The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1876-09-07
TERRIBLE.

Democrat" has letter from kensett, Ark,
detailing some atrocities committed by a
religious sect called CobbIles, al Il place
named Gum SprIngI. IL appeares t: at an
old man named Cobb, rules the community,
and is regarded by his followers 80 4 Jesus
Christ and obeyed accordingly. For some
time past, singular noses have been heard
at Gum Springs, by persons passing there,
and four days ago, {. ID. Humphreys, of
Searcy, and u Mr. Blake, OF Ell Pdso, de-
termined to ascertain the cause OF them
and clear up the mystery. They therefore
visited the locality, and az they were pass
ing hut, from which issued strange
sounds, man named DO, er, one OF he
Cobbites, accosted them, and said that God
and see him. They alighted from the bug
gy, and Humphreys was at one seized by
TOUR men, and Blake by four women.
Blake broke loose from his captors and
ran about 100 yards, when, on looking
back, he saw the men cutting Humphreys
to pieces with long knives. He fastened
10 town and reported the case, and party
Of citizens at once started for the scene OF
the murder. On arrival at the Springs,
they found that Humphreys had been
HIS Sut oh otid Etu1h
on fence paling. A boy who
was riding by, had been compelled to dis
mount from his horse and bow to the head
three times and utter prayer. A party en-
sued between the leader of the ciIIzens, I. !
c. Black, and Dover, the Cobbite, during |
which the latter took Humphreys head |
from the fence several times and shook it |
back and forth and replaced it on the pal |
ing, at the same time ordering the citizens |
to leave. At last Dover and his party ad
on Black and his party In a menac-
ing manner, and the latter fired upon them, |
killing two men and wounding another |
The remaining four men, four women and |
two children were arrested and taken to !,
Jail. Other Cobbites were also arrested and |
taken to Sesrcy. There was great |
excitement among the people and |
lynching was threatened the next
day. The preliminary examination
was held, and all the parties were released. |
They talked necessarily about their reli-
gion, and there seemed little doubt that !
they were all crazy from the effect Of re-
ligious excitement and starvation.
Later advices say: The coroner's inquest |
was held on the body of Humphreys, and |
the jury returned verdict that L. b. and |
]. NJ. Dover, Thomas Gainey and John and !
Elizabeth Nelson were guilty as principals |
in the murder Of Humphrey and John and |
Lee Dover and Clementine Dover guilty., As |
accessories.
T. b. Dover and Thomas Gainey were
he two men killed by the posse that made |
the arrests. Old Cobb escaped to the |
woods, and at last accounts he had not been |
1t appears that Cobb |
.ame from Michigan, where he
.aught his atrocious doctrine
until driven out He first settled in South !
EASTERN Missouri, where he made . few con-
7erts, and tits said, offered up infants a. sac
'i6ces he Vas driven away from there, and
With his fanatical followers, went to White
county, Arkansas, and induced few more
gnorsnt people 70 join them. The accounts
eoeived, do not give any adequate reason
,r sause for the attack upon Humphreys
md Blake, and the murder of the former,
,ut the Cobbites seem to have been wrought
Up to q high degree of religious excitement
u frenzv, and were urged on BY old man
Cobb, who had taught his deluded follow
r. that he was not only Christ in pc son,
tut that he uttered the DEGREES of God him
elf, and tina, anything they did, was devoid
4 sin.
NEW ORLEANS, September 4.-The fol-
owing telegram was received from Cou-
hatta, September 4, from acting Gov. An
oine: H. T. Webster, Clerk Of the District
jonrt, Parish of Red River, was waylaid
md shot last evening about five o'clock.
Webster was wounded and his horse killed.
A special to the Democrat" from Bastrop.
"a, says: On Friday last a courier from
sland Dessiare announced tn at the negroes
here were up in arms. The citizens imme-
Gene. After scouting the best part Of the
orenoon, and finding no armed men, they
While on the way homeward
hree men were thrown out about 800 yards
head rs guard. While passing Ross
Ian, nine miles south of Bastrop, they were
uddenly fired upon by a band of negroes
nder cover. The three scouts immediate
? charged upon them, who fled, closely
by The men, and when they ar
ived at fence, the fugitives turned and
eiivered another Ineffective volley. The
hree men continued 10 fire from their re-
divers, killing one and wounding four ne
egroes. Two OF the gentlemen, Nick
vans and his brother. are rich merchants
I Bastrop, and the other is a large planter
, the neighborhood. They we're going
,om their place, miles east Of Bastrop, to
isIt q sick neighbor named Gallagher,
hen they were way-laid and shot by a
idden party, with a shotgun, loaded With
uck-shot Evans fell Immediately and
led this morning, with 6 or buckshot in
Is back and head. No sufficient cause has
Ct been given for the murder. A man
amed Morgan, who IL supposed to be the
saain, worked On Evans place, and had
- 1serhar6