New-York tribune., 1909-07-04
SAVES NIGHT RIDERS
DEATH DECREE REVERSED
Supreme Court RemaHds ReeIfoos
Cases for NezC Trials.

Jackson. Tenn Jury s.-The cases OF the eizhs
Night Riders, six Of whom we're under the death
sentence charged with the murder Of Captain
Quentin Rankin AT Walnut Log. on Keelfoot Iaks,
on October 10 last, were reversed by the Suprems
Court to-day and we're Fenanded for new trials
The six men who were under the death sentences
are Garrett Johnson, alleged leader OF the Night
Riders organization in Obiou County: Arthur
CIoar Fred Pinion. San, AppIeWhite lid" Bur
ton and Roy Ransom. The other two. Bud Nor
rs and Bob" Huffman, were convicted OF murder
in the second degree.
The opinion in the cas-. delivered by Special
Justice Henry \. Craft. of Memphis. appointed IN
the stead Of Justice NJ. NJ. Neil. The reading OF
the opinion required than hour, and in that
time the tense Stiffness was broken only By tbs
sound OF Justice Crafts voice
In reversing the case he assigned two principal
reasons. The first sas that the grand jury which
found the indictments against the alleges NiEht
Riders was not selected in proper manner. Tie
grand jury was selected out OF panel named BIZ
Judge J. E. Jones, the trial Judge. whereas tbs
law provides the panel must be chosen by at least
three members of the County Court The second
error which the reversal was based was that
the state did net allow the defendants q suH-
eieHt number OF challenges. The eight were tried
on Joint Indictment. and the trial court uphsla
the states contention that the eight defendants
were only entitled the legal number Of challenges
twsnty-four. which weHld apply Il one nan xas
On trial
When Justice Craft anished reading his optnicn
q stofFs az applause broke out in the courtroom
eut was quickly stopped by the marshal and hts
deputies The prisoners will be taken back 10
Union CITY and effort will be made te obtain
their release on bail pending a second trial ef
their cases
Union City, Tenn, July s-Those NEST active in
the prosecution Of the alleged Night Riders ef
R@elfoot Lake consider the situation now such "a
may again assume serious phase That Il vii
be dlfneuit 70 obtain jury hear the eases again
IS conceded and yet decision has heen reached
ny the representatives ef the state as TO their
future plans An immediate trial OF ether pending
cases Of a similar nature. hevsver IS not Leaked
for
Captain Quentin Rankin and Judge ZACHARY
Taylor went TO Reelfoot Lake on the night e
October 10 last in response to letter from Mr.
Carpenter OF Union City who wanted TO lease son.s
timber land According the story OF Judge
Taylor, who escaped they vent TO the Ward Ectei
and retired In the night, he said. they EeTs
aroused and on opening the door found without an
armed mob OF some ssventy-hvs masked men They
were ordered to dress and were taken back 20 ths
lake. where they hanged Rankin and shot him
Judge Taylor broke away. and. pIunging into the
bayou. escaped by hiding behind leg. where they
thought MIN dead
The trouble in this instance vas caused By the
action OF the West Tennessee Land Company IN
prohibiting free fishing In the lake The mob sc-
c1Ised Rankin and TAYLOR Of being associated with
the land company.