The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-01-08
ROASTS
GOV. PATTERSON
ATTORNEY IN NIGHT RIDER CASE
DRAWS CORRECT PICTURE OF
CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
SAYS WITNESSES WERE BRIBED
Contrasts Treatment Of The Poor Fish
ermen With That Of carmaeks
Munderers.

1
| Union CITY, Tenn, Jan. 6.--AfteE
bitter attack upon the Governor Of
the state and an attempt to bring the
killing of former United States Sena
tor Edward Carmack into the night
rider case, late this afternoon, Rice
Pierce, senior counsel for the accused
night riders charged with the muir
der of Capt. Quentin Rankin, on Oct
10. was reprir.anded by Judge Jones
Mr.. Pierce was preparing to close
and. while discussing the testimony OF
Fehringer, Hogg and Morris, the three
night riders who turned States EVIL
dence, he launched into violent de-
Inunciation of Gov. Patterson.
"The Governor Of the State, after
sending an army into Obion County to
trample upon the rights of the people
to snatch honest men from their
homes, and bully them and abuse
them, then offers reward of $4,000
for the arrest of Rankins murderers,
said Pierce.
Nov, do not approve of crimes.
denounce murder, whether 1t is cow
ardly assassination on the streets OF
our capital city, or any equally cow
ardly murder on the banks of Reel
foot Lake. But submit that all men
are equal before the law and the man
or men who assassinated Carmack
are entitled to no better treatment
than those who killed Rankin.
after filing Obion County with the
army and abusing its citizens, what
does Patterson do, this Governor OF
the State? He sends for Frank Feb
ringer and Herschel Hogg and Wad
Morris and he brides them to perjure
themselves to send honest men to the
gallows."
Several times the attorney repeated
the charge and then Judge Jones said:
"The Court does not believe that the
judiciary should permit to pass unno-
ticed this assault upon the Chief Exec
utive Of the State. There is nothing
in the testimony to sustain counsers
charges. The witnesses swore repeat
edly what Gov Patterson told them
was that if they would tell the truth
he would give them an unconditional
pardon and see that they got out OF
the country. In no way 1t is in EVIL
dence that he offered them pardon to
turn up or involve any one in the
murder
"But," retorted Pierce, these wit
nesses, or one of them at least, sWore
that if Patterson had not offered him
the pardon he would not have made
the confession. Just what else he Of
fered them | do not know, but / be-
lieve | have right to say he bribed
the witnesses to perjure Themselves
mir. Pierce" again said the Court,
these remarks are highly improper,
and the Court will not permit you to
make them. Gentlemen" said Judge
Jones, turning to the jury, there 10
nothing in evidence upon which the
charge against the Governor can be
based"
Mr.. Pierce had spoken nearly two
hours when the incident happened.
The court adjourned a few moments
later until tomorrow, with two hours
of time still to s credit.
The case should go to the jury before
8 O'Clock tomorrow.
The defense began its argument to
the jury in the night rider trial this
morning. Judge w. H. Swiggart
closed the States argument briefly.
Juror Rosson, who is i'll with the
measles, is being kept in the court
house. A-room has been fitted up for
him, and he is carried from 1t to his
chair each time court opens. He has
a high fever, but is determined to COM
plete the case.
]. L. Frye, who opened for the de-
Tense, was followed after luncheon by
w. S. Coover.