The Washington times., 1908-12-19
Colonel Taylor Describes ES-
cape From the Night
Riders.
VETERAN LAWYER
MOVED TO TEARS
Witness Unable to Control Emotion
in Telling of Terrible Night
in Woods of Tennessee.

UNION CITY, Tenn, Dec. 19-CoL- h
L Taylor, who WAS with Capt. Quentin
Rankin when the latter was murdered
at Reelfoot Lake by night riders on
October 10 last, was the first witness
called by the State when court con
vened this morning for the trial of the
eight men jointly indicted on the charge
of having assassinated Captain Rankin.
Colonel Taylor, who Is siXty-two years
old and one Of the oldest and best
known members of the bar in west Ten
nessee, related at length the story Of
the ReeIfoot Lake tragedy and his own
terrible experience on that eventful
night in the woods on the bank Of the
lake. The recital was listened to with
the greatest interest by the crowd which
nlled the courtroom.
Colonel Taylor, after referring to the
engagement made between Captain Ran
Sin and himself and j. +. Carpenter,
al attorney, to meet the latter at Wal
nut Log to make arrangements in re-
gard to leasing some land, said he and
Captain Rankin retired on the night OF
October IS, and that masked men came
10 their room and, drawing guns, ordered
both TO dress. Other masked men stood
guard at the window. A satcheI con-
tanning private papers was opened by
one of the night riders and the papers
examined.
Walked to the Lake.
The two men were then taken from
the hotel and conducted through fields
about a mile distant to the woods and
on the lake shore The night riders
stopped several times en- route and held
conferences in low tones, and upon
reaching the scene Of the murder began
questioning Colonel Taylor and Captain
Rankin regarding the title OF the West
Tennessee Land Company 10 the lake
property.
The information was given that The
company had purchased land grants,
whereupon some of the night riders
became very abusive and one Of them
struck Colonel Taylor twice on the
breast. Colonel Taylor and Captain
Rankin were not far apart at this time,
each being guarded, but the greater
number OF masked men having charge
Of Captain Rankin One OF the night
riders was told 10 bring the rope with
which they were provided and this was
tied around Captain Rankin's neck
Some one said. Let him pray" And
~ NAAAS N~eApNe-AAA ANAAAAAlA Atpl4eNf nave
already attended to that matter"
Presently Colonel Taylor heard the
rope being adjusted through the fork
of a tree and then he heard Captain
Rankin say Gentlemen don't do that
you are choking me-" Then after the
victim had been drawn up a second time
there was a shot followed Immediately
by another and succeeded by a voIley.
Takes Desperate Chance.
Realizing that Captain Rankin was
dead and that he would meet similar
fate as he had already been told that
he would be killed. Colonel Tayler walt
ed until he believed all the weapons
had been discharged and then jumped
into Bayou Dechein. just few steps
away, taking a desperate chance and
hoping to escape IN the darkness from
the death which seemingly awaited
him.
Colonel Taylor in narrating what oc-
CURED prior To and Immediately after
the killing OF Captain Rankin was over
come by emotion and tears freely hOW-
cd down the cheeks of the venerable
witness as he spoke OF his dead friend
and business associate. For a few mo-
ments there was complete stiffness in
the court room and even stOut-hearted
men were deeply moved. Upon recover
ing himself Colonel Taylor proceeded
with the story Of his remarkable es-
cape.
Colonel Taylor tnen told how, after
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