68 Tenn. 370 | Tenn. | 1878
delivered the opinion of the court.
The defendant appeals in error from a conviction and judgment under what is commonly called the ku-klux law. The act under which he was convicted is-in the words following: “ If any person or persons
The indictment in this case charges that the defendant “on the 5th day of November, A. D., 1877, ■in the county and jurisdiction aforesaid, then and there unlawfully and feloniously being masked and in disguise, unlawfully and feloniously then and there did enter upon the premises of one Ellis Davis, in said county situate, against the peace and dignity of, the ■State.” The facts are, that the defendant in disguise, so that he could not be recognized until the mask was taken from his face, was caught in the hen-house ■or chicken-coop of the said . Ellis Davis, which was upon the premises. and within the yard of said Ellis Davis, and that when so . surprised and captured,, he confessed his purpose to rob said chicken-house.
, It is insisted that the indictment does not charge any indictable offense. It is apparent that the object of this statute was to repress ’a great evil which arose ■ in this country after the. war, and which grew to be an offense of .frequent occurrence, that of evil-minded
Affirm the judgment.