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To tell you the truth, I don't remember what he was accused of. I don't remember. Because they took him out of the penitentiary, so he wasn't out, to rape anybody or kill anybody. They just ran into the jail and dragged him out. I don't remember what he was accused of. I'm sure he was accused of something. I don't remember.
You describe this as having been a chilling experience or having had a chilling reaction. Did this have a traumatic effect on you? How long did this reaction last with you?
Well, I can sense the emotion of it now. You know, I can sense the fright of it -- now.
And then, there was another time when the Klu Klux Klan came into the city, and it was the same thing -- you know, a sense of panic and fright on everybody's part. And you just remember it. I didn't see them, mind you, but I can see it.
The imagery.
Yes, the imagery of the Klu Klux Klan in these white sheets biding on these horses through the main street.
Did your mother or father talk to you about this afterwards?
Oh yes. They were quite outraged. Everybody was outraged. Everybody talked about it. You know, people went to people's houses, and back and forth, within the neighborhood, to really express -- they couldn't do anything. Everybody was helpless, really. But they could express outrage, which is what they did.
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