Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-28
STATE RESTS ITS CASE
Defense Begins in Night Rider
Murder Trial.
TESTIMONY FOR PRISONERS
Witnesses Summoned by Bench
Warrants Take Stand.
ORDERED TO LEAVE HIS HOME
Walter Holt Tells of Warning Given
by Masked Men, Which
He obeyed.
TESTIMONY FOR PRISONERS
ORDERED TO LEAVE HIS HOME
Special Dispatch to The Star.

CN1ON I'll L, 1eHN.s beCeulDeE -o.-
Men, women and boys, in buggies, carry
alls and two-horse wagons and on horse
back, began arriving Sunday afternoon
from the Reelfoot lake section of Obion
county to attend the trial of the eight al
legged members of night riders charged
with the murder of Capt. Quentin Rankin
at Walnut Log. Today the roads in every
direction were dotted here and there with
newcomers.
Many of them had been summoned as
witnesses for the defense. and the knowl-
edge that today would mark the intro
duction of testimony In behalf of the
prisoners attracted relatives, friends and
others for miles around the lake to Union
City.
The tedious journey of twenty-odd miles
In many cases could not deter even those
who came merely as spectators. The
trial is the event of lifetime to them,
and they filled a very large proportion
of the seats in court when Judge Jones
raped the gavel for order at O'Clock
this morning.
Warned by Masked Men.
1t was 9:15 o'cock when Attorney Cen
eral Caldwell called for Walter Holt, ].
W. Thurman and Will Rogers, witnesses
who failed to appear for the state Thurs
day last, and on whom instanter attach
ments were served. The three entered
court and were sworn. Walter Holt be-
ing the first to take the stand. He is
fisherman. and lived near Samburg.
where the fish docks were burned April
II last; He knew Ted Burton. one of
the defendants on trial, who told him
that he had been notified to meet the
night riders one night. Witness said
that he (Holt) was ordered to leave his
house within three days. and that he
did so.
He said the order was given by armed
and masked men, and he thought Gar
rett johnson, of the defendants. was the
leader. The night riders that night told
meetings they would hang him.
Saw Ferriner Start.
Will Rogers next took the stand. He
was at Troy the day Capt. Rankin
was killed and saw Frank Ferriner, a
state witness, who recently made a con-
fession, going in the direction Of the
place where tho night riders met before
going to Walnut Log that night.
called by the state. He was guest at
Wards Hotel on the night of the Ran
kin murder. Capt Rankin and Col. Tay-
lor were at the hotel at the time. Wit
ness was asked II he COulU lQeullIy any VI
the prisoners as having been seen by him
about the hotel that day, but he was
una BILE to do SO.
Burchard then told of the arrival Of the
night riders at the hotel that night, of
the taking away of Rankin and Taylor,
and Of hearing many shots some time
later.
State Rests Its Case.
J. W. Thurman was then called. He
ToA Tnhp xxyhn
sued her husband for divorce and who
was whipped because she refused to with
draw her application for the divorce.
Witness said that he also was whipped
by armed and masked men, and he recog-
nized Fred Pinion and Frank Ferrlner,
the former a defendant and the latter a
witness in the cases on trial, as being
present.
At 1870 O clock Attorney General Cald-
we'll announced that the state rested Its
case.
The defense asked that the court with
draw all Of the evidence from the jury
pertaining to other raids than the killing
of Capt Rankin, asserting that such evil
dence was incompetent because they were
separate and distinct offenses. Attorney
General Caldwell, after a lengthy argu-
nent, insisted that the evidence was COM
petent.
Judge Jones expressed his doubt on the
matter and stated that he would render
his decision later.
First Witness for Defense.
The defense introduced Bud Morris,
one of the defendants, as its first witness.
Morris denied that he ever belonged to
the night riders or had taken the oath,
and said that he had never taken part
In any raid. He swore he had never
had a conversation with Tom Cloar, wit
ness for the state, as to night riders
meetings, and that he was not with night
riders the night Of the Rankin murder,
but was visiting some friends.
Court adjourned at 11:45 o'clock until
l 80 on account of the illness Of Arthur
Cloar. one Of the defendants.
Tom Dell, Frank Long, Elmer Tate and
o. G. Treece, charged with conspiracy
were released on bond Of IS 900 each this
afternoon.