The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-12-24
THREE INDENTIFIED
Night Riders Now on Trial at
Union City, Tenn.
FOR CAPT. RANKEN

Ranken-ColoneI Taylor jumped
Into the Lake and Made His Es
cape Through the Cane Brakes
Remained in Hiding Until Hunger
/ and ThirstDroye Him Out.
+ Union City, Tenn. Dec. 10
When court adjourned this after
noon, until Monday, the State had
nearly completed its case against the
eigft alleged night-riders now on
trisk ior the murder of Captain
QuefA y Rankin. On Monday it will
put Frank Fehringer on the stand.
He sa1ss he was present when the
murds1 was committed and knows
the nake of every man who was
present. after that, the State will
merely fAl\in with corroborative tes-
timony. THE defense will depend
solely upon alibis, and for that pur-
pose has ASmmoned nearly a hun
dred citizenS of the Reelfoot Lake
district to tAsdfy as to the where
abouts of tho Indicted men on the
night of October 10th.
The State, through the evidence
presented thus far. has identified
only three of the eight as present
the night of the lmurder-Garrett
Johnson, It'd Burton and Roy Ran
som. 1t depends upop Fehringer to
identify the others.
The first witness was Col. H. Y.
Taylor, who was companion of Cap
tain Ranken.
Mr.. Taylor IS a veteran of the
Confederate Army and az wealthy
man. Colonel Taylor and Captain
Ranken went to Reel Foot lake to
lease some land to carpenter. They
drove over the proposed property on
the night of October 18th and left
orders for horses for anothek trip
the day following, then they reAired.
Colonel Taylor related the sSory
of his experience the night RanAen
was murdered. He said he apd
Ranken were taken from the hotek
Ranken was led under a tree when
a rope was adjusted and thrown
over the fork of the tree
"Give him time to pray" said
night-rider.
II have attended to that" was
Ranken's quiet reply. Ranken then
was raised from the ground until
his toes scarcely touched the ground
Taylor's Narrow Escape.
You are choking me, gentlemen;
/ pray you, let me down. said Ran
ken. Some one fired a shot, the wit
ness said, which was instantly fol-
lowed by fusilade, most of the
night-riders firing into the air, how
ever. Taylor told his captors he
was tired and wanted to sit down.
He crouched to his knees ready to
spring, and when the firing stopped
he jumped into the waters of the
slough. The firing was Immediately
renewed. Taylor dived but heard
the bullets strike the water. He
swan to a log and clung to it while
the bullets struck it like hail
storm. When all sounds ceased he
swan to the opposite side of the lake
an dtook to the woods.
After telling of the hardships he
endured during his wandering Col
,onel Taylor said he hid in a cane
brake until thirst drove him out and
into the arms of his friends.
Colonel Taylor suffered from de-
Iusions during his wanderings, see
ing bands of masked men.
Just before the night-riders kill
ed Ranken, Colonel Taylor said:
Gentlemen, 1 am an old man.
cannot expect to live many years
more. By killing me you will not be
cheating me of much. But Captain
Ranken is a younger man with many
years before him. Do not kill him."
The leader curtly replied: "Shut
up"
Turns States Evidence.
Union City, Tenn, Dec. 21.-The
State practically completed its case
to-day against the eight alleged night
riders on trial for the murder of
CAPTAIN Rankin, when it drew from
Frank Fehringer, member OF the
band who turned States evidence,
detailed statement of the Rankin and
a score or more of other outrages.
1t also called to the stand Mrs. Emma
Thurman johnson, one OF the two
women said to have been whipped by
the band, and had her tell her story.
The startling testimony of Frank
Fehringer, who confessed. accusing
the men on trial of being actual par
ticipants in the murder of Captain
Rankin. given with an exactness OF
detail, amazed the people, who
thronged the courtroom.
Oath of Night-Riders.
Fehringer gave the night-rider
oath as follows:
"You do solemnly swear in the
presence of Almighty God and the
witnesses, that you desire to become
a night-rider; that you win not write.
talk or tell to any one of the secrets
of the order of night-riders; that II
Won do talk. write or tell to any per
son any of the secrets OF the order,
we are permitted to Go with you as
| wa see fit. You know death, hell