Ku Klux Karma

American history is filled with atrocities committed by the Ku Klux Klan. It brings a welcome sense of divine justice to discover situations where their nefarious activities were turned upon them. This is in no way to trivialize or ignore the horror they brought upon innocent people, but to provide a rare glimpse into what happens when a victim fights back and inflicts more damage than imagined.

Daniel Webster not well liked in Gate City, Virginia. In 1885, he was known more for his eccentricities than any positive merit. Webster had recently brought a lawsuit against a pillar of the community. Sadly, the person sued, as well as the reason for the suit, has been lost to time.

The lawsuit placed Webster at odds with many in the region, including many local Klansmen. He wasn’t particularly shocked when he was shaken from sleep on that December night. He heard someone throwing large rocks at his house. He looked out his window to find countless white robes filled his yard. Evidently, he decided he wasn’t going down without a fight. Webster pulled a revolver from his desk and opened the window.

He systematically picked off one Klansman after another as they stood on his lawn. After he emptied the weapon, he yelled for his wife to bring the other gun. He shouted loud enough for the white robes to hear outside. The group scattered in a panic. There really was no second weapon, but the ruse was successful.

The next morning, many men across town had mysteriously sustained gunshot wounds during the night. One had been shot through the hip, one had his chin blown off, and another was confined to his bed.

The one fact we know is the Klan never bothered Webster again.