The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1908-12-25
NIGHT RIDING.
Continued from Page ~


Of the riders, came to meeting
Mays, since resigned, who was one
unmasked. At this meeting Garrett
Johnson was chosen chief and othe-
captains were named for different
localities and authorized to order
raids whenever the riders Of cer-
tain locality thought something
needed regulating. Sometimes q
member failed to appear for riders
and on those occasions the riders
went after the missing men and fore
ed them to go on the raids.
Night Rider Oath.
The night rider oath in full was:
"You do solemnly swear in pres
ence of Almighty God and these wit
nesses that you desire to become a
night rider; that you will not write,
talk or tell to any one of the secrets
of this order of night riders; that,
if you do talk, write or tell to any
person any of the secrets of the or
der, we are permitted to do with You
as we see fit. You know death, hell
and destruction will he your portion
and that your body will not be
buried in a graveyard. Do you will
lingly and freely submit to all this,
SO help you God?"
9 iarineer frankly admitted that
he had sold liquor illegally, had been
indicted, tried and convicted for this
offense, both in Tennessee and Ken-
lucky. However, he never denied his
guilt and never perjured himself to
escape punishment. The witness
was a tartar under cross-examina-
ton. Once, when asked about a
date, he replied that he did not keep
"a dary." meaning diary. When
the defendants attorney attempted
| to quiz him about milk the witness
said: 81 used it when I was small,
I'm told, but haven't since"
His Source of Revenue.
His home had been under his hat
for years, he said, and he did not
care much where he stopped. Asked
where he got his money, he said to
Attorney Pierce: 81 got it like you
got that $40 from me for defending
me when you did not do it.
On October 19 the riders learned
that Rankin and Col. Taylor were ut
the Walnut Log hotel in the heart
of the riders country.
"Tid' Burton, one of the defen-
dants, told Fehringer to notify the
band to inset THAT night to attend
| to Rankin and Taylor. Fehringer got
one of Garrett Johnson's horses and
rode all day summoning the band.
The riders met near Johnson's that
night. The band included the eight
defendants
They proceeded to the hotel after
Garrett Johnson had forced Ed
Powell to take the riders there.
Witness said that Garrett Johnson
was THE spokesman and gave the or
ders to Rankin and Taylor to dress.
On the march to the densely wood
ed bank of the slough where Ran
kin was slain, the witness said,
| Johnson did all the talking, the 9TH
ers, about so in number, including
the defendants, following silently.
Fehringer said to the victim:
''Do you want to say anything to tn,
Lord? If you do, say it now" Ran
kin replied: I've attended ITO
that"
Shot by Bob Hoffman.
Just as They pulled the rope. Bop
Hoffman shot Rankin and Sam Ap-
plewhiate then said: II know he is
dead, for l put load Of bicycle ball
bearings in him." Witness declared
that Jess Carter, one of the defen-
dants, and a man yet to be tried
put the rope around Rankin's neck.
When Col. Taylor jumped into the
slough everybody shot into the wa
ter and Fehringer beat around in Ii
with pole. Meantime men holding
the rope let it go, and Rankins bod
crumpled up and dropped to tn:
ground. His stiff hat fell beneath
his head, holding it off the ground,
his glasses dropped back into tn,
~ot. which rapidly filled with blood
from the wound in the temple.
Just before the body fell, rider,
not on trial, emptied six .3S cali
bre bullets in the hanging man.
The riders then went to where
their horses were hitched and WHERE
-four men had been left on guard.
The witness said that Garrett JohE-
son addressed them before they dis
| persed, saying: Burn your masks
and say nothing about this night ;
work" b"
During the testimony the soldier
guard was increased. AS soon rs
the court took luncheon recess the
armed sentries marched in and took
Fehringer out. Then the court ask
ed the newspaper correspondents not
to mention TIE names Of those i'm
plicated by the witness who are not
on trial.
Wise Words.
yIIorr,, 10 ho1f of Uaa rioacS