Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-08-04
HANGING OF HORSE THIEVES.
Masked HOFsemen Wrest Two Horse
ThieVes from a Posse near Memphis,
and Hang Them.

Masked HOFSemen NreSt Two Horse
Thieves from n Posse near Memphis,
and Hang Them.
From the Memphis Avalanche. August, /.
The residents between Memphis and
Raleigh have suffered from the depreda-
tions Of stock thieves until patience has
ceased to become virtue. Thieves have
been arrested by scores, only to be set at
liberty through jerrymandering in the
courts. These facts have aroused the citi-
zens to the fever heat of excitement, one of
whose natural results came to light yester-
day morning.
Wednesday evening j. Whitfield and
c. F. Bender, both reputed horse thieves,
we're discovered near Raleigh, riding a
valuable horse stolenNfrom Mr.. Barnett, who
resides between Raleigh and Big Creek
They were arrested and taken to Raleigh.
Esquire Stewart, on investigation, required
$4,000 bail each for their appearance at
the Circuit Court. Unable TO furnish sure
ties, the magistrate instructed Mr.. w. p.
Day, the constable, to bring the prisoners
to Memphis, for commitment to the county
Jail. All this occurred Wednesday evening.
Thursday evening at half-past four o'clock,
Mr.. Day, accompanied by three guards,
Messrs. Wills, Sam Redit and q. w. Bar
nett, the owner of the stolen horse, started
for the city with the prisoners, who were
secured in a wagon. The party travelled
slowly, and at nine o'clock had not pro-
ceeded further than Rev. ]. w. Knots
place, several miles from Memphis. While
the horses were walking leisurely in the
midst Of the woods, the tramp of horses
hoofs was suddenly heard, and in moment
the wagon was surrounded by body of
armed men, numbering, thirty or forty. All
were mounted, masked and armed, and on
the head of each was a high, conical-shaped
hat.
The spokesman demanded the prisoners.
Mr.. Day and his assistants were, of course,
powerless against 50 formidable a body,
and offered no resistance, but the former
remarked that he would go with the priso-
ners, wherever they were taken. He was
ordered back, and given to understand that
it would not be healthy for him or his
party if such thing were offered. This
settled the question.
Two horses that had been led by the
mysterious visitors were brought to the
wagon, and on them Whitfield and Bender
were mounted. A strong guard was placed
about each, and at a signal the entire body
ofhorsemen left the astonished constable
and his friends to reflect on the remarkable
events of the past few moments.
The constabulary party came to the city
late at night, and early yesterday morning
appraised Sheriff Curry of the rescue. He
at once dispatched 4 deputy to ascertain
the fate of the prisoners.
That task was not difficult. The news
of the affair spread through the neighbor-
hood like wild fire, and early in the morn
ing large body of citizens started on the
same errand. The search proved unavail-
ing until the party approached McConnelPs
Mills, on Wolf river, two or three miles
from the city. Near this spot, by the road
side, the bodies of both Whitfield and Ben
der, suspended by ropes, dangled from the
limb of tree. Life was not only extinct,
but the bodies were stiff and cold, and had
evidently been hanging several hours.
There is little doubt that the execution
occurred before midnight, and that the
mysterious regulators" were safely housed
and asleep several hours before their sum-
mary work was discovered. On the back of
one was a placard with the following
inscription:
HORSE THEY E1-hANdED BY Z AN OUT
RACED COMMUNITY"
Colonel Beaumont, Sergeant Brown and
detectives Hastings and McCune went out
early yesterday forenoon, and the bodies
were cut down. That of Bender was taken
to the residence of his mother, widow,
near the Fair Grounds. She became al
most frantic upon receiving the news OF her
sons death, and when his remains reached
the house, threw herself upon them with
agonizing shrieks, and repeatedly kissed
the swollen, discolored lips and cheeks.
The spectacle was one that would have
moved the heart of savage, and those wit
Messing it were most deeply affected at her
distress.
Both victims were regarded as bad men
by the community, and on several occasions
had been arrested as thieves. As before
mentioned, when caught they were riding
a stolen horse, which was identified as Mr..
Barnetts property. They were understood
as members Of the gang of thieves long
infesting the country between Memphis
and Raleigh