The Tupelo journal., 1908-10-30
GOVERNOR is THREATENED
BY Night Riders-Names of ALL of
Rankin's Assassins Secured.


Samburg, Tenn.-Gov. Patterson's Wig
orous action against the night riders of
Obion county may lead to his assassina-
ton. While he was in town Friday
morning a crowd of sympathizers with
the murderers of Capt. Quentin Rankin
jeered at the governor and two or three
Of them shouted: you'll never live to
run for another office" Others in the
party made similar remarks. All ap-
peared in an angry mood, and it was an
ill-natured looking ~assemblage.
Friends of the governor went to him
and pleaded with him not to go to Wal
nutlog, but to proceed at once to Union
City under a heavy guard of soldiers, and
to remain there until the danger of an
attack from the night riders is past.
To all their ~pleadings he turned a deaf
ear.
Accompanied by a detachment of SOL
diers, under command of Maj. Morton,
the governor went to Walnutlog and
spent several hours investigating. As .
result of his examination of witnesses
ten men were arrested, and from them
was secured information that will lead
to the arrest of the entire band of out
laws that killed Capt. Rankin. On their
testimony L. c. Ward, proprietor of the
hotel, was arrested and carried back to
Camp Memo, where he is now in the
~guardhouse.
Two Farmers Arrested.
A second detachment, under command
OF Capt. Zopf, was sent to Webb's
store, six miles south of here, and they
arrested Knox Morgan and Elmer TAFT,
both small farmers and storekeepers at
that place. They were brought to camp
and are now in the guardhouse.
Col. Tatom fears that Camp Memo will
be attacked by the night riders during
the night, and has thrown out three
picket lines and a Cossack outpost. The
~guardhouse is surrounded with soldiers.
and soldiers are inside with the prison
ers. Orders have been issued for every
man to shoot to kill and to show no
quarter in case of an attack.
Maj. Morton and his command pro-
ceeded to the spot where Capt. Rankin
was lynched and rounded up every man
in that vicinity. Ten were arrested and
carried to a quiet place near the scene
of the lynching and closely questioned.
What they told the court of inquiry was
not revealed by either Morton or Rogan,
but it was learned hat the names of
the night riders were given up and in
formation as to the assassination that
will lead to the apprehension of every
man implicated in it.
These informants have been terror
lied by the night riders, some of them
whipped time and again, and all are
now living in dread of murder. Yet they
told their tale without hesitation, say
ing they stood ready to abide by the con
sequences.
Morgan and TAFT Taken.
Capt. Zopi led the third detachment
to Webb's store. They found a number
of loungers in the stores there, and after
making some purchases and questioning
those around them, they placed Morgan
and TAFT under arrest. Both submitted
without offering resistance, and each one
denied having had anything to do with
the Rankin affair or with night riding.
Two sheriffs are now in the field with
large posses, assisting the soldiers. An
other posse of 81 picked men is being
organized tonight in Union CITY. and
it will be led by a member of the ma
tional guard. In all there will be six
posses in the field besides the soldiers.
Samberg has been without law since
April II, when the night riders burned
a large fish dock here, on which occasion
the mayor vacated his office. Since
then the outlaws have run the town,
and it has been a lawless community
until the troops took charge.