The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1909-01-14
THE NIGHT RIDERS
ARE SENTENCED
Six to Be Hanged and Two Get 20
Years Each
THE EVIDENCE WAS COMPETENT.
Silence in Court as the Judge Pro-
nounces the Death Sentence Six
Times In Succession the
Case Has Bristled With Prejury-
Appeal to Higher Court.


Union City, Tenn. Especially -
Without a tremor six men of Reel
Foot Lake heard judgment passed
condemning them to pay with their
lives the penalty for the part they
were convicted of having in putting
to death Capt. Quentin Ranken at
Walnut Log, the deed of band of
so-called Night Riders of which six
men were declared to have been the
leaders. Whatever may have been
their emotion, they faced the court
TO receive sentence with the same
stole expression as has been their
marked Characteristic during the
trial.
When court convened, shortly af-
ter noon, the room was crowded with
people from the lake. With small
ceremony, as anticipated, the motion
of the defense asking a new trial
was overruled by Judge Jones. Then,
amid a death-like quiet, the six men
Garrett Johnson, Sam Applewhite,
It'd Burton, Bob Ransom, Arthur
Cloar and Fred Pinion-convicted of
murder in the first degree, each In
his turn faced Judge Jones to hear
the mandate of the court and Fri
day, February 10, set as the day of
their execution.
AS they turned to return to their
places in the prisoners dock faint,
half-hearted smile played on the
faces of Pinion and Johnson, but
beyond this they could not have
shown less emotion we're they men
of stone. The proceedings ended the
court room was quickly emptied, and,
through the crowds of their kins-
men and friends, the men were led
back to Jail to await the carrying
out of the courts decree, should
higher court not intervene.
An appeal has been taken to the
Supreme Court, where the legal strife
will be just as vigorous as In the
trial just ended. The others of the
men-Bud Morris and Bob Huffman
found guilty of murder in the
second degree, received the sentence
named by the jury-20 years in the
penitentiary.
In passing sentence Judge Jones
declared that he could see no mitiga-
ting circumstances as mentioned by
the jury In the return of the verdict
and considered it but a compromise
to some members of the jury who
hesitated to pass the sentence of
death. Thus he felt that the re-
sponsibility had been placed on him,
a duty which he would not shirk,
and to each he declared the sentence
of the court would be that "You !
hang by the neck until you are dead,
and may God Almighty have mercy
on your souls"
Union City, Tenn. Especially -
With a verdict of guilty in varying
degrees, the jury in the Night Rider
trials reported at S.45 p. NJ. The
IL men found Garrett Johnson, It'd
Burton, Boy Ransom, Fred Pinion,
Arthur Cloar and Sam Applewhite
guilty OF murder in the first degree
with mitigating circumstances, and
Bud Morris and Bob Huffman, the |
other defendants, guilty of murder |
In the second degree, and fixed their |
punishment at 20 years in the peni- |
tentiary. The punishment of the six |
first-named defendants was left to |
the court and may be death or life |
Imprisonment.
The jury had been out since 2 |
p. M; but, because of the illness |
of Juror Rosson, had not been able |
" COubull Until T. M mere Was |
a difference of opinion among the |
Jurors as to the degree of guilt of !
the defendants, but an agreement |
was reached quickly.
Court was convened at s p. NJ, |
and the jury sent word that it would |
be able to report shortly. The room |
was crowded, as it was during the |
argument. The minutes passed, and |
at s.45 p. NJ. the bailiff called for |
the county physician. Juror Rosson |
was in state of collapse and needed |
attention.
1t was half an hour before Ros- |
son was revived, the jury filed in |
and six deputies were summoned to |
carry in the bed upon which the sick |
Juror reclined. The foreman an
nounced the verdict, the defense call |
ed for poll, which was made and |
the Judge dismissed the jurors.
The defendants took the verdict |
with calmness, as they had been ex-
pecting 1t since the closing of the |
arguments. Attorney Pierce turned |
to them when it was announced and |
said: I'VE will tear this case to
pieces IN the Supreme Court"
The State expected a verdict or |
first degree murder ia all eight cases,
and was visibly disappointed. Bob |
Huffman, one of the men to escape |
with 20 years, is the man who, ac-
oording to the confession of Frank |
Fehringer, fired the shot which kill
ed Captain Ranken as he was being |
drawn uD with the rome