Description:

KLANSMAN IS INVESTIGATED FOR "SEDUCTION, FORNICATION AND BASTARDY"
A most interesting archive chronicling an internal investigation by the Altoona, Pennsylvania chapter of the Ku Klux Klan into one of their members, David E. Reed, on charges that he seduced and abandoned a 17-year-old girl. The archive opens with a retained typed copy of a letter from W.C. Tipton, "Exalted Cyclops" (local leader) of the Altoona Klan, 2pp. 4to., Altoona, Jan. 20, 1923, to Sam D. Rich, "King Kleagle" (chief organizer) of Pennsylvania. In small part: "...David E. Reed meet Miss Pauline Little, the young lady involved in this case at Revival services held at the Second U.B. Church during the fore part of last year, the young lady being 17 years of age at this time. He continued to call quite frequently and sometime during the month of April 1922, he asked permission of the mother to escort the young lady to the Strand Theatre, but never reached the theatre, spending the evening elsewhere, the young lady being unable to recall where the evening was spent due to the facts that she is mentally undeveloped and what took place at this time. During the month of July Miss Little informed Reed of the conditions as they were and he promised to marry her, months slipped by and he made no move to fulfill his promise then the mother approached Reed upon the subject, the result being the same. The girl's mother, Mrs. Little appeared before Alderman H.L. Jones... and had a warrant sworn out for Reed charging him with fornication and bastardy, when the warrant was served Reed's mother asked permission of the Officer who was serving the warrant to have a few words with her son in private and allowed her son to leave by the back door thus making good his escape... Miss Little is of diabetic condition and is in very poor health at the best. Physicians who have examined her state that she has developed physically but has the mind of a twelve year old child... Klansman David E. Reed... about 24 years of age, was naturalized into the Invisible Empire on the 20th day of September 1922, his petition being received at a Special Meeting held at the Jaffa Temple on the 1st day of August 1922. In accordance with the fore-mentioned facts this Klansman has broken one of the most essential principles of this great Christian organization by betraying the virtuous womanhood of this young woman, and should be denied the title and privileges of a Klansman by being banished forever from the Invisible Empire..." Following up this initial report are two anonymous letters, each 1p. 4to, Cumberland, Maryland, and dated Feb. 1 and 4, 1923, to Marion D. Patterson, District Attorney of Blair County, informing him that Reed has been boarding at the Hendricks Hotel in that town. This same correspondent also notifies T.J. McKinnon of the Klan's Department of Investigation in Atlanta, who forwards the correspondence to Sam D. Rich in a T.L.S. dated Feb. 8, 1923. Finally, Rich forwards all of the above communications to W.C Tipton in a T.L.S, 1p, 4to., Pittsburg, Feb. 12, 1923, and requests to be notified if any action has been taken against Reed. The following month, the "Kligrapp" (secretary) of the Cumberland Klan, Walter Fuller, writes to Hiram Evans "Exalted Cyclops" of the Atlanta Klan in a typed letter, of which a 1p. 4to., copy is present, dated Cumberland, March 1923, notifying his correspondent that Reed was jailed in Cumberland for 25 days while awaiting word from Altoona on his charges. When no communication from Altoona was received, however, Reed was released. Fuller further asks advice on whether Reed should be allowed to resume his Klan affiliation in Cumberland. T.J. McKinnon of the Department of Investigation forwards this letter to Rich, and Fuller further send a T.L.S., 1p. 4to., Cumberland, June 5, 1923, directly to John F. Marshall, "Kligrapp" of the Altoona Klan, asking him for advice on the same matter. Marshall's response is recorded in a very informative retained copy unsigned typed letter, 1p. 4to., Altoona, Sep. 25, 1923, to Rich, in part: "Referring to our previous correspondence concerning D.E. Reed of Altoona who was locked up at Cumberland... being charged with seduction, fornication and bastardy, would advise that the Grand Jury returned a true bill against Reed this Date. Prior to the endorsement of Blair County Candidates the fact was made known that the Klan as a County Unit could not endorse the present District Attorney after failing to do his duty and seeing that Reed was given his just dues. Through some channel the District Attorney was made known of the conditions as they existed, therefore the charges against Reed were out before the Grand Jury at this time and the mother was called to appear before the Grand Jury with the baby. Reed was suspended from the Altoona Klan on the 30th day of June 1923 when the fact was made known that he was a Fugitive from Justice... I would recommend that Reed be banished from the Organization at this time so as to keep public sentiment down in case it is made known that he is a member of this great Christian Organization..." There the case lies until nearly two years later, when Marshall drafts a letter to Rich, of which we have an unsigned typed copy, 1p. 4to., Altoona, Feb. 5, 1925, informing him that he has received word from Cumberland that Reed has been attending Klan meetings there, and asking Rich to investigate as Reed is still considered a fugitive from justice. Also enclosed is a copy of a typed letter from Atlanta 'Kligrapp" N.N. Furney to Rich, 1p. 4to., Atlanta, March 12, 1925, confirming that Reed has not been allowed to become a member of the Cumberland Klan, and relaying a statement to that effect from that local branch, confirming that they are familiar with the charges against him. These two letters Rich duly forwards to Marshall in a brief T.L.S., 1p. 4to., Pittsburgh, March 19, 1925. No further information on the case is available, but also present with the archive are four A.L.S's from David E. Reed Himself. The first, 2pp. 8vo., Cumberland, Dec. 21, 1921, to John F. Marshall, requesting that his membership be transferred to the Cumberland branch of the Klan. The second, 1p. 8vo., Cumberland, Feb. 4, 1923, reiterates the above requested, which almost certainly had not been fulfilled due to the ongoing investigation against Reed. The final two letters, dated March 20 and May 17, 1923 respectively, enclose Reeds membership dues and reiterate his request for a membership transfer. The eventual outcome of Reed's case remains unfortunately unknown. All pieces show some toning, paper clip marks, and chips to the edges, else very good.

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May 14, 2018 1:00 PM EDT
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