American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-09-09
MURDEROUS FANATICS.

Ghost1y Doings of the Sect Known n
"Cobbites''-They Kill a Man. Chop OF
His Head and ImpaIe 1t ON n Picket
Two of the Lunatics Shot by the Citi
zens.
Especial Cor. of the Globe Democrat
KENsETT, ARK, August 81, 1876
Subjoined are the sickening details Of
one of the strangest and most extraor.
binary tragedies ever enacted in the
history of the world. Before referring
to the murder, few curious facts, by
way of introduction, are necessary.
About two and on-haf miles south OF
Searcy, the seat of White County, is a
Withholding place known 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 fol-
lowers 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
main point of which is that every
one in his community should
live in adultery, in order that
the souls of the women might be puri-
! fed. The principal rendezvous of the
Cobbites is an old log hutin Gum Spring,
which is on the main road leading from
Searcy to Little Rock. During thepast
few days the attention of passers-by has
been attracted by strange noises, and
70 NJ ha1t TO fha off
of Searcy, they determined to investi-
gate the matter. On Tuesday last Mr..
C. d. Humphreys, of Searcy, and Mr..
Biane, from Ell Paso, in this county, de-
termined to visit Gum Spring and see
what was going on. The strange noises
were heard as they reached that locali-
ty, and on driving past the hut they
were accosted by Mr.. Dover, who claim
ed to be one of Gods people. Mr..
Humphreys proposed 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 ia
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 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 proceeded to the rescue. On
arriving at the spring, 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,
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 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 COM
menced to jabber in their peculiar way
at a furious rate. Mr.. Black did every
thing in his power to calm them with
out avail. Dover and his crowd then
started towards Black with no good in
tent, and his posse fired,
KILLING TWO MEN
and wounding one. The remainder,
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 at will, and
would come and rescue them. This
was about 6 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 the Church when taken, and knew
nothing of the murder. They were
brought to Searcy, and lodged ia a
hotel with a guard over them. On
Wednesday morning a preliminary ex-
animation was held. They were all re-
leased, and returned to Gum Spring.
They talked necessarily about their re-
igion and gesticulated constantly.
There is no doubt that they are all era
zy from the combined effects of
RELIGION AND STARVATION.
Men, women and children are as
gaunt as pack of wolves. Since the
above was written they have all quieted
somewhat, and apparently begin to re-
alize their situation. They decline to
talk at all, and will not notice an out
slider. This extraordinary affair has
created unprecedented excitement in
this locality.
An Energetic Woman.
The wife of a German farmer living
in the Township of Colborne, in this
lo,% Col II Il