The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-04-21
ALLEGED LEADER
POSTUM HUNTERS
Convicted and Given Four
Years and Day.
PROMINENT BUTLER CITIZEN
Witness RecOunts Story Of
Dire Threats Made By
the Defendant.
OTHER CASES ARE POSTPONED

Will ShoEIJ hftE OANIff
Bowling Green, KY, April 10
p. c. Jenkins, a prominent citizen
of Butler county, and alleged lead
err of the "Possum Hunters who
are charged with having whipped
members of the Webster family,
near Morgantown, was this morning
found guilty and sentenced to four
years and day in the penitentiary.
The case of Jenkins, with num-
Der of others arrested on the same
charge, was transferred by Judge
Moss from Butler to Warren and
the trial of Jenkins occupied sew
eral days. The trials of his alleged
acconp lices will not be called until
the September term of court.
The case against Jim Rewley,
charged with burning the foot
bridge over Barren river here, also
was postponed until September
Jenkins and his associates were
charged with having whipped Mrs.
Katherine Webster and her daugh-
ter AM son in Butler county, and
the case nas been followed win
great inter, st in this section. Mrs.
Webster. III her testimony. positive
ly identified Jenkins as one Of trc
Dand which visited their home, and
the defense attempte,. to prove an
alibi.
The case went to the jury last
night at 10 o'clock and the verdict
was returned at $3.50 this morning.
The most damaging evidence
against Jenkins since the statement
of the Websters, was given by Coun-
ty Clerk Moates. of Butler county.
In substance he said that a few
days after the call of the special
session of the grand jury by Judge
Moss, Jenkins stated to him it
wouldn't do for the court to hold a
special session of the grand jury;
that they wouldn't stand for it, and
if done, 800 or 400 men would come
in and sweep the town Morgan
town. clean as the floor; that they
had the best of guns. which shone
like electric lights on the barrels,
and they didn't any more care to be
shot at, than brick wall.
They had demonstrated that fact
the night they were at Webster's.
which didn't brighten them. 'They
went right in, got their possum,
laced him up right nicely, and then
went about their business"
Jenkins told him. he said. that
so per cent. of the populace of the
State were "Possum Hunters" and
If the court did convict them the
jails nor penitentiaries could not
hold them; that he (Jenkins) had
heard open speeches made on it.
They (the "Possum Hunters")
were for the good of the country.
and. he is alleged to have said.
since the organization they could
hold church meetings in the Hunts
Vile vicinity; the boys no longer
remained on the outside; even the
cows were afraid to low, the cats to
meow, and ROSTERS to crow after
the sun goes down.
Continuing, jenkins is alleged to
have said, according to Moates'
testimony. that the good men of
Huntsville approved of the work
they were doing. and it was not
their intentions to intrude upon but
to run in harmony with the law
and go after things the court could
not reach.
Jenkins. when placed on the
stand did not deny the testimony of
Moates. but stated he was partly re-
peating what he had heard and part
ly Joking.
Seven Indicted.
Cape Girardeau. Mo-. April h.
Seven men We're indicted in connec-
ton with the recent activities OF
night riders in Missouri by the Fed
eral grand jury. which adjourned
here yesterday. Judge ID. p. Dyer,
Of ST. Louis. under whose instruc-
tions the jury carried on its investi-
cation. announced that heavy SEN
fences would be imposed on all men
convicted In his court OF participa-
ton in the night riders work.
Letters have been sent recently