The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-08-03
THE COBBITES.

lPPRoAcHISG TRIAL OF MURDERoUS RE-
LIGIous FANATICS IN ARKANsAs-A MANS
HEAD REEKING WITH GORE PARADED ON A
ToLE TO Crafty GOD.
Before he Criminal sitting at Searcy SPRING.
Ark says correspondent Of the Cincinnati Enquirer
writing the 2lst, there arc seven persons-four
men and three womcn-ndicted for tho murder o!
Carter d. HUMPHREYS on the 10th of August, 1876
They band OF religious worshippers known as
Cobbiies, the followers OF Cobb, who estabs het
himself in little settlement; three miles south Of
Searcy about two years ago. He established little
church OF his own set himself up as god saint OF
possessed Of supehuman powers, and this little
band people looked upon HIM such and wor
shipped him accordingly He was onshoot of the
Mormon Church, oil the word at least and
his influence was as great so tar as 1t went as is that
OF Brigham Young with his Church.
In august OF iast year the Cobbtcs had gotten up
what might be termed "high oid' revival and had
brcn conducting the same tor several weeks al the
house oil Dover, the boss SAINT the ab-
sence OF Cobb Who had lett the country about this
time. EveryboG looked upon the Cobb.tes as anor-
ant harmless fanatics who had let their religious zeal
get the better oil their Judgment No one thought Them
Inclined or capable OF committing SO revolving a crime
murder. But !. would seem from the evidence uc-
The Coroner's jury of inquest that IT ranks with
The Mountain Mcadows massacre IN point OF cruelty and
hcirtiessness, though ON a smaller scale.
GONE GoDn
On tho 10Th day OF August 1876, tho Cobbitcs
The highest pitch oil their revival had seen God, and
shouting with joy, tossing themselves about the
vard putting their guods and chaitels out of
doors aud preparing To go hence al moments warn
ing About one O'Clock the afternoon Carter d.
humphries and Mr. Blake drove past tue house In
buggy going out there from town Tor the purpose o!
seeing these people acted, as they had created
quite STIR IN the neighborhood by their singular be-
havor. As they passed they were hailed by the crowd
and called upon stop and ''Come IN and God!"
They did stop, however, nut went u short dis
lance TO small branch and watercd their horse ana,
returning drove up 10 the pang fence in front OF
house. Humphries jumped from the buggy the side
10 the iencc, throwing the lines down over the
the yard pear the ieLce clapP'ng their hands and
shouting, 'Glory TO Godl 'sGod Is hcre" The horso
started TO run ana Blake jumped out on the opposite
side OF the buggy rom HUMPHREYS. When he recov-
cred himself panel OF the paing fence had been
torn. down and two men had hold Of Humphries
inside the yard. Blake started TO the rescue, bat
held back by the women. lie finally got away, and
started town to raise the alarm but not before he
uoiiced the two men having HUMPHREYS down in the
yard of Them his breast and the other at his
mead with IA knife he also noticed blood squirting over
The clothing OF the men
rRuSKLEss HEAD PARApgp.
party o. eight or ten men at summoned
70 and arrest the parties In the meantime and be-
fore tie posse arrived named Hodges, travelling
through the country in wagon, passed tue house.
he heard tue shouts Of the men, women and children,
mt hated to ascertain the lie saw the body Of
man lying 10 the yard and o mans head pole,
which was standing uP against the fence. When he
STOPPED his wagon ana rot out and started toward the
house the mcn came out and halted HIM, made h m
bnce down and get up again several times, and with
lie 'shout that 'here was another Cody babe him
7rive Tho women paid no attention 10 him, but
marching back and forth on the porch and about
the body clipping their hands above their heads
and Shouting ''t;!ery God!" and repeating some
nic..,gbic ceremony They seemed TO be perfectly
wild and reckless. This conduct vas kept up by the
about two hours, whom tue officer and his
posse arrived The men were ~ work mailing up the
,rokcn when the house Was surrounded. They
icicd the officers and forbade their coming into the
yard or taking the body OF HUMPHREYS saying that
.ncy had ''kcd the devil" that God was there, !"
Ind that II they in they would ''iand IN hell
minutes"
THE CAPTURE
While the officers were trying TO reason with them
they made charge upon The posse, at signal from
Dover, their leader ana attempted 10 disarm them.
When told that they would be killed " they did not
halt anu surrender, they SAID, 'GOd Is protecting
your guns VIII not shoot" One of the officers, Mr.
Blake, who being pressed too closely, attempted 10
shoot aud both barrels OF his gun JAILED 10 discourage
THIS seemed TO give them new courage, and they
pressed tue officers more closely. Blake dubbed his
gun and Knocked one OF them on the head. Other
officers used their guns more enectualy, ana TWO OF
leading ones Dover and Carney Killed, when
remainder surrendered taken TO JaI their
laith that guns would Kill them being somewhat
shaken by the death OF their leaders.
Upon examining Humphries body It was found TINT
he had been stabbed the neck with knife, ana that
his head had alterward been entirely chopped OIL with
axe three gashcs being distinctly visible. There
marks on tho ptlings where the head had been
tho these people showed fear or remorse
whatever but seemed 10 Ihink and lecl that they had
done the righteous will OF God.