The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-12-22
NIGHT RIDERS
WHIPPED WOMAN
sHE TELLS THE STORY OF THEIR
TAKING HER FROM 6Eo IN
the DEAD OF NIGHT.
FEHRlNeER GIVES TESTIMONY
Directly Accusing the Defendants Of
Taking Part in the Muir.
derins Of Capt.
- io' RAnken.

Union City, TENN, Dec, 22t-Ths
state practically completed its case on
Monday against the eight alleged
Night Riders on trial for the murder
of Capt Ranken, when 1t drew from
Frank Fehringer member of the
band, a detailed statement of the Ran
ken affair and a score or more OF
other outTages. II also called to the
stand Mss Emma Thurman Johnson,
one OF the two women said to have
been whipped by the band, and had
her tell her story
The startling testimony of Frank
FehTinger, who confessed, accusing
the men on trial OF being actual par
Elephants in the murder of Capt. Ran
ken, given with AN exactness of de
tail, amazed the people who thronged
the court room. Mrs. johnson walked
rapidly to the stand and removed her
veil reluctantly. ON the Judges instrue1
tioDs. that she might be heard by the,
jury Mrs. Johnson had married Joe
Johnson, a man 80 years older than
she, and lived with him four Years,
when a child was born Last August
she sued him for divorce, charging
cruelty and asking maintenance.
Early In September the Riders visited
her fathers home and 1eft word that
she must withdraw the suit. She
failed to do so and on a second visit
her father was whipped. On both oc-
oasions she was at her sisters home.
On September 30, about IL o'clock at
night, they went to the sisters house.
Mrs. Johnson awoke, beside her child,
to find her bedroom filled with masked
and armed men. A man whom she
said she recognized as Fred Pinion,
one OF the defendants, was standing
SO close that she could touch him.
I'VE have come to tell you for the
last time that you must dismiss that
divorce suit" Pinion is charged with
saying She refused.
'You will before we get through
with you," was the reply. III you dis
miss II now We will see that he sup
ports the child, but you must not
touch his property"
Mrs. Johnson said she would press
the case. Then the men withdrew In.
TO the yard to consult. In few mo-
ments they returned. Two OF the
band seized her and dragged her from
the bed in her night clothes. They
hurried her about 250 yards away and
one of them beat her across the
shoulders with a strap. After the first
beating they asked her II she would
dismiss the suit She said no. Then
she was again whipped This time
her fighting spirit was broken, and
she sobbingly said she would give in
TO their demands. Mrs. johnson told
her story under strong objections from
the defense.
Judge Jones sent out the jury be-
fore court adjourned and said: There
are eight defendants here charged
with capital offense. They are not
handcuffed and are under guard OF
only two deputies. l do not think
this Is safe. Therefore / order the
sheriff to handcuff these men and ask
the military to detail ten armed men
10 serve as guards.% The defense
strongly objected. but, the court re-
fused to withdraw the order.
Later Attorney General Caldwell
said the order was made advisedly up,
ON Information which reached the Off
Gers OF the court which was serious
enough 10 Justify taking every posi-
bic legal precaution.