The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-10-27
Score May Hang, Tennessee
Authorities Believe
SPECIAL COURT C0NVENES
Large Crowds at Union City for Open
ing of Court Procedure Looking
ing to the Indictment and
Speedy Trial of Men.

Union City, Tenn, Oct. 27.--That
swift and certain justice is 10 be melted
out to the night riders who are charged
with the lynching of Capt. Rankin a
week ago was made quite evident here
yesterday morning when the court pro.
ceciings against the men thus far round
cd up were begun here. The first steps
looking to their indictment by special
grand Jury were taken at the court
house here yesterday.
The state authorities believe that the
hangman's knot awaits score or more
of the accused men.
The greatest interest was taken in the
proceedings by the residents, and visi-
tors from the surrounding country to the
number of fully 1000 came TO Union
City yesterday morning. Judge Jones
presided over the special term of court
Iii, charge to the special grand jury
was the most important event scheduled
for the day
He said in part: ~ feel sure that
the efforts OF the governor and all the
subordinate officers to suppress crime and
wndicate the law will be seconded by
the almost unanimous plaudits of the
people. The situation is a grave one.
II is TO be expected that every violator
Of law in the matter before you win be
indicted for murder, and if proved guilty
will receive punishment commensurate
with the crime,
1T Is alleged that bands of masked
men in the night time have whipped
various men, burned property Of others,
and in one instance applied the lash to
helpless woman. These lawless acts
must be Investigated, and the offenders
brought TO the bar Of justice.
Every man present in the band which
killed Capt. Rankin is guilty Of murder
In the first degree, and the penalty may
he applied TO ali who aided or abetted
by their presence or consent. Conviction
in cases where masked men assault an
other carry with them the death penalty,
unless the Jury substitutes imprison.
mont"
T. r. Bratton was chosen foreman of
the grand jury, which at once entered
upon its work.
Tie plan Of the authorities is to dis.
pose of the night rider eases as quickly
as possible. not only on account of the
large expense which any delay would
occasion, but for fear Of mob violence,
the danger Of which increases constantly
as the enfaged citizens of all northwest
ern Tennessee add their opinions Of the
recent outrages,
Governor Patterson, who spent Sun.
day in Nashville. returned to Union City
yesterday morning.
Owing to efforts of influential citizens
Of this city, doubt was expressed yester-
day as to whether Governor Patterson
would proclaim martial law, as was
threatened last week.
The governor has definitely abandoned
bis stumping campaign for reelection, in
the belief that his deyoting Of all his
energies to the night rider crisis will /
win him more votes than all the speeches |
he could make. No further threats |
against the governor or other state |
face of the wholesale arrests Of Sunday /
it is not believed that further efforts |
viii be made to intimidate the author
tiles.
Seventy .five additional soldiers have
been detailed to guard the camp at Ham
burg. where the prisoners are detained,
as the wholesale arrests nave greatly +
excited the entire lake section. and while /
there was considered to be no immediate
danger of an attack by night riders upon
the camp. it was deemed best to take
every precaution Additional picket lines
have been established and all approaches
to the camp are guarded with the great
est care.
Union City is still guarded by the
special posse Of citizens. 1t is under.
stood that many of the people residing
in the lake district have left their homes
for parts unknown.
Fifty-one arrests were made Sunday
by the soldiers under command Of Col
Tatom, Col Rogan, Major Martin. Ma
ior Holmes, Capt Bellamy Spicer, Hunt,
Zopf, and other officers and deputies, led
by the sheriffs Of Obion, Lake, Dyer and
Gibson counties
For distance of at least twenty-five
/