The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-10-28
TOD BURTON
 TELLS STORY Tennessee Man Makes
 Confession. THE LYNcHING OF RANKIN Sf .ers Continue to Round Up Prisoners. Some of Them Found With Crude Masks On Their Persons-Gov-
 ernOr Patterson Goes to
 Camp Memo.

Tiptonville, Tenn, Oct. 27.-''Tod" Burton, self-confessed night rider, told remarkable story today of night rider depredations In the vicinity of Reelfoot Lake, confessing to the part he played in the outrages which reacn- ed a elimination in the putting to death of Captain Quinten Rankin. q prominent attorney of Trenton, Tenn. on the banks of the lake a week ago tonight. and duplicating men promi- nent in this section. Of the number he declares had c part in the killing of Captain Rankin, more than half are in custody at Camp Memo. the military base near Samburg The confession was made at the jail here to Sheriff Haines of this county. Judge Harris. owner of a large tract of land in the Reelfoot Lake district, who had suffered much at the hands of the raiders, and Mayor Cleveland Donel- son of Tiptonville.
 The confession was made freely and voluntarily. with no offers of q les sened punishment or threats. and ap- parently without a aualm of conscience. he glibly unfolded his story.
 While Burton denies that he was present when Captain Rankin was put to death. he admits that 1t was through Information given by him that the band congregated and secured the attorney while he slept at the hotel at Walnut Log. According to Burton's confess sion. Tom and Garret Johnson, under arrest, and William Watson. under bond in connection with another raid. were the leaders of the raid of the Lake band.
 Burton declares that the first part he played as a member of the night rider band, was when he aided in the burning of fish dock at samburg. and several weeks later was one of party who crossed the county line from the Reelfoot Lake district into the ad- Joining county Of Lake and whipped Justice of the Peace. Vim. an aged map.
 Coming to the Killing of Captain Ran isin. Burton declared that on the night before the lynohing. he went to Walnut Log and there met James Carpenter. Che attorney of Union. City, at wh ose solicitation Rankin and Judge R. 2. Taylor. his assistant in the West Ten nessee Land Company, the owners of the land upon which the lake is situ- ated, came to the lake. It was stated that the visit of the two men was to arrange a timber deal with Carpenter. After this conversation, Burton states, he communicated with the night rider leaders and told them of the intended visit of the representatives of the land company.
 On the following night, he saw two men at supper at the hotel, but de- clares that he left Walnut Log early in the night and went out into the lake 10 fish. Ke states that he was fishing when he heard the shots which ended the life of Captain Rankin. but did not return to the shore for some time.
 In the course of his confession, Bur ton gave the names of no less than forty members of the night riders.
 Carpenter Is under arrest, as are also a majority of those whom Burton im- plicates, but as to their identity, Sher- fir Hains would not say further. fear ing that to do so would cause addi- tional excitement and provoke an out break on the part of the friends. Posses will start from Camp Memo at once to gather in those not under guard. All of the suspects under ar- rest up to the present have emphati- cally denied connection with the night rider organization.
 Burton was arrested at Samburg Tuesday. the day the first troops ar- rived from Nashville. He was seen at the camp by Sheriff Hains, who had a State warrant for his arrest ho submitted to arrest quietly and was immediately brought to jail here. While en route. Burton admitted to
  ing a member of the night rider band. but when asked the following day to repeat his confession. denied that he had confessed or that he knew any thing of the killing of Captain Ram kin. After a few days in jail, how ever, his mood changed, and IL was at his request that Sheriff Hains and oth- CTS to whom he confessed came to the Jail today.
 Burton will not be admitted to bond. but 1t is probable that he will be re- moved from the local jail to Nashville for safe-keeping.
 Camp Memo, Reelfoot Lake. Tenn, Oct. 27.-The return to camp today of Governor Patterson. accompanied by Assistant Adjutant-G General Harvey Alexander the capture of ten additional prisoners and the return of Captain Began from an expedition covering the entire Reelfoot sMBtion, were the prin- cipal ev ents heretoday.
 Governor Patterson came in at 3:30 thIs afternoon and soon afterwards held long conference with Colonel Tatom and looked over evidence developed from examination of prisoners in camp. Nothing definite has been given out by Governor Patterson as to his plans. but 1t Is rumored he will make another shifting of prisoners and that the most important ones will be sent to Union City to appear before inc grand jury. Two posses went out from camp today. returning with their prisoners about dusk.
 Masks On PrlsOnera
 Camp Memo, near Samburg, Tenn. Oct, 27-Several crude masks made from meat sacks have been discovered on prisoners held at Camp Memo.
 After mask of this description was found on one of the prisoners taken by Major Brighthorns mounted posse, a search of all prisoners in the guard house was instituted and two or more others were found. This Is the first evidence of this character uncovered by the soldiers.
 Two men. Jesse and Chaney Linden, of Sput Springs. came Into camp this morning and surrendered to the authorities
 A detachment of soldiers and police men under command of Lieutenant R~sser and Sheriff Dawson. left camp this morning to meet Governor Pat terson, who has left Union City for Camp Memo. This Is said to be mere