The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-11-18
COMPOSING, NAMES
FORTY LYNCHERS
It'd" Burton Betrayed Rankin and
Taylor to Night Riders.
HALF ARE NOW UNDER ARREST
Authorities Expect to Round Up Rest
Of Band That Committed Crime
at Reelfoot-Leaders Of Mob
Named-Lawyer Accused.

Tiptonville, Tenn.-In the presence
of Sheriff Haynes, Judge Harris and
Mayor Cleveland Donaldson "Tld"
Burton, a might rider" arrested at
Samburg, made a full confession in
the county Jail at this place. He I'M
plicated forty we'll known residents
of the Lake district in the murder of
Captain Quentin Rankin a week ago.
Of this number more than half are
now held prisoners in Camp Memo,
under the guard Of the State troops.
Burton denies that he was with the
might riders" when Captain Rankin
was hanged, but admits that he fur
nished the information to the leaders
of the band that caused them to
swoop down upon the hotel at Wal
nut Log.
According to Burton's statements
Tom and Carrot Johnson, both OF
whom are under arrest at Camp Ne
mo, and Will Watson were the lead
ers of the might riders" who perpe-
trated the crime. Watson is now at
large under a $4,000 bond for having
participated in the whipping OF Geo.
VIM, a justice of the peace, In Lake
County about four months ago. With
Burton's confession at their disposal
and with other valuable information
which was secured 1t is confidently
expected by the authorities that 1T
will be but a matter Of a few hours
before the members Of the band still
at large are taken into custody.
Burton said that he went to Wal
nut Log the night before the murder
and there had a conversation with
James F. Carpenter, an attorney, OF
this city, at whose solicitation Colonel
Taylor and Captain Rankin made the
tourney to Walnut Log, ostensibly to
arrange a deal in timber LANDS. AS
it is now alleged, Carpenters purpose
was to place them at the mercy OF
the might riders" ..
Carpenter was placed under arrest
by special order from Governor Pat
terson, and is now held In Camp Me-
mo. He is a retired lawyer n re-
puted to be wealthy.
After this conversation with, Car
penter Burton told the authorities
that he communicated with the lead
ers of the might riders" and betrayed
the presence of their victims. He
said he saw both of them at the sup
per table the night they were taken
from their beds, shortly after IL
o'clock. They did not see him, as he
only went to the hotel to get a lunch
to take with him into the lake that
night, as he intended to fish until
morning.
, Burton states that Immediately
after getting this lunch he got into
his boat and went out into the lax
about a mile. He was fishing at the
time the fatal shots were fired into
CAPTAIN Rankin's body, and says that
he heard them, but did not return at
once to Bayou Deshea to see what
they meant or to learn what crime
had been perpetrated!
Reports from the camp at Samburg
say nothing of a sensational character
happened during the night. A re-
port has reached here from Humboldt
that Company C, State militia, is
ready to respond to any call from the
Governor. 1t has been reported also
that more troops would be called out,
but Major W. G. Tatom, in command
here, states that no more militia Is
needed. He said:
"The situation is we'll in hand and
there is no probability Of more troops
being ordered out. The progress we
have been making is very satisfactory
and the situation does not require the
presence of more soldiers"
There is no Disgusting the fact,
however, that the situation in the
disturbed district is grave, and al
though all is quiet now sensational
DEVELOPMENTS are expected at any
hour. There is much uneasiness
among the law-abiding people living
in the Lake country. Although the
presence Of the troops had a bene-
fetal effect, at the same time the
country people are in constant dread
Of depredations from rowing bands Of
might riders"
Scouting parties continue to scour
the adjacent country. Important ar
rests are expected.
A detachment of soldiers reached
here from Nashville. There are be-
tween $50 and 800 armed men In
camp at present.
Among the prisoners held at the
camp is a man who, it is said, has
been identified as the leader Of a band
of night riders who several weeks
ago murdered a youth near Hyman,
KY, on the same night that a family
of negroes were killed.
It is declared here that the mother
of the murdered boy identified the
prisoner as he was passing her house
under guard.