The Russellville Democrat., 1877-08-09
THE COBBITE TRIAL.
AN ACCOUNT fTHE BLOODY
 BUTCHERY.
Their Trial and Acquittal by a
 Jury of their COuntrymen.
SEARcY, ARK, July 30, 1S7'

To the Editor of the DEMOCRAT:
 Circuit Court has been in session here for the last two weeks, Judge J. N. Cypert, presiding, and late last Saturday night there came to close one of the most remarkable trials ey- CT recorded in the annals of judicial history-remarkable not only as to the extraordinary features of the case, but more peculiarly so as to its surprising termination. l allude to the famous ''Cobbite" case, of which more or less is known throughout the country; but as it may be of interest 10 at least portion of your readers to know the facts in the case. l shall endeavor, briefly, to give them as l have gleaned them from authentic sources. 1 repeat that this case was one of the most important ever tried, as the crime committed was, perhaps the most ignobly dark, and fearful, that fiendish genius ever devised, and certainly the most horribly at trocious ever pcrpetrated Tn aciviliz- ed community.
 Last year there lived three miles South of Searcy, family by the name of Dover, consisting of old man Dover anu his wife; three sons, James, Lee and John; married daughter and her husband, Gainey; and perhaps some small children. Soon after coming into the neighbor- hood, it became known that they were "hardshell'' or primitive Bap- tists. and once a month services were held at Dover's house, the preaching being generally performed by one Cobb. To these services some times came family named Nelson, who lived in Clay township in the northern part of the county. Sometime in the early part of the summer of last year, the preacher Cobb went into the Nelson neighbor- hood and set up the preposterous claim that he was Christ, and strange as it may seem, succeeded in delud- ing many into the absurd belief.
 Toward the latter part of August it was reported in the vicinity that strange things were taking place at Dover's. Passers by heard loud noises, as preaching, praying, shout ing, and sometimes the family were seen grouped upon the porch, or in the yard making mysterious ges- lures. As these things continued, persons passing along the road were stopped by old man Dover, and re- ouested to come in and sec Jesus, that he was in the house, etc. It is supposed that Cobb was there, but as he was not seen, no one knows that he was.
 Rumors of the unusual occurren- ces which have mentioned, reached Searcy, and in the afternoon of the 29th of August, Cart Humphries and man named Blake, who had been in Searcy only week or two concluded to go out to Dover's and see for themselves what was taking place. Arriving there, they were hailed by Dover and told to come in that Christ was there. Humphries replied jestingly that he "Belleved he would go in and see the old gen tleman, he had not seen him lately" And now took place, this horrible tragedy, whose sickening details make one's blood curdle to recall. No sooner had Humphries alighted from the buggy in which he rode out there than he was seized by Dover and the other men, and dragged into the yard, while Blake having also gotten out of the buggy, was clutch ed by the women. The men having hold of Humphries felled him to the ground, and with dull knife cut his throat from ear to ear; but not yet satisfied, they called to the wom- en to bring an ax, Blake having es caped) which they did, and then with the ferocity of savages, they proceeded to cut hls head off. Whilq the body of Humphries was left wei tering in his own blood, these inhuB man wretches took the head in all Ita horrid ghastliness, and placed 1t ups on the sharp end of paling by thq roadside, and persons passing by were forced to stop, dlsmount an@ bow down before the head, and theN to flee for their lives under threat o placing their heads beside the otheS