The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1909-01-08
UP TO THE JURY
Evidence all IN and Attorneys
Have Spoken The Charge.
. LAST WEEKS TESTIMONY.

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A half dozen character witnesses sum
moned on behalf Of the eight alleged
Nighuiders now ON trial charged with
the murder Of Capt Rankin were sud-
denly transformed into witnesses for tEe
State. to the great surprise and chagriIl
Of the defendants attorneys.
These witnesses inclldiaeSi. Rev. John
R. Williams, pastor 81 the Christian
Church, Justice III che Peach Stephen
Fields andlfive others Each declared
that Garrett Johnson bore 4 COON fopli-
tation and that Frank Fehrlngeis tllss
confessor, was man of bad reputatR2n.
But each also declared that ever SINCE
night riding began Johnson was stis-S
pected of being the captain of the band
and that while Fehringer was known as
a bootlegger Of whisky, he had repu-s
tation for telling the truth even when
accused of crime.
The Attorney General startled the
crowd by asking Justice Fields if he
were not only sympathizer Of night
riding but an actual member of the
band. The Squire denied the allega-
ton with some vigor.
This led to heated argument be-
tween Attorney General Caldwell and
Attorney Pierce, of the defense, in
which Pierce pointedIy declared that he
proposed to hold the Attorney Gem
eral responsible in court and out of
court for indignities discourtesies and
insults, whereto the lank Attorney
General opined that he was willing to
be held responsible by Pierce, either in
court or out Of it, for anything he said
or did
The court then joined in the repartee
to the effect that unless the chickering's
ceased the counsel table on both sides
would be short several lawyers some day
and a few distinguished members of the
bar would find themselves the enforced
guests of the Sheriff. Both men then
any save pacific intentions
and declared their undying respect and
for each other. Thus the in
cident closed.
The defense to-day continued the ali
bi witnesses piling up incident upon IN
cident, said to have occurred in the pres
snce of the defendants upon the night
If the murder of Capt. Rankin.
Lengthy wrangles over highly technical
points marked the proceedings which
nave become merely very tiresome
epetitions of what some one else said
n did.
The afternoon session was interrupted
ong enough to permit the grand jury
0 report eleven fresh indictments for
light riding, murder and conspiracy.
hey are drawn under the old Ku-Klux
ct and inc, ide number of men whose
with the riders developed
uring these trials. The penalty in
ach Indictment is death, as the offenses
ere committed while masked and
rmed.
Mrs. Wad Morris testified that her
usband returned home at 11.30
clock on the night Capt Rankin was
He'd at Walnut Log, and did not leave
ntil the next morning, Morris is
'nfessed Nightrider.
The public in general has been puz-
ed to know where the men on trial
ave secured the financial assistance to
lable them to pay the brilliant array
legal talent that Is representing them.
ne fact was brought out Friday where
me of.the money came from, when
F. Glover. one OF the. most prom,
mt farmers Of the Clayton vieinit,
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