The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-09-14
A Horrible Story of Fanaticism and
Murder.

The subjoined are the sickenipg details
of one of the strangest and most extraor-
dinary tragedies ever enacted in the his
tory of the world. Before referring to
the murder, a few curious facts by way of
introduction are necessary. About two
and half miles south of Searcy, the
seat of White County is wild looking
place known as Gum Spring, the residents
of which are known as Cobbites, owing
to the fact that an old man who claims to
be Christ rules with an iron hand. His
crazy followers claim to identify him by
certain marks in the palms of his hands,
and he has during the past year made a
great many believe in his doctrine. The
principal rendezvous of the Cobbites is
an old log hut, in Gum Spring, which is
on the main road leading from Searcy to
Little Rock.
During the last few days the attention
of passers-by has been attracted by strange
noises, and, this fact being, conveyed to
the citizens of Searcy, they determined to
investigate the matter. On Tuesday last
Mr.. e: D. Humphreys, of Seafcy, and a
Mr.. Blake, from Ell Paso in this county,
determined to visit Gum Spring and see
what was going on. The strange noises
were heard as they reached the locality.
On driving past the hut they were accost-
ed by Mr.. Dover, who claimed to be one
of Gods people. Mr. Humphreys pro-
posed that they should turn back and see
what was wanted. They did so, and were
invited into the hut, Dover asserting that
God was in there. Humphreys remarked,
as he got out of the buggy, that if God
was in there he wanted to see him.
AS soon as they stepped from the
vehicle, Humphreys was seized by
four men and Blake by four
women. The latter succeeded in
breaking away, but the former was una
BILE to do so. Blake ran about 100 yards,
and, on looking back, saw the men cut
ting his companion to pieces with long
knives. He at once started for town, but
the buggy was upset and demolished He
then mounted his horse, rode to Searcy at
a breakneck speed, and reported the terri
BILE occurrence to the citizens. A force
was at once raised, and proceeded to the
rescue. On arriving at the spring fear
full sight met their gaze. The Cobbltes had
decapitated Humphreys and stuck his
bead on paling. A boy who was riding
by was compelled to get off his horse and
bow to the head three times. He was also
made to pray, and then told to hurry away,
or the bowels of the earth would open and
swallow him. When the posse arrived, Mr.
T. G. Black, the leader, shouted to Dover
to come forward. The latter wanted to
talk the matter over. He picked up
Humphreys head at intervals, caught it
by the hair with both hands, shook it
back and forth, and then replaced it on
the fence, ordering the crowd, with a
menacing gesture, to 60 away. The Cob
bites then commenced to jabber in their
own peculiar way at furious rate. Mr.
Black did everything in his power to calm
them, without avail. Dover and his
crowd then started toward Black with no
good intent, and his posse fired, killing
two MEN and wounding one. The re-
mainder, four men, four women and two
babies were arrested and taken to Jail.
While in custody they talked about their
Jesus, meaning Cobb, asserting that he
could turn the gates of hell a. will, and
would come and rescue them. This was
about six p. m, and the town was wild
with excitement. It was feared that the
prisoners would be lynched. Scouts were
sent out to the vicinity of the log hut, and
a guard placed over the dead bodies there.
Another posse, about two miles the other
side OF Gum Spring, captured wagon
load of Cobbites, two men, two women
and three children. They were on their
way to church when taken, and knew
nothing of the murder. They were
brought to Searcy and lodged in hotel,
with guard over them. On Wednesday
morning preliminary examination was
held; they were all released, and re-
turned to Gum Spring They talked in
cessantly about their religion, and ges-
ticulated constantly.-Kensett (Ark.) Cor.
st. Louis Globe Democrat, Sept. 2.
ST. LOUIS, Sept. 2.
A Coroner's inquest was held on the
body of Humphreys. The jury declared
the principals to the crime were Lemuel
B. Dover, James NJ. Dover, Thos. Gainey,
John Nelson and Elizabeth Nelson. The
verdict also made Clementine Dover, Jno.
Dover and Lee Dover accessories. The
two Cobbites whowere killed were Lemuel
B. Dover and Thos. Gainey, his son-in-
law. Mrs. Nancy Carney and two girls
were released, the testimony not going to
inculpate them further than that
they were present after the arrest
and while beng taken to Searcy
they kept up their unearthly howls,
not ceasing until long after they were
committed to jail. Quite number of
converts who had espoused the beastly
doctrine of Cobb, but who were not at the
meeting that day, have left the country,
fearful of the excited populace, who
threaten all Cobbites with determination.
Those who are in Jail have grown quiet,
but refuse to talk and will tell nothing of
their religion and its rites. They are all
gaunt, half starved, crazed creatures. 1t
is said they had scarcely tasted food for
days before the terrible scenes of Tuesday
night, being engaged in preparing them