it turned out this guy had worked for sam bowers. he was the guy who kind of type propaganda,n because i guess no one else in how to type. so he overheard sam bowers give the orders to kill vernon damer. so he told us that. he met with the district attorney and the case got in 1997. the guy who had been the key witness in the 1960's with this guy, billy roy pitts. he had been involved in the killing for vernon damer. he planned guilty to the murder, and got a federal sentence. and then his sentence was overturned. so i was researching how much tsme guys like pit actually served in prison in mississippi. because it was a bit of a joke. governors pardoned some of these guys. the ones who were convicted didn't spend much time in prison. i was researching each one of those and it got to him. i couldn't find any record of his state time, but i was told he went into the federal witness protection program. so i was checking with the federal bureau of prisons to see how much final time he did. -- how much federal time he did. she pulled his

it turned out this guy had worked for sam bowers. he was the guy who kind of type -- typed up the klan propaganda because i guess no one else in the clan knew how to type. he overheard sam bowers gave the orders to kill vernon dahmer. he told us that. after he met with us, we met with the district attorney. the case got reopened. this was in 1997. the guy who had been the key witness in the 1960's was this guy, billy roy pitts. he had been involved in the killing for vernon dhamer. drop his gun and got caught, pled guilty to murder got a license for that, pled guilty to federal charges and got sentenced for that. i was researching how much time these guys actually served in prison in mississippi, because it was a bit of a joke. governors pardoned some of these guys. commuted their sentences. there were only a few convicted. the ones who were convicted didn't spend much time in prison. i was researching each one of those and it got to him. i couldn't find any record of his state time, but i was told he went into the federal witness pr

this now leaks there -- leads the rest to sam bowers. this was in may 1998. him, bowers in addition to was arrested with his right-hand guy. dev the family brought ers knicks in, it was like the most pitiful sight you have ever seen. they wheeled him in, you see the tall green oxygen tank, the whole bit. they wheeled him up in front of ie judge, and he is like, can't take more than a couple of steps without needing oxygen, judge. the judges like, i normally don't d thiso, but i'm way to let you out without bond. a dozen days later, this is where we caught him. this is like a reporters dream. arrested. he loves me. sam i was goes on trial and guess who is there to testify on his behalf, but mr. golfer. knicks is talking to his lawyer. i don't mean this as a cruel detail, but i'm going to tell you this anyway. this really good criminal defense lawyer back in the 1960's. by this point, the guy is in his 80's. that is great. but the reason for that little detail would be more apparent later. he is talking and trying to work out a signaling system. are probably ya'

. -- sam bowers. whoddition to sam bowers, was arrested with his right hand guy, devers nicks. when they brought devers nicks in, it was like the most pitiful site. they wheeled him in with the wheelchair, the green oxygen tank. they wheeled him up in front of the judge and he's like, i can't take more than a couple steps without leaving -- without needing oxygen. the judges like, i normally don't do this, going to let you out without bond. a dozen days later, this is like a reporters dream. this is where we caught him. [laughter] so he got arrested. he loved me. >> find out how investigative journalist jerry mitchell helped put four klansmen in jail. you are watching american history tv only on c-span3. >> princeton university professor kevin kruse talks about the role of -- the role of historians on social media. he discusses how media consumption has changed since the 1970's. this 13 minute interview was recorded in chicago at the american historical association meeting. is a professor at princeton university and he's out with a new book this month, "faultlines: the history

hisddition to sam bowers, right-hand guy was arrested. when the family brought him in, it was like the most pitiful sight you have ever seen. they wheeled him in in a wheelchair, you see the tall oxygen tank. they wheel him up in front of the judge and he's like "i can't take more than a couple of steps without needing oxygen." the judge said "i normally don't do this, but i will let you out." one dozen days later, this is like a reporter's dream, this is where we caught him. [laughter] arrested. he loved me. >> find out how investigative journalist jerry mitchell helped put 4 klansman in jail, today at six sisi five -- 6:55 p.m. eastern. you're watching american history tv, only on c-span3. "q&a,"ay night on two-time pulitzer-winning working for on his work in his search to find out how political power works. fares int to these rather modest cottage. he had torn out the walls at the end so it was all one big picture. he sat in the center of this big black leather chair. you look to the left of him out the window, it was the robert moses