The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1908-12-30
NIGHT RIDING
Frank fehTIRgsr Relates History
and Dark Doings Of
MURDER0US BAND


Secret Oath-Bound Band THAI
Committed the Rankin Murder
and Many Other Ousrases.
Union City. Tenn, Dec 21.-The
State today practically completed ifs
case against the eight alleged nigh;
riders, on trial for the murder o
Capt. Rankin. when it drew from
Frank Fehrinser, a member OF tae
band who turrad States evidence,
detailed statement of the Rankll.
affair and score or more OF otn'F
outrages. II also called 10 the stand
Mrs. Emma Thurmond Johnson, on
D! the TWO women said 70 have ben
whipped By the band, and had her
tell her story.
he startling testimony OF Feb
ringer. V no accused the men on tri;N
Of Being actual participants IN the
murder Of Capt Rankin with an ex.
actness Of dc.ail. amazed the thronS
Ii the court room. Then. as Mrs.
johnson was called, a murmer ran
through the court room.
She removed her veil.
Mrs. Johnson had married Joe L.
Johnson, man 80 years older than
she, and lived with him four years.
when child was born. Last Ar
gust she sued him for divorer.
charging cruelty and asking mainte-
nance. Early in September the rid
ers visited her fathers home and
left word that she must withdraw
the suit. She failed to Go SO. ana
on a second visit her father was
whipped.
On both occasions she was at he!
sisters home. The riders seem to
have realized this. for on September
80. about / O'Clock at night, the.
went to the sisters home. Mrs
Johnson awoke beside her child TO
find her bed room filed with mas!se,'
and armed men a man whom sh
said she recognized as Fred Pinion.
one Of the defendants. was standing
so close that she could touch him
Eve have come to tell you for ta
last tine that you must dismiss thar
aivorce suit" Pinion is charged Wit
saying.
81 will not withdraw it." she re-
plied.
You will before we get through,
with vou." was the reply.
''If you dismiss it aow VIC Will SEQ
shat he supports the child. hut you
must not touch his property
Mrs. Johnson insisted that sh"
would press the case Then the men
withdrew into the yard to co"sulc
In few minutes they returned
Pinion stepped over to the .-cung
woman's bed and said, Come wiz;
us
Young Wife Beaten
Two others Of the band seized har
ac5 dragged her from the bed ~
her night clothes. They hurried her
about $50 yards away and one Of
themhbsat her across the shoulders
with a strap. After the first beat
ing they asked her if she would dis
miss the suit. She said no. Then
she was again whipped. This time
her fighting spirit vas broken an I
she sobbing!y said she would gi.o
IN 70 their demands
"Let's give her another" said one
oe the band.
sNo." she said Pinion replied
she has had enough
Mrs. Johnson told her story under
strong objections from the defense.
Judge JONES sent out the jury be-
fore court adjourned and said:
There are eight defendants here
charged with capital offense. They
are not handcufed and are under
guard Of only Two deputies. DO
not think this is safe. Therefore,
order the sheriff to handcuff these
men and ask the military to detail
10 armed men to serve as guards
The defense strongly objected, but
the court refused to withdraw I'll"
order.
ater Attorney Caldwell said
'tThe order was made advisedly uron
the Information which reached tha
officers OF the court. This Informal
ton was serious enough tc justify
Us in taking every possible and legal
precaution.''
Fe!lrineer Heavily Guarded.
Surrounded by detail of six fully
armed soldiers, FehriEger was
brought into court. At the court
room dcor two Of the soldiers arme'
with rifles, halted. Four other SOL
diers. armed cnly With ravolve-s,
took Fehriaser in charge For;
armed denGtr sheriHs cleared way
through the crowd in the aisles and
Fehr!nger was led to the stand.
The soldiers sat down inside the
railing, facing the throng. Dep1;-
ties. armed heavily. took positions
IL various parts Of the room I, Was
tense moment. The witness, =
dinjnutive man, seemed 10 be cor.;-
posed, but pale He crossed his legs
and tossed his broad -b7immed hat
on the toe Of his boot.
Many in the crowd sursed I'm
closer. but stern order from n"
judge forced them back into thei..
seats
Fehringer said he was one of h
arst mem 5ers of the band.
Fehriuger knew ell the defendants
and had accompanied them on many
raids prior to the killing OF Rankin
Re night riders garb consisted OF
Continued from Page l.
long. black coats, black masks. trim
med in white, and some haG false
boards auachaG 20 rhe lotion.