The Washington times., 1908-12-28
Whole County FlockS to
Union City to Get Glimpse
of Prisoners.
HOLT FIRST
TO TAKE STAND
Fisherman Who Saw Reelfoot Lake
Fish Docks Burn Tells
His Story.

UNION CITY, Tenn, Dec 2S.-Men,
women, and boys, in buggies. carriages
and twO-horse wagons, and On horse
back. began arriving today from the
Reelfoot Lake section Of ObiCn county
TO attend the trials Of the eight alleged
members Of the night riders charged
with the murder Of capt Quentin Ran
kin at Walnut Log
Man, of them had been suma-GH@.. Is
witnesses for defense and - ---oV T.
edge that the day would mark ;ns j.s-
PRODUCTION OF testimony in behalf % the
prisoners attracted relatives friends
and o. hers for miles around the lake
to Union City. The tedious journey OF
twenty odd miles in many e 80 could
not deter even those who ca-.e merely
as spectators: the trial is the event Of
a lifetime 20 them and they filed a
large proportion Of the seats n court
when Judge Jones raped the gavel for
order at o'clock.
Try to See Prisoners.
Those. .vAo reached here Sunday after
noon remained until darkness fell
around the Jail and the barracks 70 get
an opportunity 10 see the prisoners and
speak 10 them. On the streets today
greater interest than usual IN the cases
was displayed IN the vicinity OF the
courthouse the groups were most nu-
rnerous and IN the business secuon
there were knots OF people Win DuJ
one theme for discussion
The march OF the eight prisoners from
the jail 70 the courtroom handcu1ed
and guarded by deputies and soldiers
WAS watched with silence and with but
little comment by those VINO thus had
their frst sight Of the DEFENDANTS since
their removal from the camp 20 the city
some weeks ago
Holt Goes on Stand
IL was g:l5 O'Clock when Attorney
General Caldwell called for Walter
Holt. J. W. Thurman. and VIII Rogers,
Witnesses who failed 20 appear for the
state On Thursday last. and on whom
instanter attachments were served. The
three entered the court room and were
svorr In WalCeT~'IOlt being the nTSL
10 take tbs stanC, lie is a fisherman,
and lived near SaUbuTE when the uSh
docks were burned on April II last he
knew It'd Burton, one oL the cGI sI,oa S1.L- -
on trial, who told him that he had been
notified 10 meet the night riders one
night. --.., - -
dered 10 leave his house within three
6sys and that he did So he said the
order was given BY armed and MASKED
men. and ne thought Garrett Johnson
one of the prisoners, was Ine leaQsI
The night riders that night told Tid
burton that II he did not attend tne
meetings they would hang him
Rogers Tells Story
VIII Rogers next took the stand He
v-as AT Troy on the day Captain Rankin
was killed, and saw Frank FehrngeI'
state witness, who recently made 4
confession, going in the direction Of the
place where the night riders met be-
fore Roir to Walnut Los that night.
At 10 O'Clock Attorney General Cald-
well stated, in answer 20 a question boy
the court as 10 whether the evidence
showing other meetings Of night riders
where the eight defendants were not
/ identified as being present should so 70
the 5ury or whether il should be ex-
cluded, and only the meetings where
| these defendants had ben recognized
should stand. that ne (the attorney gem
eraO was more than ever convinced
/ that all the testimony ought u 60 TO the
Continued on Eleventh PaEe-)