The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1908-10-30
's0[llfRs AFTER :.
laE NIGHT RIDERS
Tennessee Trying to Crush the
Organization.
TROOPS WIlI PROTECT THE COURT.
Special Session Of the Circuit Court for
Union County Will Open at Union
City, With State Militia Standing
Guard The Entire Reel Foot Region
Under Domination of Military Rule.

Memphis, Tenn. Especially What
may happen this week as a result
of the investigation of night rider
depredations in the northwestern
part of Tennessee is matter of con-
lecture. With the converting of the
Circuit Court for Ohio County in
special session at Union City to in
vestigate the. death of Quinten Ran
kin, who was killed by a night rider
band in the vicinity of Reel Foot
Lake last Monday night that region
will be under the complete domino
ton of military rule.
Five companies of the State ma
tional guard will be at the disposal
of Colonel Tatom to enforce martial
law and it IS purposed to gather in
every member of the band. To aid
the militia the adjoining counties
have been drawn on for armed bands
of picked men. Should this force
be inadequate to cope with the stu
alton it is declared that the entire
military force of the State will be
concentrated II necessary.
Fight Over Lake.
In the Reel Foot Lake region the
lake itself is,the source of contention
which brought forth the activity of
the night rider organization. 1t was
contended by those living near the
lake that it was their right to pro-
lection as fishermen in it's waters
without molestation; while the own
er of the land on the shores of the
lake took an opposite view. In the
courts the latter, the Western Ten
nessee Land Company, of which Cap
tain Rankin and Col. R. 2. Taylor,
of Trenton, were the organizers, was
upheld.
Then followed night rider warn
ings, threatening death to those who
opposed the wishes of the members
of the band. 1t was on the first
visit in many months to the lake
region that Captain Rankin was kill
ed. Men connected with or sup
porting the landowners have been
forced to leave their homes, and 9TH
ers, who refused to obey the warn
ings, were punished corporally.
Notwithstanding the efforts of the
local officers, the depredations con-.
tinued for a year, the situation be-
came more and more serious, until,
with the killing of Captain Rankin,
it proved necessary for State officers
to act. From Nashville two COM
panies of State troops we're hurried
forward the day following the lynch
ing, and Governor Patterson, aban-
doning his campaign for reelection,
went to the scene to direct the work
of ferreting out the members of the
mob.
Will Guard Court.
Two other military companies
went from Memphis. Of a number
of men arrested 10 are held, and 1t
is promised that when the grand
jury is convened tomorrow sufficient
evidence will be furnished to bring
about the Indictment of every mem
Der of the night rider organization.
The court will be under the military
protection of a company of militia
that will be sent from Nashville to-
morrow especially for this service.
Governors of several States of the
South have approved a suggestion
of Governor Patterson that confer
ence of the executives of the differ
ent States be held and plans devised
whereby they can act in concert in
an effort ito destroy night rider or
CARNATIONS. Governor Noel, of Mis-
sissippi; Governor Pindall, of Arkan-
sas, and Governor Wilson, of Ken
lucky, have already expressed them
selves in approval of the proposed
conference. Nearly all Southern
States have suffered from the opera
lions of the mysterious organizations.