The sun., 1908-12-20
TELLS or NIGHT RIDER RAID.
col. TAYLOR TELLS OF DEATH
OF CAPT. RANKIN.


Describes the Visit Of Masked Men
and or His Escape After Companion
Was killed-Names Garrett johnson
UNION CITY Tenn. Dec. 19.-Col. r. Y.
Taylor who was with Capt. Quentin
Rankin when the latter was murdered
at Reelfoot Lake by night riders. was
the first witness called by the State when
court convened this morning for the trial
of the eight men Jointly indicted on the
charge of having assassinated Capt.
Rankin.
Col. Taylor, who is 90 years old and one
OF the oldest and best known members
OF the bar In West Tennessee. related at
length the story OF the Reelfoot 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 greatest
interest by the crowd which filed the
court room. Col. Taylor said that after
Capt. Rankin and himself had retired on
the night Of October 10 masked men came
to their room at Wards Hotel and. pre-
senting guns and pistols. ordered both
TO dress. Other masked men stood
guard at the windows. A satohel con-
tanning private papers was opened by
one of the night riders and the papers
we're examined.
' The two men were then taken from the
hotel and conducted through fields to the
woods on the lake shore. The nigh;
riders stopped several times and
finally upon reaching the scene of the
murder began questioning Col. Taylor
and Capt. Rankin regarding the title Of
the West Tennessee Land Company to
the lake property. Information was
given that the company had purchased
the land grants. whereupon some OF the
night riders became very abusive and one
of them struck Col. Taylor twice.
One Of the night riders was told to
bring rope. and this was led around
Capt Rankin's neck, Some one said
let him pray and to this Capt Rankin
replied. Il have already attended to that
matter Presently Col Taylor heard
the rope being adjusted through the fork
Of the tree, and then he heard Capt. Ran
kin say. Gentlemen don't do this. you
are choking me- After the victim had
been drawn up second time there was
shot. followed Immediately by another,
and succeeded by volley Realizing that
Capt. Rankin was dead and that he him
self would meet a similar fate. as he
had already been told that he would be
killed. Taylor waited until he believed
all the weapons had been discharged
and then jumped into Bayou Du Chen.
Just q few steps away. taking desperate
chance and hoping TO escape in the dark
ness from the death which seemingly
awaited him p.
Col Taylor In narrating what occurred
prior to and Immediately after the killing
Of Capt. Rankin was overcome by emo
ton, and tears freely flowed down his
cheeks as he spoke OF his dead friend
and business associate. Upon recovering
himself Col. Taylor proceeded with the
story Of his remarkable escape.
He told how. after plunging into the
water he came TO the surface just behind
a log, where he remained until the depart
ure Of the men, who fired many shots
into the bayou, but none Of them struck
him He made his way to the shore and
striking through muddy swamps, tall
grass and briars he reached ground COW
manned there all day. fearing to let him
self be seen by night riders. On the night
after the murder Of Capt. Rankin Col
TAYLOR. guided by the north star. walked
through dense woods. and at daybreak.
seeing house and having gone without
food and water for more than thirty six
hours, he determined. as he said, to 20 to
the house and get drink of water or
die He reached the house and was taken
care OF. and from there proceeded to Tip
tonville, where his family and friends
were notified of his safety
The witness. being asked whether he
recognized any of the, men present on
the night Of the murder said that he did
not know any one, but that the man who
assaulted and threatened him wore whisk-
ers or a mask that looked like whiskes.
He was then asked IL he had since seen
any one whom he thought he recognized
as one of the men. He replied that since
that time he had seen a man who had the
appearance Of the one who assaulted
and threatened him. When asked by
counsel for the State who the man was
Col. TAYLOR replied: Garrett Johnson
The defendants In the case now on trial
are Garrett johnson, Sam Applewhite,
Bob Huffman. Arthur Clor. Fred Pinion,
It'd Burton. Bud Norris and Roy Ransom.
The prisoners under guard Of deputy
sheriffs entered the court room before
court had been called to order and took
their seats quietly. but manifesting more
interest, than they have shown at any
time since they were first arraigned to
answer TO the indictment OF murder in
the first degree and to which they pleaded
not guilty