The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-10-29
SOLDIERS AFTER
THE NIGHT RIDERS
Tennessee Trying to Crush the
Organization
TROOPS WILL PROTECT THE COURT.
Special Session of the Circuit Court for
Union County Will Open at unisn
City, With State Militia Standing
Guard-The Entire Reel Foot Region
Under Domination of Military Rule

Under Domination oil miiithtJ "e'
Memphis. Tenn. Especially What
may happen this week as result
NJ the investigation of night rider
denredatlons in the northwestern
mart of Tennessee Is a matter OF con
lecture. with the convening OF the
Circuit Court for Ohio County III
special session at Union CITY TO IN
yestigate the death of Quinten ran
kin. who was killed by a night IldeI
band in the vicinity OF Reel root
Lake last Monday night that reglon
will be under the complete DONNA
tion of military rule.
Five companies of the State na,
tional guard will be at the dlsposa,
of Colonel Tatom to enforce martial
law and II is purposed TO gatner III
every member of the band 10 alu
the militia the adjoining countles
have been drawn on for armed panus
OF picked men. Should TINS IoIce
be inadequate to cope with the STU
alton it is declared that the enllre
military force OF the State Will De
concentrated if 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 its waters
without molestation, while the own
or 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. u. Taylor,
of Trenton, were the organizers, was
upheld.
Then followed night rider warn
ings, threatening death to those VINO
opposed the wishes of the memDels
of the band. 1t was on the hrst
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 oth-
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,
fl proved necessary for State officers
TO act. From Nashville two COM
panies of State troops were 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.
VIII Guard Court.
Two other military companies
went from Memphis. OF number
/ of men arrested 10 are held, and il
is promised that when the grand
Jury is convened tomorrow sufficient
I evidence will be furnished to b-ine
about the indictment of every mem
I 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 Tor this service
Governors of several States of the
South have approved a suggestion
Of Governor Patterson that confer
snce of the executives of the differ
ent States be held and plans devised
whereby they can act in concert il
an effort to destroy night rider or
ganizations. 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 Southeri
States have suffered from the opera
tions of the mysterious organizations