The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1908-12-19
The Night Rider Cases Are Not
Allowed in Tomorrow's
Sermons
STATE HAS TIED JOHNSON
UP As THE BANDS LEADER
Witness Testified He Was Forced to
Show Outlaws the Room Occupied
by Rankin and Point Out the Victims
to the Leader.

Union City. Tenn. Dec. 19.-Follow-
ing his caution to the press yesterday
not to print the testimony in the night
rider cases, Judge Jones today eau
toned the ministers of the local
churches not to refer to the cases in
their sermons Sunday since the jurors
might be present.
Judge Jones today took no further
action In regard to the press, al
though he conferred personally with
the correspondents of several state
papers, impressing upon them the
necessity of following out the courts
orders.
At the end Of the first days testi-
mony the state had made material
progress 1t had introduced testi-
mony covering the details of the MUIR
der Of Captain Ranken and also had
succeeded in presenting testimony
supporting an Identification of two Of
the prisoners as members of the
masked band.
Ed. Powell, was an important fac
tor in the states behalf Powell was
dragged from his bed the night of the
Ranken murder and forced to accom-
pany the band to the Walnut Log ho-
tel, from which Ranken and Taylor
were taken. Powell recognized
Frank Ferringer, as the man who op-
ened Ranken's valise took out and
read letter. He identified Garrett
Johnson as the leader and Boy Ran
som as one who wore white mask.
Ferringer has confessed and will be
used by the state as witness.
When the riders took Ranken and
Taylor from The hotel into the woods
they took Powell along too. He heard
them questioning the two men as to
their title to the land in the Reelfoot
district. Near the spot where Ranken
was murdered they halted Powell un-
til the murder was done. Then they
asked him If he recognized any Of
them and when he said no, they told
him to tell Ward, the hotel proprietor
to come down for the bodies of his
guests.
Powell was arrested by the soldiers
and testified before the coroner that
he failed to recognize the riders but
did SO because he feared for his life.
On the night of the murder Ward
was aroused by Powell calling him.
When he came out he found the place
surrounded by nightriders. He was
asked where Rankin and Taylor were
and led the leader to their room. The
leader wore figure four and had
rope and whip. He told Ward they
did not intend to use the rope that
night. The men, dozen or more.
crowded into Rankin and TaylorS
room. Taylor raised up and they
asked him if he owned the west Ten
nesse Land company. He said no,
he was only interested in it. Taylor
then said: I'VE are not armed gem
tlemen." Then they saw Rankin ana
asked him If he was interested in the
land company. He said yes, where
upon the leader said: "Get up both
of you and DRESS" Then they opened
Rankin's valise, removed a letter and
marched Ward out of the room. A
little later he heard the band ride
away, taking their prisoners.
Ward in half an hour heard q ri1ie
shot ring out then silence while one
could count ten. then rattle of re-
ports. like bunch of fire cpack~rs
going off,"
Later Powell came into the hotel
and said the men had been killed.
Ward accompanied Powell and his
wife to where Rankin's body Law.
Ward Cut the rone