The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-01-12
NIGHT RIDERS CONVICTED.
tx Found Guilty of Murder and Two
Of Manslaughter- Juror
Delays Case.


.erdict of guilty in varying degrees,
be jury in the might rider trials re-
pointed at S.45 p. N. tonight.
The II men found Garrett John
kn, It'd Burton. Boy Ransom. Fred
Pinion, Arthur Cloar and Sam Apple
white guilty Of murder in the first de-
gree, with mitigating circumstances,
and Bud Morris and Bob Huffman,
the other defendants, guilty Of mur-
Ger in the second degree and fixed
their punishment ait 20 years in the
penitentiary. The punishment Of the
, six first named defendants was left to
he court and may be death or life
Imprisonment The defense filed a
notion for a new trial, which was set
for hearing Saturday, and which will
: be overruled as indicated by the
purt, when sentence will be pro-
bounced.
The court will sentence the six first
w
The jury had been out since 2 p.
b., but because Of the illness of Juror
1osson had not been able to consult
antdl p. m.
There was difference Of opinion
among the jurors as to the degree of
the guilt Of the defendants, but an
agreement was reached quickly.
The defendants took the verdict
with calmness, as they had been ex-
pecting it since the closing Of the ar
sguments. Attorney Pierce turned to
p hem when it was announced and
aid: y
''We wall tear this case to pieces
. IN the supreme court. "
The State expected a verdict Of
Iiirst degree murder in all eight leases
and was visibly disappointed. Bob
Huffman, one Of the men to escape
with with twenty years, is Ithe man who,
according ITO the confession of Frank
Fehringer, fired the shot which killed
Capt. Rankin as he was being drawn
p by the rope.
Has Been Notable Trial.
Thus Us ended, in the lower court,
y ne Of the most vigorously contested
md notable criminal trials ever heard
"a this State, the outcome of a reign
E 1awlessness, the eliminating act of
which being that of which the men
we're found guilty, calling forth
Ehe mastering of the mill
tary Of the State, under the
personal direction of Governor
Patterson, to the aid Of the civ
3 ,authonities in the ferreting out and
The taking into custody Of those who
we're charged with the commission of
HE cunne, the so-called "%night rider
e1an" Of Reel Foot Lake.
The operations of the night rider
band began with the burning of fish
books, extending to the infGcting of
corporal punishment on those whom
be leaders in their counsels deemed
guilty Of actions in opposition 10 the
wishes Of the clan, finding a climax
sn the lynching Of Capt. Rankin. Ran
lin and an associate stockholder OF
the West Tennessee Land Company,
Col. r. q. Taylor, an aged man, and
one of the most prominent len of the
northwestern section of Tennessee,
had come to the Lake region to con-
ude deal as to the sale of some
mber lands, the property of the
pmpany.
Fishermen Were AggrieVed.
The night riders, composed largely
the fisher folk of Reel Foot Lake,
hich is owned by the Land company,
fere especially aggrieved against the
Ind company because of the refusal
allow the fishermen to ply then
socation at will in the water OF the
Ike. This they charged largely to
apt. Rankin and Col. Taylor. Ac-
brding to the evidence during the
rial, when it was learned that the
[wo were TO spend the might IN the
IKE region, the band was told to
beet at a designated point, and to-
nard noidniesht they donned their fan
hstic garbs of long cloaks and masks
md marched to the Walnut Log Ho-
l, where Capt. Rankin and Col Tay-
or had quarters. Forcing them to
astly don their clothes, it is related
bat they marched them to a secluded
bot among the wooded recesses OF
me lake. Here a short parley ensu-
and not resulting in a satisfactory
unination ito the riders, the rope by
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