Toll Gates Destroyed

Band of Night Riders Swoops Down on Toll Gates; Property
Destroyed and Warning Posted

Secret  Organization Acts in Protest to Toll System

General Attack in Constance District is Delayed

Farmers Frightened by Raid or Masked and Armed Men

He pattering of hooves of fleet footed horses bearing masked riders Saturday night awakened the farmers near Constance, Ky.  The “nightriders” who have secretly organized to destroy every toll gate in the county were abroad.  The toll gates at Idlewild on the Burlington road were unhinged and destroyed.  The next visit of the night cavalcade was to the gate at the Bullitsville and Dry Creek Pike which also was destroyed.  The mysterious horsemen of the night, numbering about thirty, rode swiftly to Constance and posted a warning the gate forbidding the collection of any more tolls.  They posted a similar notice on the gate near Belleview. It is said that plans had been made for a general attack on all the gates, to take place Saturday night, but for some reason they were not cried out. Farmers who were awakened by the soft pitter-patter of the steeds and knew nothing of the proposed tollgate war were frightened.  Some of the riders carried guns cross the pommels of their saddles.  Grey bearded farmers were reminded of the dreaded Ku-Klux clan of those days.  Their sons were reminded of the tobacco raiders, who were called “night riders” a few years ago.  Still others, whose memories revolve around the “eighties,” mistook the silent horsemen for a sort of “White Cap” organization.  The agitation against the toll gate system is causing excitement in he district near Constance. 

Kentucky Times Star, July 13, 1914