Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-25
PLEA FROM KENTUCKY
Want Federal Aid Against the
Night Riders.
PETITION TO PRESIDENT
Would End the Carnival of Arson
and Murder.
GRAND JURY TAKES A HAND
Judge Refuses to Offer a Reward for
the slayers of Harlan
Hedges of Carlisle.
GRAND JURY TAKES A HAND

OWENTON Ky. March :,.-Owenton
was visited early today by might riders.
who set fire TO three large tobacco ware
houses causing a loss of about 100000
and destroying 10000 pounds of tobacco,
in addition to three buildings
The first building set on fire was the
big new Equity warehouse. owned by a
stock company. This had in it about
100000 pounds OF pooled tobacco and So
COO pounds of independent leaf
From the Equity warehouse the flames
spread to the American Tobacco Com
panv and a smaller independent house
Neither of these had any tobacco in
them. however. and the principal loss is
on the Equity house. The loss is partly
covered by Insurance
Petition to Roosevelt.
LEXINGTON. Ky. March o5-The fail
ure on the par; of the state authorities to
run down perpetrators OF outrages COM
mitted by might riders eliminated yes
terday in a direc; appeal to the President
of the United States for federal inter-
ference in Kentucky. in the form of a pc
ton and central Kentucky which is being
put into circulation throughout this sec
ton.
The petitioners are ;fware that the Pres
dcnt can take no action unless the gov
ernor SO requests. but they say it is their
purpose by this means to bring the two
executives together in the matter. The
petition follows:
ITO the Hon. Theodore Roosevelt. Presi-
dent of the United States, Washing
ton. d. c.:
Your petitioners. all of whom are citi-
Zens and residents of Kentucky respect
fully represent To YOU the turbulent con-
dit1ons of civil affairs in this state
The conditions in this community have
been fully set out in the newspapers and
the fact that those farmers who desire
to grow tobacco are prevented from doing
so on account of force and violence and
the destruction of plant beds and burning
of barns has grown into the burning of
dwelling houses, to which crimes has been
added murder.
I'VE desire to further represent to your
eXcellency the fact that the state govern
ment is totally incapable of handling the
situation which becomes sraver every
day. The grand jury refuses to find in
dictnients and the courts are unable to
punish those guilty of crimes already COM
mitted.
Under all circumstances we believe the
national government should take such
steps as may De necessary 10 UiiIk dpout
peace and safety of life and property in
the state of Kentucky. thus guaranteeing
to each citizen the right Of life. liberty
and the pursuit Of happiness under the
law and TO this end we respectfully. but
earnestly. solicit your assistance and CO.
operation"
Night Riders Indicted.
HOPkINSVILLE. Ky. March 2'.-The
Christian county grand jury yesterday
afternoon returned indictments against
Herman Richard Crenshaw. prominent
Trisg county farmer and Mat Gholston.
ST., of this county a half breed Indian.
charging them with being members of
the night rider band that raided Hopkins
willie last December. destroying properly
valued at $500 coo wounding one man an ]
whipping another and shooting up the
town.
Several other indictments for night rider
offenses were also returned. but the names
were withheld until warrants of arrest are
served
Crenshaw is under bond and Gholston
is in jail.
Judge Refuses to Offer Reward.
CARLISLE. Ky. March 2o.-Judge Nc
Neal has refused to offer a reward for the
arrest and conviction of any of the night
riders who Friday night shot and killed
Harlan Hedges. an Independent tobacco
farmer living near Carlisle.
He declared he will not do so unless
sanctioned by the fiscal court, now in
session.