and purpose of law, if that object and purpose be clemency and justice, based upon righteousness and truth.
If any organization is necessary to strengthen the weak against the strong, the few against the many, the good against the bad, it is only a question of time when the strong, the
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inany and the bad will dominate and control that organization, and thereby enslave those who originated it.
In reality, it is the individual who improves and advances ; and society keeps pace with his improvement.
The individual furnishes the brains of the world : indi- vidual effort does the work of the world. Organization man- acles his will power, retards his efforts and places a padlock on his mind.
These thoughts have been suggested and are supported by tlie facts detailed in this book.
A few good citizens of Sevier county, desirous of ridding the county of a certain lawless element, and disgruntled at the dilatoriness of legal methods, determined to take tlie law into their own hands, and by summary punishment eradi- cate the crime or exterminate the criminal. This desire led to the formation of the order called "White-caps."
The object of this organization made it popular with some of the better element, who aided and abetted the movement.
But, lawless in its inception, it was soon dominated by the lawless element against which it was formed. The good citizens, instead of restoring law and order, became the servants and tools of disorder and mob violence.
After two years of white-capism another organization was formed to " down " the "White- caps," called " Blue Bills."
For one year longer, the-warfare waged between these two factions kept the county in a continual state of fear and frenzy. Lawlessness was rampant. The administration of justice was a farce. The execution of the law seemed impossible.
Finally the efforts of a single individual, brave, indefatiga- ble and prompted only by a sense of duty, adopting legal , metliods and sustained by a fearless judge and district attor- ney, accomplished what two organizations failed to do-re- stored good order and re-established the supremacy of the law in tlie good county of Sevier.
It is to the individuality of such men-men of character, courage and convictions-that the United States owes her greatness, society its progress and man his advancement.
THE PUBLISHER.
Signs and Oath of the White-cap Organization.
1
Passing the right hand over the right cheek indicated " I am a White-cap." Passing the left hand over the left cheek answered, "So am I."
Subsequently the following signs were substituted: The challenge sign by placing the right forefinger on the tip of the chin, and answered by placing the left forefinger on the chin.
THE OATH.
I do solemnly swear before God and man that if I reveal anything concerning our organization or anything we may do, the penalty shall be to receive one hundred lashes and leave the county within ten days or be put to death. Now I take this oath freely and voluntarily, and am willing to abide by the obligation in every respect. I further agree and swear before God that if I reveal anything concerning our organi- zation, I will suffer my throat to be cut, my heart to be slot out and my body to be burned ; that I will forfeit my life, my property and all that I may have in this world and in the world to come : So help me God.
THE WHITE-CAPS.
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE ORGANIZATION.
White-capping has become a part of the history of Sevier county, and the man who would undertake to write a true history of the county, without devoting at least one chapter to this subject would be guilty of an omission unpardonable in the writer.
We do not propose to write a history of the county, but in as much as the following chapters in this book are all more or less connected with and traceable to this wicked and lawless organization we deem it proper at this juncture to give a brief history of it.
White-capping had its origin in Sevier county with a class of people whose intentions were good; and while they knew it was a violation of law, they persuaded themselves that it was, to say the worst of it, only a mild violation, and a pardonable step to take, in order to right an existing evil.
In Sevier county, like all other counties, there are citizens whose morals are not as good as they ought to, be; men and women whose habits are lewd and who live adulterous lives. It is always unfortunate for any, community to number among its citizens persons of this character. And while it is and has always been a violation of law in Tennessee for people to live in adul-
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THE WHITE-CAPS.
tery, yet that law has not always been efficacious in protecting the good and punishing the bad. The evil- doer seeks in every way to evade the law and conceal his deeds from those who are likely to be called upon to testify against him. In this way the law is cheated. Indictments if found are not sustained ; the guilty go unpunished and society suffers. In this regard Sevier county has not been an exception.
About the year 1892, certain communities in Sevier county. had become infested with lewd characters whose conduct was very obnoxious to the good citi- zens, and after repeated, but unsuccessful efforts by le- gal methods to punish these evil-doers in the courts, the good citizens became disheartened, feeling that the law was not furnishing that protection to society that it should. Thereupon certain persons, with good inten- tions, but mistaken judgments and more unwise than they then thought, began to discuss the advisability of getting rid of the immoral characters above referred to by some other method than through the courts-the only legal channels.
After some consultation and discussion among a few persons, who, if not the best citizens, were neverthe- less, recognized as law-abiding men, an agreement was reached to notify in writing such immoral characters as they wished to get rid of that they must leave the community within a certain time or they would be pun- ished by a severe whipping laid upon their backs with hickory withes. The notices were accordingly given by posting them upon the doors of those to whom di- rected and signed "White-Caps." Often, and gener- ally, a bundle of hickory withes was also deposited at
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THE WHITE-CAPS.
the door or about the house, as an additional warning of what might be expected to follow, if the notice should be disregarded.
About the date above referred to, after similar no- tices had been given to some lewd women living in Emert's Cove in the upper end of Sevier county, which notices had been unheeded, the first White-cap raid was made. Some half dozen women were whipped by masked men and notified to quit the community at once or like punishment would follow with increased severity. Most or all of said women did leave and went to Knoxvile and other places, and the good people of Emert's Cove felt that it was a happy riddence. They spoke approvingly of the act, thinking little of the in- fluence that such an attempted correction of evils would ultimately have in the community.
So on the surface there seemed to be a wave of ap- proval of the first effort at White-capping in the county, and those who were engaged in it felt emboldened to take a second step. But after several raids had been made, and lone and unfortunate women whipped and driven from their homes at night, some with little children, there at once arose a feeling of resentment and oposition to this method of administering punishment even to those who were known to be living in violation of law and whose example was detrimental to good society. And the boldness and brutality which at- tended some of the whippings soon brought prosecu- tions against suspected persons. Generally these prosecutions were commenced before justices of the peace. By reason of the fact that the White-caps went masked, it was very difficult to identify them with any
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THE WHITE-CAPS.
reasonable certainty, but occasionally one of the parties charged would be bound to court.
As the opposition to this new method of kukluxing increased, those engaged in it felt that they needed greater security from detection, and if detected or charged with any of the offences they would be in greater need of those who would stand by and help them make their defences in the courts. Hence an or- ganization was formed, known as the White-cap or- ganization for their better protection, offensive and de- fensive. While the writer does not know what were the provisions contained in the constitution and by- laws of the organization nor whether, in fact, they had any written code of laws, yet it is known that they did have certain rules and regulations which were to gov- ern and control them.
Of course it was intended to be, and was so far as they could make it, a secret organization. Regular initiations took place for new membership into the mystic order. One of the chief features of the order was the iron-clad oath, or obligation that the member took upon himself when he joined. It was adminis- tered under solemn and even threatening circum- stances. When a person wanted to join he gave his name to one who was known to belong to the order, who proposed his name. The time and place of initia- tion was fixed and the applicant informed. At the ap- pointed time and place, which was always at night and generally at the home of some White-cap the would-be member was duly catechised by the "Chief Mogul" or "High-Cockilorum" of the order as to his fitness for the duties which a member of so important an order
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and the hazardous undertaking in which he was about to embark, required. If after examination he was found worthy, he was then told to stand up and let the oath be administered. The applicant would then be im- mediately surrounded by members of the order with drawn pistols, two of which would be cocked and pre- sented at his breast while the oath was being adminis- tered. After this the right hand of fellowship was ex- tended to the new made brother, and he was pro- nounced a full-fledged member.
While the exact wording of the obligation has never found its way beyond the secrets of the order, yet some of its provisions have become well known. For in- stance, the oath bound them to stand by the order, and each and all of its members and to never make known by word, sign or token, any of the secrets of the order under penalty of certain death. If any member violated his obligation or betrayed the order or any member thereof or gave information of any of their movements , or raids, then two of the members of the organization were to be selected by lot whose duty it was, under their oath, to put the "traitor" to death. Some of the mysterious murders which afterwards occurred in Se- vier county are traceable to no other source and can be accounted for in no other way, as will be seen by read- ing some of the succeeding chapters of this book.
CHAPTER İI.
PLAN OF WORK.
After a regular organization had been effected in the county the White-caps felt that they were now much more secure, if not entirely protected, in their midnight work. The whipping of men and women became more common. The order grew in popularity and member- ship until it had invaded several of the districts and sections of the county, chief among these places were the Flat Creek section, in the northern part of the county, Catlettsburgh vicinity, Pigeon Forge com- munity, and especially much of the county surrounding Sevierville, the county seat. This territory includes some of the richest portions of the county whose citi- zens hitherto had been known to be not only the most prosperous and comfortable in their homes, but the most law-abiding in their walks. Even the little town of Sevierville located in the very heart of the county at the junction of the two Pigeon rivers, surrounded by the wealth and culture of the county, became the very hot-bed of White-capism before its decline and disin- tegration. Some of the leading spirits of this faith and order lived in that quiet little town, and it was at their homes that many of the most noted raids were planned.
It seems that in the organization of the White-cap- pers, and in planning and laying out the work it was designed to do, there were two classes formed: one known as the "raiders" and the other the "supporters."
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THE WHITE-CAPS.
Members of the former class, as the term implies, were to make all raids, do the whipping, and perform all the duties attended with danger. While members of the latter class who were often men of property and stand- ing in their community, were to make bonds for those who got into trouble and hire counsel to defend them in the courts. In this class it is said and generally ad- mitted, that many of the wealthiest and best known citizens of the county were included.
There is one thing certain and that is, not one who was arrested and arraigned on the charge of White- capping,ever failed to give bail. Bondsmen were al- ways present and waiting to give aid and comfort to the White-capper in his hour of extremity ; no matter how poor the prisoner or what his character, the bond was forth coming.
Another interesting feature in the history of White- cap prosecutions in Sevier county is that no case is known where a White-cap ever deserted his bonds- men. Some who feared detection fled the country to avoid arrest, but when once charged and put under bond the White-capper was true to his backers and true to his oath.
The purposes and plans above outlined strengthened White-capism and gained for it a foot-hold which has given Sevier county an unenviable notoriety ; and which for strength of organization and boldness in the execution of its purposes, and perpetration of crime, has had no parallel perhaps in the United States.
It is the purpose of this book, in the succeeding chap- ters, to give some of the history and workings of this organization. But as it is a secret organization, as the
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THE WHITE-CAPS.
writer is not and has never been, a member of the or- der, and as no member of the order has yet exhibited a wilingness to reveal the secrets of the order to us, we have not in our possession as much informa- tion in detail as we would like to have nor as much as is necessary to give an entirely accurate history ; yet we can safely vouch for most of the facts herein related, as being substantially true ; as much so indeed as the or- dinary history.
1
· CHAPTER III.
PROGRESS AND GROWTH OF THE ORDER.
1
We have briefly outlined in the preceeding chapters the origin of White-capping in Sevier county together with its plans and its purposes, as well as the character of the men who gave it their sanction and influence in its incipiency.
We have also seen how the idea of reforming a cer- tain class of people of unlawful methods, grew and spread from the crude notions of a very few men in a single locality, until it had gained a stronghold in the minds of many good citizens, and culminated in an or- ganization whose baneful influence threatened not only the whole of Sevier county but adjoining counties.
Now that the practice of White-capping in Sevier county is a thing of the past and that the organization has gone to pieces, the good people of that county won- der how it was possible that such a condition of affairs should have ever existed, yet covering the years from 1892 to 1896, it grew and prospered till it almost domi- nated public. sentiment.
Courts became powerless to execute the law, the province of juries was invaded and justice throttled ; popular elections were controlled by White-caps be- ing installed in high places. At one time it was really popular in Sevier county to belong to this well known organization. Candidates for high offices courted it for its influence in approaching elections and it is
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THE WHITE-CAPS.
claimed that many became actual members when as- sured that such a step would bring to their support the solid vote and influence of the order.
Indeed this sentiment had grown and had become so popular that it could not be confined by county lines, and adjacent parts of Jefferson and Blount counties became infected with the virus that was poisoning and destroying the very life and good name of one of the best counties in East Tennessee.
Its membership was extended into districts north of the French Broad river and thence into Jefferson county where many depredations were committed by roving bands of these night prowlers migrating from one county into the other.
The organization reached its zenith of popularity and strength in 1894; the whipping of men and women were of frequent and almost nightly occurrence, and yet the perpetrators of these cruel deeds daily walked the public high-ways and even the streets of their towns unapprehended and unpunished.
But White-capism was destined to have opposition. It could not be otherwise. It was founded on a wrong principle; its deeds like the hours of their execution were dark and so cruel they could not be defended.
Many who at first gave it their sanction and silent if not active support now saw their mistake and with- drew their influence. It began to loose in public favor. Irresponsible men had worked themselves to the front and took charge of affairs. Men not only of bad habits generally, but men whose lives were polluted with lewdness and adulterous living had assumed the role of reformers and were heading midnight mobs which
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cruelly beat and in some instances killed persons be- cause it was suspected that they were not living vir- tuou's lives. Persons thus punished were no worse, but often, were much better than those who had arrogated to themselves the right to reform all who chanced to violate either the civil or moral law.
While there was much opposition in sentiment and feeling to White-capism in its progressive stages, yet it was only a feeling or sentiment. Many were afraid to talk out against White-capping, for fear of being pun- ished for his expression of opinion. Many persons who freely expressed their opinions unfavorable to such lawlessness, were promptly notified that they would be visited and whipped if such talk was repeated. Some were actually whipped for nogreater offence than expressing disapproval of White-capping. Is it any wonder then that an organization of such proportions and with such bold and avowed purposes should be- come a terror in any community? 1
CHAPTER IV.
THE BLUE-BILLS.
There was very little to impede the progress of White-capping in Sevier county until an opposition was formed known as the organization of the "Blue Bills." Not very much is known about this band further than its object was to thwart and put down White-cap raids. It is said, however, to differ from the White-cap organization in this, that it had no con- stitution or by-laws, no officers, and administered no oath or obligation, and they never wore masks when on their raids.
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