Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-22
He TURNED STATES EVIDENCE
Judge Takes Extraordinary Precau-
tiors 20 Guard Man Who Turned
Against His Former Comrades-Re-
cites Details cf Ranken LynchinG-
Woman Also On Stand.
tBv Associated Fre.3.)

The Sta'o practically completed us
case today aga.ns: t..e eight alleged
night riders on trial for the murder
of Captai Rankin. when il drew from
Frank Fehring"r a member of the
hand who IIrnei states evidence.
detailed statement of the Rankin az
fair and a score or more of other out
RACES.
Il also called To the stand Mrs. EN-
ma Thurman Johnson, one OF two
women said to have been whipped
by the band. and had her tell her
s.cry.
The startling testimony OF Frank
Fehringer who confessed accusing
the men on trial of being actual par
tic:pants in the murder of Captain
Rankin given with an exactEess OF
detail. amazed the p ople. who throrg-
ed the court room.
Woman Is Called.
Then as Mrs. Johnscns name was
called. murmur of satisfaction
arose.
She walked rapidly tc the stand
and removed her veil reluctantly on
the judges instructions. that she
might be heard ny 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 askin. maintenance.
Early in September the riders visit
ed her hther's home and left word
that she must withdraw the suit. She
failed to do so and on a second visit
her ia her was whipped. On both
occasions she was at her sisters
hone Thu riders seem to have rea-
lized this. for on September 30. about
II O'Clock at night they went to the
sisters house.
Bedroom Invaded.
Mrs. Johnson awoke beside her
child. to find her bedroom filled with
masked and armed men. man
whom she said she recognized as
Fred Pincon. one of the defendants,
was standing so close that she could
touch him. We have come TO tell
YOU for the last time, that Won must
dismiss that divorce suit" Pincon Is
charged with saying.
II will not withdraw it," she re-
piled
You will before we get through
with YOU was the reply.
IF lou dismiss it row We will see
that he Supports the child. but you
must not touch his property
Mrs. Johnson insisted that she
wc-id press the case. Then the men
III IN nj
a few moments they returned. Pin
bread hr'mmsd hat on the toe Of his
ami said: Come with US Two
others Of the band lied her and
dragged her from the bed in her
night clothes.
Bsacen With Strap.
They hurried her about $50 Yards
away and one Of them beat her across
the shoulders with q strap. After the
first boating hey ask"i her if she
would dismiss the suit She said
no
Then she vas aga'n whipped. This
time her fighting spirit was broken
and she so5bi3civ said she would
give in TO heir d. mands.
Let us give her anO'h"r." said ono
Of IN. land.
No" ste sa;l Pircon replied. sh"
has had enough"
Mrs. johnson told her story under
strong objections from tho defense.
Court Takes Precautions.
Judge JonsS sen: ou' tho jury he
fore court adjourned and said: There
ar" eight defendants h'7 charged
With a capital offcnsc. They are not
bsudcuffcd and are under guard oi
only two deputies. ] do not think
this IL safe Therefore I order the
sh riff 10 aandcuff these men ar1 ask
the military To detail ten armed men
10 serve a. guards
Tho defense strongly objected but
tho court refused TO Withdraw the or
der
Later Attorney General Caldwell
said: The order was made advised
" upon the information which reach
cd the officers of thC court. which In
formation was sericus enough 20 jus
ifry us in taking every possible legal
rrecau'ion
Surrounded by iftai! 81 six fully