Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-09-16
THE THUGS OF MISSOURI.
The Story Of Singular Sect. the CObbItes
How they Cur n Man TO Pieces and
Stuck his Head on n PaIInE.

The Story of n Singular Sect, the C0bbItes !
How they Cut n Man TO Pieces and
stuck his Head on n PRIInE.
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 a few curl
Gus facts by way of introduction are nee
essary. About two AMI one half 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 in adultery
in order that the 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-
ton 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. Mr..
Q. d. Humphreys, of Searcy, and a
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. Mr.. Humphreys proposed that
they should run back and see what was
wanted, they did so, 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 a
the spring frightful sight met thei
gaze. The Cobbites had decapitateC
Humphreys and stuck his head on
paling. A boy who was riding by wa
compelled to get off his horse and bow
to the head three times. He was alsc
made to pray and then told to hurr,
away or the bowels of the earth woulC
open and swallow him. When the poss
} arrived M. T. @. Black, the leader
shouted to Dover to come forward. TIL
latter wanted to talk the matter over
He picked up Humphreys head at inter
walls, caught it by the hair with bot
hands, shook it back and forth and the
replaced it on the fence, ordering tn
crowd, with menacing gesture, to g
away.
The Cobbites then commenced t
, jabber in their peculiar way at a furiou
l rate. Mr.. Black did everything in hi
power to calm them, without avail. Dc
yer and his crowd then started towar
Black, with no good intention, and hi
posse fired, killing two men and wound
ing one. The remainder-four mel
: four women and two babies-were al
l rested and taken to jail. While in Gus
tody they talked about their Jesus
4 meaning Cobb, asserting that he coul
+ turn the gates of hell at will and woul
come and rescue them. This was abou
> six P. NJ, and the town was wild wit
excitement. It was feared that the pri
: oneIs would be lynched. Scouts wei
sent out to the vicinity of the log hr
J, and guard placed over the dead bodie
there. Another posse, about two mile
+ the other side of Gum Spring, capture
s a wagon load of Cobbites-two men, tw
n women and three children. They wei
= on their way to the church when take
:. and knew nothing of the murder. The
o were brought to Searcy and lodged in
I. hotel, with guard over them. A pr
q liminary examination was held, whe
they we're all released and returned
. Gum Spring. They talked incessant
Q about their religion and gesticulate
II constantly. There is no doubt that the
IF are all crazy from the combined effec
y of religion and starvation. Men, vome
!. and children are as gaunt as pack
y famished wolves.
g Since the above was written they ha7
i all quoted somewhat, and apparent
l. begin to realize their situation. The
% decline to talk at all, and will not noti
J, an outsider. This extraordinary affa
|, created unprecedented excitement
:, this vicinity.