The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-10-22
Judge R. 2. Taylor, Supposed
Victim of Reel Foot Lake
Outrage, Returns.
SAW HIS LAW PARTNER
MOST BRUTALLY MURDERED
Swan to Safety Through Fusil-
lade of Shots; Tells of Thrill
ing Experience.

LIZ iC-N V lLDI, leHu.f Octs Gu II
harmed, save numerous scratches re-
ceived in thirty-hour trip through
unfamiliar woods and the fatigue in
cident to the trip without food and
the mental strain, Judge r. Z. Tay-
lor reached here today after a miracu-
lous escape from night riders at Reel
Foot Lake, who murdered his partner,
Capt Quentin Rankin, night before last.
Judge Taylor's escape is due to
daring dash for liberty while the night
riders were disputing among themselves
the best way TO kill him.
During the heat Of the discussion. at
a moment when the guard s attention
was diverted. Judge Taylor broke for
freedom. Dashing few yards to the
bank of small inlet of Reel Foot
lake, he plunged in. a fusilade of bull
lets following the fugitive. whose
figure was dlmly discernible. Swim
ming, the aged attorney pushed for
ward.
Escaped Hail Of Lead.
Shots and bullets fell on all sides,
but none struck him. Near the bank
opposite the firing night riders, Judge
Taylor threw up his hands and pitched
forward heavily over a log and lay
inert. Shots were fred into the log by
the night riders, but not one penetrated
far enough TO iniure him Satisfied that
their victim had met death, and fearing
that the repeated sound Of shots
would arouse residents in the neighboI-
hood, the riders did not attempt to
cross the slough to examine, the body,
but left the scene after about three
hundred shots had been fired Judge
Taylor, however, lay for hours in the
mud and water, fearing that some one
had been left to watch, At dawn he
cautiously looked up, and seeing that
his ruse had been successful, Judge
Taylor arose. and plunged into the
underbrush to fight his way to a friend
ly community. Avoiding paths which
might lead TO some unfriendly clearing,
Taylor pushed his way slowly through
the dense woods.
Feared to Seek Shelter.
For hours he travelled in this man
ner, the sun his only guide. When
night came, Taylor. still afraid TO ap-
proach a house, made his couch on a
bed of leaves and slept until early
morning.
About clock this morning Judge
Taylor. deciding that it would then be
safe for him to make inquiry at a
shortly led into rough road. Within
a few minutes the fleeing man came to
the home of Luther Rankin, overseer
for the extensive Harris estate, and
where the fugitive was given break
fast. Mr.. Rankin then rode to the
into Tiptonville with the news that
Judge Taylor was safe. Soon after,
Taylor and Rankin arrived here, be,
ing met a few miles from town by
posse of citizens
After being informed at Union City
Of the safety of Colonel Taylor, Gov
ernor Patterson telephoned that he
would start for Tiptonville immedi'
Judge Taylor today made the fol
lowing statement:
Fugitive's Statement.
monday night. last. Captain Ran
kin and l went to Reel Foot lake in
response to n letter from a Mr.. Car
penter of Union City, who wanted TO
lease some timber land
''On our arrival at the lake we went
TO tho log house. or Ward hotel and
early after supper retired Sometime
during the night we were aroused by
some one knocking at our door, and on
opening the door Il mob of masked men
were found standing in the hall, We
were ordered to dress. and "a the lead
er Of the mob SAID ne wanted TO talk TO
us we put on our clothes and accom-
lake. sonlc distance from the hotel
''Tho leader Of the mob talked with
us, telling us we were associating too
much with Judge Harris and were tak-
ing entirely too much interest in the
lake. He said that the course OF Harris
and the West Tennessee Land company
in prohibiting free fishing was causing
the starvation Of women and children,
and that something had TO bc done
81 never dreamed that the mob in
tended us any harm, but Just then they
threw rope around Captain Rankin IS
neck and swung him to n limb. He pro-
tested and said. Gentlemen. don t Kill,
and The reply of the men was u volley
of fifty shots.
"This was the first evidence of any
intention TO harm us, and when the
firing began | jumped into n bayou
and made for n sunkcn log. Behind this
| hid and the mob fired several hundred
shots into the log, They evidently
thought / was dead, for | heard one Of
thcm say: He's dead and lct him
so. and with that they rode away.
''I remained in the water until after
the mob was out Of hearing and went
to an island in the lake, where 7 re-
mained all day Tuesday At night !
started out and walked all n'ght, com
ing TO 4 house at 6 o clock this morn
ing