Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-14
EIGHT TO Be TRIED FOR SABBATH PURITY
Alleged Night Riders Charged Womans Union eBgns War
With Killing Capt Rankin. Sunday Theaters.
PUBLIC FEELING DIVIDED CONGRESS ASKED TO ACT
Unreenng Crusade Urged Against Public Meeting Adopts Resolutions
the Lawess. Calling for Legislation.
OVER HUNDRED INDICTMENTS WOMEN LIQUOR TRAFFIC
City
MoreB Atrociou and Dis
Forces Organized graceful the
Alleged Night Riders Charged
With Killing Capt. Rankin.
PUBLIC FEELING DIVIDED
Unrelenting Crusade Urged Against
the Lawless.
OVER HUNDRED INDICTMENTS
Men Pouring Into Union City, Tenn.
More Bloodshed May Follow.
State Forces Organized.

UNION CITY. Tenn, December IL
Late today eight men, alleged leaders
of the night rider band of Reelfoot lake
will he placed on trial for their lives,
charged with the killing of Capt. Quentin
Rankin. prominent attorney Of Tren-
ton. Tenn the eliminating act OF n Sc
ries of outlawry SO high-handed as to
call forth the mastering of the soldiery
of the state to aid the civil authorities in
the hunting down and prosecution of the
members of the clan. That the trials
might move expedtiously, such matters
Of Il preliminary nature as could be have
been disposed of i'm advance and both
prosecution and defense now announce
their willingness to proceed with the
trials BY the end of the present week
the hearing promises to be we'll under
way and there will be short intermissons
FOR the Christmas holidays before the
jury has determined the fate of the men.
Pouring Into Union City.
Whether the court procedure shall he
conducted in order or whether further
bloodshed shall occur during the heat of
the legal battle is considered uncertain.
From Reelfoot lake and other strong
holds of the clan men are pouring into
Union City in numbers with their sympa-
1hies going out to those of their friends
on trial or held in Jail. while the state
has we'll organized its forces determined
to put down any possible outbreak in its
incipiency.
AS to public feeling, it is well divided.
The men to be placed on trial today
who, when they were formally arraigned
last week. declared themselves not guilty
of the charge of the indictment. are Gar
rett Johnson, Sam Appewhite. Roy
Ransom, Bud Morris, Fred Pinken. Ar
thur Clear, It'd Burton and Bob Huffman.
Running Down the Lawless.
The investigation of the depredations
of the night-rider clan began within two
days of the killing of Capt. Rankin the
night of October 10. Since that time,
under the personal direction of Gov. Pat
terson. an unrelentng crusade has been
waged which has resulted in the arrest of
several hundred men, The circuit court
was convened in special session, and as
fast as secured the evidence was present.
ed. and more than 80 indictments have
been found, charging varying degrees of
laWlessness. The present is the second
term of the court, the first term, the
legality of which was questioned, ending
a week ago. Throughout the inquiry and
the arrest and detention of the men every
inch of ground was contested by the at
torneys for the defendants. but the state
has been victorious in practically every
contention.
Decision Of Judge Jones.
When the court meets today Judge Jo-
seph E. Jones will announce his decision
In regard to a contention Of the defense
that the plan suggested by the state for
selecting the jury venire, not by the
usual method, at radon from among
those eligible for serving. but personally
by Judge Jones, is irregular. Then will
begin the summons of jury veniremen.
Both state and defense will be allowed
twenty-four peremptory challenges.
TOBACCO PLANTER WARNED.