Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-20
ROW SURVIVOR ESCAPED DEATH
Lawyer Strung Up BY the Neck
Gasped for Mercy-Bul!ets Ended
nty to Plunge into Water-EscaP-
cd After Thorough Wettino.
,By Associated Press.)

by Associated Press.)
UNION CITY, TENN. Dec 10
When court adjourned this afternoon
until Monday, the State had nearly
completed its case against the eight
the murder Of Captain Quentin Ran
Kin.
On Monda" Il will put Frank Feb.
ringer on the sand. He says he was
present when the murder wig com
m!ttrd and knows the name CT every
'Aan who was present.
After that, tn" state Will merely
fill in with corroborativ" testimony.
The dcfrns" will depend solely up
on albis AID for that purpose has
Summoned nearly a hundred citizens
of Rcelfoot Lake district to testify
as to the whereabouts OF the indie.
ed men en- the night Of October 10.
OrIy Three Identified.
The State through the evidence
presented thus far has identified only
three OF the eight as present on the
night OF the murder. Garret Johnson.
Ted Burton and Boy Ransom. II
depends upon Fehringer 20 identify
the others. Fehringer probably will
be on the stand all day Monday. and
he is expected to reveal the oath.
signs and passwords and the ritual
OF the riders.
Unusual precautions will be taken
in the court house while he is testt,
flying to make sure there is no de-
monstration against him.
Following his caution to the press
yesterday not to print the testimony
in the night rider cases, Judge Jones
today cautioned the ministers OF the
, local churches not to refer to the
cases in their sermons Sunday. since
the jurors might be present.
Confers With Reporters.
He took no further action regard
ing the press. although he conferred
pc. sOnally with the CORES? Ondents OF
] several State papers. im1ressing upo:
them the necessity of following on,
: the court s orders.
! The first witness today was COlonc
, X. T. Taylor. who was the companion
! OF CAPTAIN Quentin Rankin on the
night cf III" murder Of Rankin Tay
; lor is S3 years old. a veteran of thu
! Confederate army. and wealth!
, man.
: Colone! Taylor was awakened a:
the htIel ;hc night of the murdeI
by Wards call aud the same instant
4 rear window of his rom was raised
! Guns and Masks Shown.
| Two guns were thrus' in. followed
! b. two black masked heals. The
; night riders separated Taylor from
! Rankin and Taylor did not sec Ran
kin f-0m the time they left thPi'
: room until he saw Rankin murdered
They told Taylor they proposed II
Kill him.
! When the night riders reached z
forkcd ash tree on the bank OF tho
slough they halted Taylor and march
ed Rankin to the foo, 0. the tree.
Tic rope was adjusted and throw
! over the fork. then some night ride:
sad: Give him time 10 pray.
Il have attended, to that" Sa'
Ranhin's quiet reply
Some Of the masked band seized
tn ro;e ard drew Rankin ~. Thu
tree vas inclined q !rifc and ih"y
rais"d Inc body uni!I the t"''s scarce
y touched tn" ground
Pleaded for Mercy
From IN" lips Of IN" swaNirS Tsr
caE1" the mIffied peal: Y0u arr
choking me. gentlemen: rra- yor
% ut M" down
Then ono Of tho riders fired shot
into tn" BODY 81 Rankin c.cr - no
rl"r.. ii for his li:o instantly
f1s;Iia"" came. most Of IN" riders
how"y'.. shooting into IN. air.
Tavl,r Zee % his cap'oTs and
sad 4 III iir".I. gentlemen. 10;
me- sit down"
H. cruuchcd to his knc"s. ready
90 sprisc. lie waited until tho gum
were empty. thcu whom tho firms
stcp;cd r" jumped into tho wate:
r. tho slough. Instantly the frinE
was renewed Taylor divcd. but hesrd
the bullets striking IN" water. He