The Tupelo journal., 1908-10-30

Union City, Tenn.-Col. r. z. Taylor,
aged 60 years, and Capt. Q. Rankin, both
prominent attorneys of Trenton, Tenn,
were taken from Wards Hotel at Wal
nutlog, Tenn, fifteen miles from here,
at IL o'clock Monday night by masked
night riders.
Capt. Rankin's body was found Tues
day morning, riddled with bullets and
hanging from a tree one mile from the
hotel.
Sheriff Eastwood of Obion county and
a posse of armed men left Union City
tuesday morning for the scene of the
murders. These men are determined,
and if they meet any of the night riders
1T is expected that a pitched battle will
be fought. Sheriff Haynes of Lake cot
ty is also on his way to the scene with
a posse from Tiptonville.
The trouble which resulted in the
death of Capt. Rankin and the probable
murder of Col. Taylor was caused by the
passage of an act by the legislature reg
ulating fishing in Reelfoot Lake, a short
distance from Walnutlog.
The first news of the murder was re-
ceived at S o'clock Tuesday morning.
Mr.. Ward, manager of Wards Hotel
at Walnutlog, telephoned Sid Waddell, a
stakeholder in the West Tennessee Land
Company, stating that about twenty-five
masked night riders came to his hotel at
10 o'clock at night.
Wards Story.
According to this report, the night
riders lined up outside the hotel, pulled
out their revolvers and called Col. Tay-
lor and Capt. Rankin. The two men
did not suspect trouble and came down
Immediately.
As the attorneys passed into the front
yard of the hotel, the night riders COW
cred them with their revolvers. Before
Capt. Rankin and Col. Taylor had an op-
p%ortunity to retreat, they were surround
ed and seized. They were put on horses
behind night riders and carefully
guarded.
The night riders then quietly took up
their march from the hotel, turning down
the road toward Reelfoot Lake. Guests at
the hotel in a few minutes lost the
sound of the hoof beats and nothing
more was learned of the fate of Capt.
Rankin and Col. Taylor until Tuesday
morning.
Proceeding to the edge of Reelfoot
Lake, the night riders pulled out a rope,
with which they had provided them
selves, and placed the moose about Capt.
Rankin's neck.
Capt. Rankin Hanged.
Capt. Rankin was strung up from a
limb on the bank of the lake, for the
fishing privileges of which he had con-
tended with the night riders. The
masked men then stepped back and
opened fire on the swinging body, rid
ding it with bullets.
The trouble between the inhabitants
of the banks of Reelfoot Lake and Col.
Taylor and Capt. Rankin originated sew
eral years ago, when the two latter men
Incorporated and organized the West
Tennessee Land Company.
Col. Taylor and Capt. Rankin, who
were the incorportaors of the company,
nave been also representing it in the ca
pacity of attorneys. Letter after letter
has been received by them, threatening
violence if they did not relax their posi-
ton concerning the rights" of the lake
community people.
Thought Things Quiet.
Fearing trouble, Capt. Rankin and Col.
Taylor ave remained from the vicinity
of the lake for some time. Recently,
however, they heard that the feeling
against them had somewhat subsidized.
There were some legal papers at Wal
nutlog which needed attention and the
attorneys went there to see about them.
Their presence was soon made known
TO all of the fishermen, and a band of
men was quickly ofrmed.
They lost no time, but proceeded to
the hotel, after the guests had retired
for the night, and quietly accomplished
their purpose.
Treacherous Place.
The vicinity of Reelfoot Lake is
treacherous. People unaccustomed to the
community may easily get lost, and it
would be an easy matter, it is said, for
the night riders to hide in places known
to them and shoot down members of
the posse, before they themselves could
be detected.
Col. Taylor and Capt. Rankin are