The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-09-14
A HORRIBLE AFFAIR.
A Band of Religious Fanatics Known
as0CObbites - Murder n Man Near Scar
cy, Ark.-TVvo of Them Killed by
Sheriffss Posse,

Sheriffs Posse. ..-.... %
from the Searcy (Ark.) Record, Sept II
On last Tuesday several parties pass.
inc the Spence Booth place, now owned
BY Mr.. j. w. Patterson, about three
miles south of town, and lived upon by
l.. B. Dover, one of the parties connect
ed with the affair-were invited to see
Christ (the CObbites were having church
at the above place and claimed that
Christ was in their midst) and on enter
ing, or starting to enter, the yard were
told "not to come in, for that was holy
pround.n The news came to town OF
the above facts and Mr.. G. ID. Hum
phries and r. Blake concluded they
would 90 out and see for themselves
what all OF this really meant. On ar
irving at the place they, too, were IN
vited in to see Christ, and, after urgent
solicitations on the part of the Cobbites,
were persuaded to turn their journey
toward the house. When only in reach
of the pailings they got hold of Mr..
HUMPHREYS and kicked the fence down,
dragged him into the yard and in spite
of his endeavors to free himself, he was
beaten into a helpless state, then, whilst
two or three of the women sat upon bus
body and legs, another held his head,
and whilst thus OverpOwered his head
was cut from his body with an old AK,
handed to one of the men by a women
for that purpose. Mr.. Blake broke
loose from those who held him, and
was told that {" Christ told them (the
Cobbites) to turn him lOose!'3 He was
not long in publishing the news to the
town authorities, and as soon as posi-
BILE there was q posse summoned who
were soon on their way to the scene OF
this incompatible and almost unheard
of deed. The posse on arriving on
the ground saw the most heartrendlng
sights that their eyes ever witnessed.
The Cobbites showed fight, taking up
the head of HUMPHREYS and shaking ii
at the posse, telling them if they dared
modest them that they too should UNI
mistakablv share the same fate, and
the one holding the head in bis hand
again purched it upon the pailing cry
! inc out at the top of his voice, that
Christ was with them, to go on and
take the arms from the officers crowd
and let them too suffer the same pen
atty" On they came like men minus
soul or feeling until they came right up
to the crowd, and without faltering
steps continued to come, demanding
all the time the arms of the posse. The
officers force repeatedly ordered halt,
telling them that surely they would Kill
them if they didn't surrender
but new commands were given
them by Dover, similar to
this: $50 on, take their arms from
them and let them share the same fate
God is with US, let them shoot! God
wont let them!" and on they come,
until two of their number fell dead,
being shot by the officers posse. Then
thev seem to have become reconciled
for they saw that the posse had come
to stop the unlawful proceedings, and
intended to do it at all hazards. They
surrendered and were brought to town,
and on the road kept up their shouting,
and apparently didn't seem to care fol-
what they had done, or for the loss Of
two of their number, now and then say
ing, "that they was better off than
they," (the dead ones). These parties
claim that Judgment day will be here
the 1st of September, and they had as
sembled to be ready for the same. They
had thrown out all of their clothing,
bed-clothing, ETC., and apparently given
up all worldly things, and looked fol-
this day, which they claim would Ger.
tainly be some time during the first OF
this month. They are now in Jail I'M
dergoing their trial; what will become
of them we are unable to say. Let
the law take discourse and they their
chances, and we can't help but believe
that this indignant public will see the
law fully indicated, and those accessO-
nv to this hellish crime meet their just
reward. @ d.
The following is the verdict of the
jury: They found Lemuel B. Dover,
James NJ. Dover, Thomas Gainey, John
Nelson and Elizabeth Nelson guilty as
principal, and Clementine Dover, John
Dover and Lee Dover guilty as aces
sories Lemuel b. Dover and his SON
1n-law, Thomas Gainey, were killed, re-
fusing to surrender. Mrs. Nancy Gainey
and her two children, Miss Eliza Gainey
and little red-haired girl, supposed to
be daughter of old Mr.. Dover, were
discharged, there being no testimony
against them.