The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-04-02
Sheriff Eley Will Arrest All
Alleged Birmingham Night
Riders at Once.
Indicted by Marshall Grand
Jury.
WHAT WITNESSES TOLD JURY

Benton. , April 2.-tSpecial.) -
Eleven indictments against promi-
nont farmers of Marshall county for
the alleged part they took in the
Birmingham raid were returned late
yesterday afternoon and Circuit Judge
William Reed discharged the grand
jurors and had words of praise for
their fearless work. The work of the
jury and Commonwealth Attorney
John q Lovett has come in for much
favorable comment among the ciu-
zens of Benton.
Today the bench warrants for the
farmers were given TO sheriff Peter
E,ey. aud carly tomorrow mornine.
with HIS deputies, he will serve the
warrants. Although the names OF
those indicted are not given out, II is
understood that the men are land
owners and can not AFFORD to leave
Before the warrants are served.
The grand jury. which was called
Tor the purpose OF Investigating the
raids. was IN session I days. and re-
turned indictments, lG OF which
were for "nlghts riding" The jury
was composed OF young men. and
when empaneled many of the citizens
thought the men were too young TO
make a thorough Investigation. but
with the severe questioning Of Com
monwoalth's Attorney John G.. Lovett
the evidence was SO abundant that
good grounds for the indictments
were secured, and when the trials
come at the criminal term next June.
u Is said that there viii be little dim
Guilty In securing convictions. The
men who were on the jury were:
T.. J. Mlnter. foreman; Ed Walker,
J D. stlll. Thomas Hail, J. II. Du-
priest. A. n, vassar Charles Johnson,
Thomas Holland. A. A. Nelson. j. +.
Brandon. W. S. Grifhth and John d.
Coussey.
Negroes. who were whipped by the
might riders" in the raid on Blrming
ham. were before the grand jury this
week and although II has been three
weeks since the whipping, the hands
and bodies Of the darkies are covered
with scars and wounds from the
whips. The men used large goads.
aud according to testimony. the men
took the negroes by turns and told
them 10 wait for further orders.
Brooks Gaines, 10 years old, one OF
the refugees from Birmingham, was
before the grand jury yesterday after
noon. The old man was AT Paducah
when be was subpoenaed, Having
no money, he walked the entire dis
lance. The jurymen and officers
made up money and paid his return
fare.
Foreman Not Afraid.
r. ]. Mlnter foreman OF the jury
returned to his home at Elva last
night for the first time since his home
was visited. He does not think the
men were might riders" but says
possibly It was Il crowd of young
men who were out serenading, and
became too lively and fired of their
pistols. All OF the men on the jury
express no fear of harm. and IL is re-
ported in Benton that the people OF
Birmingham are excited over the re-
turn of indictments.
The indictments were returned
under statute OF the state, which
makes kuklux unlawful and the bond
for the appearance of the men next
June was fixed at $4,000. Benton Is
quiet after the Investigation. although
precautions have been taken against
any demonstration that might be
made to intimidate the jury Promi-
nent citizens have been on guard with
state rifles on all of the roads leading
TO the town. Tuesday night IL was
rumored that the might riders" were
preparing for a raid, but 1t was
groundless.