The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-26
IT IS PROPOSED TO ARREST
 EVERY MEMBER OF THE BAND
Counties Drawn on for Posses of
 Picked Men.
The Circuit Court of ObiOn County. Tennessee, VIII Convene Today in Special Session to Invea-
 tiEnte Death of Cap-
 tain Rankin.

Memphis. Tenn, c.t. 25.--what may happen this week as a result of the in- vestigation of night rider depreda~ lions in the northwestern section of this State, is matter of conjecture. M
 Tomorrow with the convening Of the Circuit Court for Obion County In special session at Union City, to form ally investigate the death of Captain Quentin Rankin, who was killed by a night rider band in the vicinity of Reelfoot Lake Monday night last, that section will be under the compelte domination of military rule. Five companies of the State National Guard will be at the disposal of Colonel Ta- tom. the military commander to en- force martial law. and 1t is proposed to gather in every member Of the band. To aid the militia, the ad3otn- ing counties have been drawn on for posses of picked men. Should this force be inadequate to cope with tho situation. it Is declared that the en- be concentrated if necessary.
 Tn the Reelfoot Lake district, the lake itself is the source of conten- ton which brought forth the activity of the so-calIed night rider organfza- ton. It was contended by those live ing ip the vicinity that 1t was then right to ply their vocation as fishermen
 
 while the owners of the land upon which the lake Is situated. took an op- posite view. In the courts the latter the West Tennessee Land Company, of which Captain Rankin and Colonel Tay- Tor of Trenton. Tenn. were the organ tzers. and are largely interested, were upheld. Then followed night rider warnings. threatening death to those who opposed the wishes of the mem- bers of the band. It was upon the first visit in many months ta the lake region that Captain Rankin was killed. Men with moneyed interests have been forced to leave their homes. and cth- CTS, who refused to obey the wRrn- fss& .aafperai sphnishment has hAaH indicted sNotwfthstanding tfle efforts of the local authorities. the deprHda- ' tions continued during the past 3eor the situation becoming more and Hiore serious until with the Killing of Cap taip Rankin. 1t was proven necessary for the State authorities to act. From Nashville two companies of State troops were hurried forward the day following the lynehing. and Governor Patterson, abandoning for the time a campaign for reelection, came to the scene to personally direct the work of ferreting out the members of the mob and the gathering of evidence.
 Two other military companies went
  arrested, ten are being held and it ia promised that when the grand jury is convened tomorrow. sufficient evtdencS will be furnished to secure the indict- ment of every member of the night rider organization. The sessions of the court will be under military pros lection, a company of militia to be brought from Nashville tomorrow es- pecIal1y for this service.
 Governors of several Of the states of the South have approved of q sug- gestion of Governor Patterson that q conference of the executives of the different States be held and plans de- vised wherby they can act in concert in an effort to totally destroy the night rider organization. Governor Noel of Mississippi, Governor Pindall of Ar kansas and Governor Wilson of ken- lucky have already expressed them selves in approval Of the proposed con. ference Practically all Of the south ern States have suffered to a more or less extent from the operations of the mysterious organization.