The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1909-12-12
HOW N|GHTRIDERe
KILLED RANKIN
TOLD BY 4 MEMBER or TIE or
GANIZATION.
JUDGE TAYLOR ON THE STAND
Also Tells Story Of Terrible Tragedy at
Wamutlog-Garrett Johnson Said &c
Have Been Captain of the Band
How Taylor Escaped.
ESPECIAL TO TIVE MORNING TIMES,


of the alleged night-riders, Garrett
Johnson and Arthur CIoar, for the muir
der of Capt. Quentin Rankin, opened
today's session with Win Johnson on
the witness stand.
johnson stated that he had joined
the night-rider organization in July,
1908.
eff you divulged its secrets,o said
the witness, Hdeath was the penalty,
and you would not be buried in grave
yard. The passwords We're Traveller,
first, and later, Seven Wonders The
nightriders met at the Smith sawdust
pile in Big woods.
stGarrett johnson was our captain
and the purpose of the organization
was to free Reelfoot lake
''We tried to get Judge Harris and
kill him, and were instructed to kill all
the land company.
81 saw Garrett Johnson Monday aft
ernoon, Oct Is, and he told me he hal
seen Col. TAYLOR and another man go
down to the lake, and for me to find
out if they were members of the land
company, and If they were they must
be attended to.
81 got word that night that the
men were at Walnutlog and to meet al
Poweli's field-1-4I -tsok my horse ano
went to Powell S field, found there Ar
thur Cloar, John Ratiff and Ed Mar
shall, all members; others scame. About
35 came, got Ed Powell Frank Fehr
niger was there in charge and tool
Powell to call Ward. They took Tay
lor and Rankin and went back to .
| corntield, where they surrounded thu
| two men, Garrett johnson questioned
| the two men as to their title to the lake
| Someone put a rope around Rankin :
| neck and led him to the slough.
| "Johnson said he felt like KILN,
every of them.
"When the killing occurred / saw
| pistol shot fired about where Fehrin
| ger stood.
| "Johnson said, Go to hotel Ge
men, whip them, make them walk t
Hickman, and if they come back the.
| will be dealt with. -
| Johnson was witness for defend
| ants before, and denied knowing of tn
night-riders or of the killing. He !
charged with murder, also, and under
| $4,000 bond.
Col r. 4. Taylor, who was with Capt
| Rankin at the time of his death, tes
titled in part as follows:
'Rankin and I occupied the sam
room, but were in different beds. Abou
II O'Clock some men came ana Mr.
| Ward said that some friends wanted t
see me. [ opened the door. They cam
in and put guns in my face. Abou
the same time a number of persons pu
guns through the window and held thel
or us They searched our grip fc
weapons, they said. They were a
masked and there were % or 35 {
them. They took us up the road alor
the slough. They separated US and
did not know where Capt. Rankin wa
"After talking some time, they tol
me that they were going TO shoot m
, | wanted to know why, as l had nevt
harmed any man in Obion county il
tentionally. ] told them I was an o.
man and they could kill me, but that
was different with Rankin. He ";
young man.
Shortly they went to a spot ne;
They passed by me with Capt. Ranki
They took him to a tree, placed VIII
, looked like rope around his neck al
pulled him up. He told them TO let hi
down, as they were killing him. On
: man said: sD-n it, that is what v
. intend to do. Several shots and final
r / a volley of shots were fired
l ssWhile this was going l made
/ break for the slough, part OF the tin
n under the water, and got behind 10
il They shot at me and / kept still.
f heard someone say: There the old ra
cal is and he took pole and fish,
/ around for me. / saw light fash u
+ waited until they gave up huntil
), for me and had gone, and after w
!. sure that Capt. Rankin was dead.
d went out on the opposite side of t
slough
II With regard to one of the 5lefen
$ ants, he said:
Garrett Johnson talked to me.