Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-28
CONFESSION OF
NIGHT RIDER TO
INVOLVE SCORES
ASTOUNDING STORY TOLD IN
TIPT0N PRISON
MURDER AND DEPREDATIoNs
GRAPHICALLY DESCRIBED
Over Half Of cuIprits in Jail Accord
Ing to Prisoners TaIe-5lg Dam-
age Suit Begun In
Louisville
Lnx As.oclatea prea.l ]

HI IPTON, Tenn, Oct. 27.--"Red''
Burton, self-confessed night rider,
\ told a remarkable story OF night
rider depredations in the vicinity of
Reelfoot lake. confessing to the part
he had played in the outrages which
reached elimination in the putting to
death OF Capt. Quentin Rankin, a
prominent attorney of Trenton, Tenn.
on the banks of the lake a week ago
tonight, and duplicating men promi~
nent in this section of the state.
OF those who he declares had a part
In the killing of Capt. Rankin, more
than half are now In custody at Camp
Memo, the military base near Sam
burg.
The confession was made in the Jail
here to Sheriff Haines of this county,
b. @. Harris, owner of a large tract
of land in the Reefoot district, who has
suffered much at the hands OF the rid
ers and AIayor Cleveland Donelson of
Tiptonville. IL was made freely and
voluntarily,
No QuaIm Of Conscience
Apparently without a qualm of con-
science, Burton gladly .unfolded his
story. While Burton denies he was
present when Capt Rankin was put to
death, he admits it was through in
formation given by him that the band
congregated and seized the attorney
while he stopped at the hotel at Wal
nut Log.
According to Burton's confession,
Tom and Garrett Johnson, under ar
rest, and William Watson, under bond
in connection with another raid. were
the leaders of the lake band.
Burton declares the first part he
played as member of the night rider
band was when he aided in the burn
ing OF FISH dock at Samburg.
He was one of a party which
crossed the county line several weeks
later from the Rollfoot lake district
In the adjoining county of Lake and
whipped Justice of the Peace Winn,
an aged man.
Describes the Murder
Coming to the killing of Capt Ran
kin, Burton declared that on the night
before the lynching he went to Wal
nut log and fl1alsa nlft ! 1slea u : al
penter, the attorney or Union City,
at whose solicitation Rankin and
Judge r. u. Taylor. his associate in
the West Tennessee company, the
owners of the lands upon which the
lake is situated, came to the lake.
1t was stated the visit of the two
men was to inquire into timber deal
with Carpenter.
After this conversation Burton says
he communicated with the night rider
leaders and told of the intended visit
of the representatives of the land
company.
He saw the two men at supper In
the hotel on the following night, but
declares he left Walnut Log early in
the night and went out into the lake
OF fish.
He Went Fishing
He was fishing when he heard the
shots which ended the life of Captain
Rankin, but did not return to the
shore for some time.
In the course of his confession Bur
ton gave the names of no less than
forty members of the night riders.
Carpenter Is under arrest. as are a
majority of those whom Burton impli-
Gates, but as to their identity Sheriff
Haynes would not say further, fearing
it would lead to additional violence
and provoke an outbreak of their
friends.
Posses will start from Camp Memo
at once to gather in those not now
under guard. All of the suspects un-
der arrest have emphatically denied
connection with night rider organiza-
tions.
Burton was arrested at Samburg
Tuesday by the first troops that ar
rived from Nashville.