Huntsville March 3rd 1872
My Dear Friend,
Altho. [merry] and soon after
any long trip home, I wish to inform you of 
the extraordinary state of affairs here and to 
take your advice, and the advice of our
friends in [Montgomery], in relation to them. 
The U. S. Dist. Court is now in session 
at this place. And a large number of so-called 
Ku Klux cases are being tried in which 
Judge Bustud has acted in a most ex-
-traordinary manner. He has in several cases 
outraged the plainest [proviscius] of the law, 
invaded the province of the jury, and 
forced from them verdicts of guilty against
innocent parties. The words I use are deliberate
and well considered. Indeed, language can 
give no adequate idea of the conduct of the 
Judge. He filled his court-room on the first 
day with a guard of U. S. soldiers with loaded
muskets and fixed bayonets under the pretext

of fear of rescue of prisoners and assassination 
of the Court. He ordered every person entering 
the Court room to be stopped & searched, by his 
Marshall, at the door for the discovery of con-
-cealed weapons; And in this and various ways
he insults this community (which he swore 
in Washington, was a law abiding people) while 
he proceeds to intimidate the juries to force 
from them verdicts contrary to all the facts 
and the law. He has acted so infamously 
that we determined to make the issue with 
him and defy his power.
On yesterday (Saturday) afternoon was the 
trial of an important case, the U. S. vs. Shelton 
Deal & others, citizens of Blount County 
charged by Lakin with intimidation & C. 
After a long argument by counsel, Bustud
proceeded to deliver a written charge to the
jury, invading their right to decide upon the 
evidence and demanding a verdict in palpable 
violation of the facts. He refused to bear applica-
-tions for charges of law from the defendants &
would not allow them even to be read in court

when offered by Walker & Brickell counsel for the defense. He refused to give his written charge to the keeping of the clerk or to furnish the counsel with a copy of it. After court had adjourned, the Judge in company with the Marshall, Assistant Marshall, District Attorney, Register in Bankruptcy and other attacker of Court being still in the Court-room, Robt. C. Brickell, one of the Counsel for defense (whose learning and purity ornaments and guards the legal profession of the State) returned to the Court-room in company with myself and two other gentlemen, for the purpose of seeing Judge Bustud and expressing to him in person the indignation of the community at his conduct during the present session. We found him sitting by the fire, surrounded by the officers of his Court and Mr. Brickell approaching him said "Judge Bustud has your Court adjourned for the day". The Judge replied "it has Sir". Mr. B. said "then we meet as citizens on equal

terms, man to man and face to face, and I have come to say to you Sir, that you have this day acted infamously. You have invaded the province of the jury and found from them, contrary to law & fact, a foul verdict against innocent men. You have done this willfully and corruptly for mean, selfish purposes of your own." Judge B. said "I'm sorry to hear you say this, Mr. Brickell, what can I do to refrain it?". Mr. B. answered "that is false, you are not penitent. I've no confidence in your sorrow. You do not wish to refrain it and you know that as a judge you can make no reparation, nor do I ask any from you in your judicial character. I only desire, face to face, to denounce you in the name of Alabama for your infamous conduct to [few] defenseless citizens. You have this day outraged law and justice to oppress innocent men. You have disgraced this courthouse when you sat and blackened the Federal ermine which you presume to wear. You have done all this for your own selfish & bad purposes and you know it. And I know it and the public shall understand it.

And now Sir for what I've said to you you may seek to wreak your revenge upon these poor, defenseless prisoners now in jail by your mandate but Sir you shall not escape entirely from the power of public sentiment. I intend to publish your infamy throughout the length and breadth of this land and every honest lawyer in America shall know and despise you as you deserve."
During this bold and terrible denunciation the cowardly and corrupt judge stood mute and seemingly appalled. After this Mr. Brickell and myself took up our books and left the Courthouse. It is now said that we will have to answer for contempt of Court on Sunday, and will probably be indicted for Conspiracy to intimidate & C. & Co. I care nothing about it and am determined to stand by my position without regard to consequences.
District Attorney [Mirrius] & one D. P. Lewis

second fiddle prosecutor for the U.S. are thrust to be at the bottom of this matter. They furnished the pretext for bringing troops into the Court-room. And Lewis is the candidate [?]lled of the [?] for Governor. There is no doubt that all this has been done in the line of the Congressional Ku Klux legislation, for political effect in the presidential campaign.
The Editor of the Democrat, J. W. Celay, has been ordered by Bustud on motion of [?], to come before him on Monday, to answer for contempt on account of an editorial criticizing the Court. It is to be [?] that Celay will stand firm.
It addition to what is written I wish to direct your particular attention to the motion made by J. L. Smith for the appointment by Bustud of a Receiver for the [?] K. K. It is current here that a Receiver will be appointed & that Sen. Burke Register in Bankruptcy and lately a Federal officer & radical [?] of Bustud will

be the man. I've no doubt that something is rotten in this business, Gov. Lindsay ought to be apprised of it. He must do his whole duty and act above suspicion.
This is hastily written out for publication but you are at liberty to show it to our friends and publish the facts if you see proper. The Court meets again on Monday and if anything of importance transpires I will telegraph you if you wish it. We look upon these matters as the inauguration of the Grant campaign in Alabama. While we do not intend to tamely submit to insult and outrage you may depend upon our discretion.
Excuse this scrawl. Remember me to our friends.
Yrs as ever
Mr. W. Lowe