The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-23
The REELFOOT MURDER.
COL. TAYLOR TELLS OF KILLING;
OF CAPT. QUENTIN RANKIN.
Describes Death Of His Companion and
His Own Miraculous Escape-Thc
States Case Nearly Completed.


court adjourned this afternoon until
Monday the State had nearly COM
pleted its case against the eight al
legged night riders now on trial for the
murder of Capt. Quentin Rankin. On
Monday it will put Frank Fehringer
on the stand. He says he was present
when the murder was committed, and
knows the name Of every man who
was present After that the State will
merely fill in with corroborative evil
dence.
The defense will depend solely upon
alibis and for that purpose has sum-
moned nearly 100 citizens Of the Reel
foot lake district to testify as to the
whereabouts of the indicted men on
the night of October 10.
The State through the evidence pre-
sented thus far has identified only
three Of the eight as present the night
OF the murder-Garrett johnson, It'd
Burton and Roy Ransom. 1t depends
upon Fehringer to identify the others.
Fehringer probably will be on the
| stand all day Monday, and he is ex-
pected to reveal the oath, signs, pass
words and the ritual Of the riders. Un-
usual precautions will be taken in the
court house while he is testifying to
make sure that there Is no demonstra-
ton against him.
Following his caution to the press
yesterday not to print the testimony
IN the night rider cases, Judge James
today cautioned the ministers of tho
local churches not to refer to the case
In their sermons Sunday since the
Jurors might be present. He took no
further action regarding the press, al
though he conferred personally with
the correspondents OF several State
papers. impressins upon them the ne
cessity Of following out the courts or
ders.
The first witness today was Col. r.
z. Taylor who was the companion of
Capt. Quentin Rankin on the night of
the murder of Rankin. Taylor is 60
years old, a veteran Of the Confederate
army and a wealthy man. He is tall,
erect and soldierly. wears a gray beard
neatly trimmed and does not show his
age.
Col, Taylor was awakened at the
hotel the night OF the murder by
Wards call and the sama instant
rear window Of his room was raised.
Two guns were thrust in, followed by
two black masked heads. The night
riders separated Taylor from Rankin.
and Taylor did not see Rankin from
the time they left their room until he
saw him murdered. They told Tay-
lor they proposed to kill him. When
the night riders reached a forked ash
tree In the bank Of the slough, they
halted Taylor and marched Rankin
to the foot of the tree. The rope was
adjusted and thrown over the fork.
then some night rider said: "Give him
time to pray"
II have attended to that" was Ran
kin's quiet reply.
Some OF the masked band seized
the rope and drew Rankin up. The
tree was inclined a trifie and they
raised the body until the toes scarcely
touched the ground. From the lips
Of the swaying man came the appeal,
You are choking me, gentlemen, II
pray you to let me down." Then one
Of the riders fired shot into the body
Of Rankin. even as he pleaded for his
life. Instantly fusillade came, most
Of the riders, however, shooting into
the air. Taylor turned to his captors
and said: II arm tired. gentlemen, let
me sit down.
He crouched on his knees ready to
spring. He waited until he knew their
guns were empty, then. when the fir
ing stopped he jumped. into the wa
ters Of the slough. Instantly the fir
ing was renewed. Taylor dived. but
heard the bullets striking the water.
The bullets struck the log like hail,
but gradually they ceased. For two
hours he lay In the water, grasping the
long. and when all sounds had ceased,
swan to the opposite side and took to
the woods. He hid In the cane brake
until Wednesday, when thirst drove
him out and into the arms of friends.
just before the night riders killed
Rankin. Taylor said:
Gentlemen, I am an old man. Il
can not expect to live many years
more. BY killing me you will rot be
cheating me Of much. But Capt. Ran
kin is a young man. with many years
before him. Do not kill him.