The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-25
NIGHT RIDING
GranA FsllElngsF Relates aIst0Fy
and DARK Dolngs Of
aaURDER0US BAND

MURDER0US BAND
whose Members Were Sworn To
Loyalty on Pain of Death
Secret oath-Bound Band That
Committed the Rankin Murder
and Many other outrages.
Union City, Tenn, Dec. 21.-The
State today practically completed its
case against the eight alleged night
riders, on trial for the murder o:
Capt. Rankin, when it drew from
Frank Fehrsnger, member OF the
hand who turned States evidence, q
detailed statement of the Rankin;
affair and score or more of Other
outrages. 1t also called to the stand sll
Mrs. Emma Thurmond Johnson. one
OF the two women said ito have baen
whipped by the band, and had her
tell her story.
The startling testimony of Feh+
ringer, who accused the men on trias
of being actual participants in the
murder of Capt. Rankin with an :ex-
actness Of detail, amazed the throns
IN the court room. Then, as MIS-.
johnson was called, q murmer ran
through the court room.
She removed her veil.
Mrs. Johnson had married Joe r.
johnson, a man 80 years older than
she, and lived with him four years.
when a child was born. Last Az
gust she sued him for, divorced,
charging cruelty and asking mainte-
nance. EARLY in September the rid
ers visited her fathers home ano
left word that she must withdraw
the suit. She failed to do so, ana
on a second visit her father was
whipped.
On both occasions she was at her
sister's home. The riders seem TO
have realized this, for on September
80. about l. o'clock at night, bhey
went TO the sisters home. Mrs.
johnson awoke beside her child to
find her bed room filled with masked
and armed men. A man whom sne
said she recognized as Fred Pinion,
one of the defendants, was standing:
$50 close that she could touch him.
"Wa have come to tell you for the
last time that you must dismiss that
divorce suit" Pinion is charged WIFE
saying.
az will not withdraw it," she re-
piled.
"You will before we get through
with you," was the reply.
.sIf you dismiss it now we VIII see
that he supports the child. but you
must not touch his property.
Mrs. johnson insisted that she
would press the case. Then the men
withdrew into the yard to co?sul!
In a few minutes they returned.
Pinion stepped over to the young
woman's bed and said, Come Wlt5
u.s.
Young Wife Beaten.
Two others OF the band seized her
and dragged her from the bed IN
her night clothes. They hurried her
about 25O yards away and one OF
them beat her across the shoulders
with a strap. After the first beat
ing they asked her if she would dis
miss the suit. She said no. Then
she was again whipped. This time
her fighting spirit was. broken an
she sobbingly said she would give
in to their demands.
"Let's give her another" said one
of the band.
.No." she said Pinion replied,
s'she has had enough.
Mrs. johnson told her story under
strong objections from the defense.
Judge Joras sent out the jury be-
fore court adjourned and said;
There are eight defendants mere
charged with capital offense. They
are not handcuffed and are under
guard of only two deputies. DO
not think this is safe. Therefore,
order the sheriff to handcuff these
men and ask the military to detail
10 armed men to serve as guards
The defense strongly objected, but
the court refused to withdraw tae
order,
Later Attorney Caldwell said:
.'The order was made advisedly upon
the information which reached the
officers of the court. This informa-
ton was serious enough tc JUSTIFY
us in taking every possible and legal
precaution."
Fehringer Heavily Guarded.
Surrounded by detail Of six fully
armed soldiers, Fehrlnger was
brought into court. At the court
room door two Of the soldiers arme'l
with rifles, halted. Four other SOL
diers, armed only with reyolvers'
took Fehringer in charge. Four
armed deputy sheriffs cleared wav
through the crowd in the aisles and
Fehringer was led to th'e stand.
The soldiers sat down inside the
railing, facing the throng. Depn-