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 origins 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 citizen’s persons of this character. And while it is and has always been a violation of law in Tennessee for people to live in adultery, yet that law has not always been efficacious in protecting the good and punishing the bad. The evildoer 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 citizens, and after repeated, but unsuccessful efforts by legal 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 intentions, 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 nevertheless, 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 punished 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 directed and signed White-Caps. Often, and generally, a bundle of hickory withes was also deposited at 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 notices had been given to some lewd women living in Emerts 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 Knoxville and other places, and the good people of Emerts Cove felt that it was a happy riddance. They spoke approvingly of the act, thinking little of the influence that such an attempted correction of evils would ultimately have in the community. So on the surface there seemed to be a wave of approval 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 opposition 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 attended some of the whippings soon brought prosecutions 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 reasonable certainty, but occasionally one of the parties charged would be bound to court. As the opposition to this 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 defenses in the courts. Hence an organization was formed, known as the White-cap organization for their better protection, offensive and defensive. While the writer does not know what were the provisions contained in the constitution and bylaws 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 govern 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 administered under solemn and even threatening circumstances. 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 initiation was fixed and the applicant informed. At the appointed time and place, which was always at night and generally at the home of some White-cap the would-be member was duly catechized by the Chief Mogul or High Cockalorum of the order as to his fitness for the duties which a member of so important an order 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 immediately surrounded by members of the order with drawn pistols, two of which would be cocked and presented at his breast while the oath was being administered. After this the right hand of fellowship was extended to the new made brother, and he was pronounced 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 instance, 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 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 Sevier county are traceable to no other source and can be accounted for in no other way, as will be seen by reading some of the succeeding chapters of this book. |