The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-12-20
Can CONVICT THB
NIGHT RIDERS
Fire Marshal Says He Has
Ample Evidence
Special Terms of Court in Two Coun.
ties WIN BE Asked, by the
Adjutant General.
WRITTEN REPORTS TO COME.


Frankfort, Ky. Dec. 2O.--Adjt
Gen. Philip p. Johnston. who has
been In western Kentucky making an
Investigation into the outrages COM
= mitted in connection with the tobacco
war in Hopkinsville and other points
In that section OF the state. is now
engaged in making out a written re-
port of-his findings. which he Will
submit to Governor Wilson.
= General Johnston held a confer
ence with Governor Wilson shortly
after his arrival In Frankfort. and
made verbal report of his lnvesti-
cation in Christian and Trigg coun-
ties, after which ne began on his
written report. which will be finished
anu handed TO the governor tomor-
row. Governor Wilson said that as
he had not yet received the adjutant
generals report he was unable to say
Just what il would contain except in
brief way, ard would. therefore
not give out any statement as to the
findings and recommendation Of
General Johnston until he had re-
ceived and studied the report
Trigg Demoralized.
Ii Is said the report Of the adju-
. tant general will contain practically
the same characters OF evidences of
decentralization in Trigg county as
was found by him and reported to
the governor In connection with the
Mutation in Christian county, and II
Is likely that a special term OF court
Will be, called in each OF the counties
In order that the evidence secured
by General Johnston can be submit
ted to a grand jury.
Mott Ayres. state fire marshal,
who has been In the dark tobacco
belt with General Johnston. also
held a short conference with Cover
nor Wilson, aud made hun acquaint-
ed with the facts and Information
obtained by him In connection with
the Investigation. Mr.. Ayres said
that he was in possession of an
abundance OF evidence on which to
N'HftNA AZ AhAoA a part VI Aut ihtH
who engaged in the raid and destruc-
ton OF property in Hopklnsville.
but that nothing could be done until
special grand Jury was empaneled
10 hear the evidence.
Governor Hopeful.
. Governor Wilson grows more
sanguine daily that the conference OF
all the parties interested In the to-
basco war. VIII result in great good.
and firmly believes that after the re-
suit OF that conferences Is made
known the conditions throughout the
tobacco districts OF the state will
again become normal and that no
further efforts viii be made BY citi-
zens to destroy life and property.
Governor Wilson has received sew
eral hundred letters from various
sections of the state since he as
sumed the duties of his Office. ac-
qualnting him with facts in connec-
ton with the war being waged by
the farmers for better prices, and
also furnishing him with information
on which IL will be an easy matter
to secure convictions OF the might
riders" when the proper time comes
and the proper steps have been taken
by the authorities. To each OF
these letters the governor is paying
strict attention, and at the same
Z time treating them confidentially and
answering them personally and
thanking the authors for the interest
taken by them and for their help in
assisting him in putting stop to
the war.
New Reward offered.
In order that there. would be no
confusion or argument by anyone
over rewards ofered for the appre-
hension and conviction o. the party
or parties guilty OF the outrages in
the tobacco belt. Governor Wilson
today revoked the general reward
offered by Governor Beckham last
April for the arrest and conviction of
barn burners in the state, aud today
he substituted one for $500 reward
for the arrest and conviction OF the
party or parties who, attempted to
destroy a tobacco warehouse at Muir
ray, Galloway county, on November
2S, 1907. This reward, It is said,
viii be followed by another for a
similar amount for the arrest and
conviction of those guilty of the de-
structlon of property in Hopkinsville
two weeks ago.
New Judge Appointed.
Governor Wilson accepted the res
ignation of Attorney General-elect |
James Breathitt as county judge of
Christian county, and appointed
Vharles o. Prowse as his successor.