Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1908-10-30
a PRICE UPON NIGHT RIDING.

That new forms of lawlessness known as
night riding has recently become such a
grave menace to life and property in the
Southern States that two States, Texas and
Tennessee,are Offering rewards ranging from
$1,000 to $4,000 for the arrest and convic.
ton Of the offenders. In Texas the con-
spirlcies have been directed against property,
the specific offense being arson, by burning
of cotton gins; but in Tennessee they have
been directed against human life
In me northwestern corner OF Tennessee,
near Reelioot Lake, where the Inhabitants
are mostly fishermen, a few nights ago two
OF the most prominent lawyers Of the State
were dragged from their beds In the hotel
of which they were guests, marched by an
armed body Of masked men to the edge OF
the lake, and with less ceremony and re.
spect than was ever shown confessed horse
thief, one OF them, Capt. Quentin Rankin,
was quickly hanged to TREE and his body
riddled with bullets. His associate, Col. r.
z. Taylor, witnessed the lynching, and then,
catching the Night Riders unawares while
they were voting to determine what dispo.
sition should be made Of him, dashed into
the lake and found refuge behind o half
sunken log. His pursuers fired volley In.
to the log and left him for dead. Col. Tay.
lor, Notwithstanding his 80 years, remained
In the water until morning, and then, near.
ly dead from exposure, he CROPPED his way
through the underbrush, carefully avoiding
paths which might lead to some unfriendly
clearing, until "a hours later he tell at the
door of farmhouse, where he was taken
In and given food and shelter.
What was the cause OF this murderous
attack What foul crime had these two law.
yers committed that they should receive
such terrible punishment without Judge or
jury to hear their defense and pass upon
their acts The trouble is said to have orlgi-
mated some years ago, when the two law
yers organized and incorporated the Yves
Tennessee Land Company. They bought
Reelfoot Lake from non resident property
owners and made regulations concerning
fishing privileges, which interfered with
what the fishermen living 10 that neighbour
hood claimed to be their rights. Desiring
the protection of the State, the new owners
Of the lake obtained from the legislature an
act regulating fishing, which made fishing
without having paid fee misdemeanor.
The fishermen saw nothing but injustice in
this act, because 1t interlered with their
manner Of earning livelihood. Instead of
testing the law which they considered cruel
and burdensome, they held an unlawful as.
sembly, and with force and arms took terri.
BILE vengeance upon the objects of their ha-
tired.
Those Night Riders are the victims Of
their own folly and rash counsel. Most of
them are In flight or In hiding, while the
sheriffs Of the two counties, with posses, are
beating the brush about their homes. A
price has been put upon their heads by the
governor, and If found they may be hanged
or else receive long terms Of Imprisonment.
Gov. Patterson was on the ground, his
avowed purpose being to restore order and
capture the murderers at any cost. Prompt
and decisive action on his part will do
much to remove the stigma cast upon the
State by the Night Riders. These murder
ers should feel the touch Of cold steel, WELD,
ed by the law.