The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-19
Col. Taylor Star Witness in
Night Rider Trial.
Was the Companion of the MUIR
dered Captain Rankin.
A THRILLING ESCAPE.
Eluded the Outlaws by Swim
ming Under Water.
Judge Jones Asks Clergy Not to
Refer to Case in Sermons.

| Union City, Tenn, Dec. 19-Follow-
ing his caution to the press yesterday
not to print the testimony in the night
rider cases, Judge Jones today eau
toned the ministers of the local
churches not to refer to the cases in
their sermons Sunday, since the jurors
| might be present.
The first witness today was Colonel
r. 2. Taylor, the companion of Cap
tain Quentin Rankin on the night of
the murder. Colonel Taylor is So years
of age, a confederate veteran and a
wealthy man. Colonel Taylor and Cap
tain Rankin went to Reelfoot Lake to
lease some lands. They drove over the
property and returning to the hotel left
orders for horses for another trip the
day following. Then they retired.
Colonel Taylor was awakened by
Wards call and the same instant d
rear window of his room was raised.
Two pump guns were thrust in, follow
ed by two black masked heads. Not a
word was spoken until the leader of the
band entered the room by the door.
The night riders separated Taylor from
Rankin and Taylor did not see Ran
kin from the time they left their room
until he saw Rankin murdered.
They told Taylor they proposed to
kill him.
When the night riders reached the
forked ash tree on the bank of the
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
'I have attended to that, was KAN
kin's quiet reply.
Some one of the masked band seized
the rope and drew Rankin up. Inc tree
was inclined a tri1e and they raised
the body until the toes scarcely touch-
ed the ground. From the lips of the
swaying figure came the mufhed APP
peal: you are choking me, gentlemen.
1 pray you to let me down..
Then one of the riders fired a Shot
into the body of Rankin, even as he
pleaded for his life. INSTANTLY fusll-
iade came, most of the riders, however,
shooting into the air.
Taylor turned to his captors ana
4 am tired, gentlemen, let me sit
down"
He crouched to his knees, ready to
spring, waited until the guns were
empty, then when the firing stopped
he Jumped into the waters of the
slough. Instantly the firing was re-
sumed Taylor dived, but heard the
bullets striking the water. He swan
under water to big log. He dld not
know whether it was fast or not. He .
knew if it were loose that when he
it for support it would splash
and his life would be forfeited. But
he was exhausted and fainting and
came cries, ye1ls and shots. Silently
he swan to the log, reached for 1t and
it was fast in the slough. He was
safe The bullets struck the log like |
hail in q storm, but gradually they |
ceased For two hours this aged vet |
eran of many battles lay in the water, |
the log and when all sounds |
had ceased he swan to the opposite |
side and took to the woods. He wan |
dered all day following a course |
NV hn knew
was heaviest on the north sides of the
trees. His eye sight began to fail |
and he suffered fearfully from thirst. |
Then he ina gined that he saw mask
I'd men in every thicket.
Taylor realized that he was suffer-
ng from decisions, but his exper-
fences had been so frightful that he |
could not control himself or dispel
the Authorizations. He hid in the
until Wednesday when
hirst drove him out and into the
arms Of his friends.
Just before the night riders killed
Rankin. Taylor said:
Gentlemen I am an old man.
IAN not expect to live many years
more. By killing me you will not be
heating me of much. But Captain
Rankin is a young man with many
ears before him. Do not kill him."
Tho leader CURLY replied: ~"Shut
lp."
The aged witness made a most pro-
ound impression. At times his emo
ion mastered him and once he half
urned, dropped his head into his
lands and sobbed audibly as the
Genes of that awful night passed again
,efore his eyes.
The old gentleman was asked only
ne question on cross examination:
Did he recognize any of the riders
positively the night of the crime ?'
He did not.