The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-04-11
Trial of Alleged Night Riders at
Murray is Replete With Dramatic
Incidents Workings Are Revealed

had been warned to join the associa-
ton but had publicly announced his
Intention not to plant a crop of tobac-
10 this year, They told him to burn
a plant bed the next morning which
he promised and did, but told them he
could not make the plants grow. He,
too, was made TO kneel down and take
the oath that he would be a night
rider and obey all the commands of
Capt. Bell.
Dycr's Testimony.
Willie Dyer testified that they came
to his house and made him take the
cath and told him that he was too
weak man TO whip. but made him
trot and do other antics for their
amusement.
Clarence Whitlock. the telephone
operator at Pottertown, said that he
night rider and that they made him
disconnect all telephones and leave
the switchboards on nights of their
raids.
All the witnesses testifying posi-
lively recognized Thompson, Duncan
and Ellis but no other names have yet
been mentioned.
None of the accused went on the
stand in their own behalf but evil
dcnced great interest in the proceed
lngs. Attorney +. F. AGREE. who rep
resents them, did not speak but a
very short while. but cross-examined
the prosecuting witnesses rigidly with
out shaking their testimony.
a Dramatic Incident.
a remark made on the streets to-
day by a neighbor of Dan Jones, the
aged father OF Aaron Jones. arrested
this morning for completely in the
klfksey raids, that he thought "Old
Dan Jones who Is a good citizen and
should have raised his children bet
ter" was overheard by the old man
and brought from him the incendlary
4, tort. "a man who would not join
the association on his own accord
should be smoked into IT.
AHOiUtI was NV
meeting OF Judge Wells and John Hoi-
land in the judges Office just before
the trial. Mr. Holland had just re-
turned from the east portion of the
county with two prisoners charged
with night riding, the arrests as were
all the east side arrests being secured
through evidence procured by Hol-
lands efforts.
"There Is a man among men," said
Judge Wells as he advanced toward
Linn, the expression of his face and
tears in his eyes depicting the emo
lions that moved him deeply. The
meeting was witnessed by a number
OF the friends of both men and all
were deeply moved.
NIardis Tells His story.
Murray, KY, April IL; 2 p. m
The appearance of Frank Mardis in
court and his subsequent testimony
In the prosecution against Jack Elkins
which was the first case taken up this
afternoon created a sensation.
Clearly and tesrlessly Mardis. told
his story that held the court and
spectators speeches. and almost
solemn silence spread oyersthe court
room. Mardis said that Frank Lee
a neighbor, who had been forced to
come to his house, called him out
and Informed him that the night rid
ers wanted him to come to their
meeting. that they did not intend to
whip him hut that they had made
arrangements through the Murray
Ledger whereby all farmers who had
not pledged their tobacco to the asso-'
citation could do so. When heap
preached the body he found them
heavily masked and the captain or.
dered "No. 10" TO get switches. Tho
switches they got were branches of
hickory tree six feet long and an inch
and half in diameter with extended
prongs. The branch was produced in
court aud caused the crowds to crane
their necks to get view of It. Mr. A..
Mardis said that mos. and q"
whipped him and that at one time the,
captain. forced mo. 2" at the point
of a pistol to desist in whipping him
so hard. He exhibited bruises on his
body and 1t was with difficulty that
he moved when his evidence was COM
pleted and he left the stand.
Willie Dyer, who testified to wish
tation from the night riders in the
trials this morning, swore that Will,
he was riding home from a gathering
in the neighborhood in company with
Jack Elkins, the man on trial. and
Damus Miller and Carlos Elkins and
others. they forced him to dismount
from his horse and kneel down ana
take the night riders oath. Jack
Elkins acted as spokesman for the
crowd.
A. Dyer's Story.
A. Dyer said that the men told hin,
they were going ma raid the next
night and 1t was at that time AL Perrs
was whipped.