The true northerner., 1877-08-17
THE CORRITES.
History of an Extraordinary Crime I'm Ar

quiet little city OF l,UUU lnnhDltants. III
the first place, the Searcy railroad sys-
item consists of four miles OF wooden
rails laid on a natural road-bed. The
equipment is one car; the working force
is one man; the motive power is one
mule, and the fare from the outside
world to Searcy is 81. There was no
strike ON the Searcy railroad. In the
second place, there was no excitement
here over the labor troubles throughout
the country, because all Searcy was alb
sorbed in the famous Cobbite trials just
closed, but still the sole topic of con-
versation.
sold Man Cobb" is the founder of q
religion. He is man of erratic origin
ality, native shrewdness, and possessed
of considerable magnetic power. About
two miles south of Searcy Cobb had
gathered about him little colony of de-
voted followers. They worshiped him
as prophet, and his word was law.
There are stories told of the morals he
inculcated which are loathsome. Cobb
was crafty. He taught his followers to
live apart from other people, to manage
their own affairs, and keep their own
counsels. They were underk rkcomplete
subsection to him, and so long as he
was among them outsiders knew little of
what was going on. A little more than
year ago, Cobb, who is said to have
come from Michigan, disappeared on
proselyting mission, it was given out,
not, however, until he had installed
"Old Man Dover" us leading saint.
This was just year ago. Dover sue.
ceeded in working up himself and the
other Cobbites to perfect frenzy. They
held meetings day and night Men,
women and children became perfectly
wild during these gatherings, and
shouted, screamed, clapped their hands,
and prayed, until they dropped down
with exhaustion. At times they would
run from the house and run about the
yard waving their arms and uttering
cries which could be heard half mile.
The conduct of these people began TO
be talked of in quiet Searcy, whose easy
going people drink little more exciting
liquid than the water of their white sui
phur and chalybeate springs On the
29th of August last the tragedy occurred
which put an effectual damper on Cobb
ism and furnished the basis for the re-
markable trial just closed. On that day
Carter ID. Humphries and Rufus ID.
Blake took buggy and drove out to the
Cobbites meeting. Humphries was a
country hvery-stable keeper with all
that implies, and both of the men went
out with the avowed intention of having
some sport.
The trial has developed the following
horrible particulars Humphries and
Blake drove up in front of Dover's, and
the orgies were at their height. The
Cobbites were in the yard, and, adj
vancing toward the fence, shouted,
BLESS God, ," Glory to God, )" " Here's
God," "Come in and see God"
Humphries remarked that he chad not
seen the old man for some time, and
would go in." He jumped out of the
buggy and started through gap in the
fence. Blake followed him in moment
or two. AS soon as Humphries got in
side of the yard half a dozen men gath
cred about him and scuffie ensued
Blake was seized by the women. He
says he thought it was all part of the
religious ceremony until he heard
Humphries cry out, "For Gods sake
don't kill me-" Then he looked for his
companion. The scoffer was on the
ground and the fanatics tyere holding
him down. A knife cleaned in the air,
and then Jet of blood followed it up
from Humphries' PROSTATE form. Thor
oughly alarmed, Blake broke from the
women and ran. Two of the men ran to
head him off from leaving the yard. He
drew bowie-knife. The pursuers
shouted, "God has turned him loose, u
and made no further effort to stop him.
Blake made his way back to Searcy,
spreading the news of the murder. In
the meantime Joseph Hodges, who was
driving along the road, was Mortified al
the ghastly spectacle OF a mans head
struck on pole about which the Cobb
ties were shouting and yelling like
maniacs. Hodges got down and started
toward the gate, but was halted by ole
Dover, who called to him not to come il
but to kneel. Hodges got down on his
marrow bones very promptly and was
J then commanded to rise After postu
lating for several minutes in obedienc,
to Dover's directions he was told to cleal
, out, and he says he did so without de
lay, the Cobbites shouting after him
, "There's another God"
, udrrlSOu DleNlHS dlsO ptSSeu tue HOus'
shortly after the murder. They wer,
I then driving stake on which the heae
of Humphries was subsequently placed
One of the men, Blevins says, was GOV
cred with blood This man immediate
, ly came out to the fence and shouted t.
Blevins, "God is in here; don't yo'
come in here; don't you speak" Blevin
rode around the lot outside OF tn
fence trying to discover what was up
, Pretty soon the bloody Cobbite eX
claimed, "You can't stop; your breat
is well-nigh gone now." Blevins il
quired what was the matter. "Don
: you speak; your life is in my hands
: = The old champion is dead now; there h
lays" was the reply, ,atthe same time e.
hibiting the body of Humphries. With thf
S the Cobbite started for the house, as
to get gun, and Blevins left. The dt
a capitation of Humphries was witnesse
d by two boys of one of the neighborl
5 After the lively stable-keeper had bee
s killed Dovercalledforan AK, and one of I'll
n women brought it, The old fanatic the
= chopped the head from the body wit