The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-10-04
THE THUGS OF MISSOURI.


Tho Story Of q Singular Scot, tho Cobbites
How they Cur Man to Pieces and
Stuck his Head on a Paiins.
The following has Just been received
from reliable correspondent at Ken.
sett, Arkansas Subjoined are the sick
ening details of one of the strangest
and most extraordinary tragedies ever
enacted in the history of the world. Be-
fore referring to the murder few Curl
GUS facts by way of introduction are nee
essary. About two and one-haf miles
south of Searcy, the seat of White coun-
ty, is wild looking place known as
Gum Spring, the residents Of which are
known as Cobbites, owing to the fact
that an old man named Cobb, 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 many believe in his doctrine, the
main point of which is that every one
in the community should live id adultery
in order that tho souls of the women
might be purified. The principal rem
devious of the Cobbites is in an old log
hut in Gum Spring, which is on the
main road leading from Searcy to Little
Rock.
During the past few days the atten-
tion OF passers by has been attracted by
strange noises, and this fact being con-
veyed to citizens Of Searcy they deter
mined to investigate the matter. MIR.
@. D. Humphreys, of Searcy, and
Mr.. Blake, from Elrass, in this county,
determined to visit Gum Springs and
see what was going on.
The strange noises were heard as they
reached that locality, and on driving
past the hut they were accosted by Mr..
Dover, who claimed to be one of Gods
people. MIR. Humphreys proposed that
they should run back and see what WAS
wanted, they did 80, and were invited
into the hut, Dover asserting that God
was in there. As soon as they stepped
down from the vehicle Humphreys was
seized by four men and Blake by four
women. The latter succeeded in break
ing away, but the former was unable to
do so.
Blake ran about one hundred 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 demolish-
ed. He then mounted his horse, rode
to Searcy at breakneck speed and re-
ported the terrible occurrence to the
citizens. ..
A force was at once raised and pro-
ceeded to the rescue. On arriving at
the spring q frightful sight met their
gaze. The Cobbites had decapitated
Humphreys and stuck his head on a
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 M. T. O. Black, the leader,
shouted to Dover to come forward. The
latter wanted to talk the matter over.
He picked up Humphreys head at inter-
walls. 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 go
away.
The Cobbites then commenced to
jabber in their peculiar way at furious
rate. Mr.. Black did everything in his
power to calm them, without avail. Do
yer and his crowd then started toward
Black, with no good intention, and his
posse fred, killing two men and wound
ing one. The remainder-four men,
four women and two babies-were ar
rested and taken to jail. While in GUS
tody they talked about their Jesus,
meaning Cobb, asserting that he could
turn the gates of hell at will and would
come and rescue them. This was about
six P. NJ, and the town was wild with
excitement. It was feared that the pris-'
oners 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 the church when taken
and knew nothing of the murder. They
were brought to Searcy and lodged in a
hotel, with a guard over them. A pre-
liminary examination MAS held, when
they were all released and returned to
Gum Spring. They talked necessarily
about their religion and gesticulated
constantly. There is no doubt that they
are all crazy from the combined effects
of religion and starvation. Men, women
and children are as gaunt as a pack OF
famished wolves.
Since the above Was written they have
all quieted somewhat, and apparently
begin to realize their situation. Tney
an outsider. This extraordinary affair
created unprecedented excitement in
this vicinity.