Several list members have expressed interest regarding the community of St. John. I decided to post to the list. There will be another article to follow this one. Arkansas Gazette May 16, 1871 page 2 col 2: The Pine Bluff Republican of Saturday, contains the following, the first of a series of such reports that paper and those who follow it propose to circulate during the next year: We learned from Mr. R.F. Foster, a merchant at St. John, Bradley county, that on Sunday night last, about one o'clock, he was attacked at his store by three armed men, who fired seven shots at him through the door, and came very near hitting him several times. They also attempted to pull off the weatherboarding in order to shoot him. At this juncture Mr. Foster returned the fire, which had the effect of driving them off. Mr. Foster reports a small gang of ku-klux raiders, who are doing considerable mischief in that section. The Republican editor then comments as follows on the above: These scoundrels were not long in finding out that Clayton was no longer governor. We hope Governor Hadley will prove equal to any emergency that may arise in this state, and stand ever ready to apply the strong arm of the law to all disturbers of the public peace. That is stand ready to precipitate a lawless band of militia on a defenseless, peaceable and law-abiding people. We know nothing of the truth of the above, but from the coloring that is given it, we feel no hesitancy in saying that we do not believe one word of what is said. We call on the good people of Bradley county to defend their section from such foul charges. If they be true, spare no pains to arrest the scoundrels who committed the outrage; if untrue, show to the world that this is but the commencement of a series of lying reports on which the radicals rely to carry the next election. Jann __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send online invitations with Yahoo! Invites. http://invites.yahoo.com