Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1915-09-30
FOURTEEN
INDICTED
Alleged Ku KIux, Charged With
Night Riding.
Work of State Rangers Brings
Forth Some Results.

Among new Offices instituted by the
recent legislature was that of state
ranger and one of their first acts was
to quell subordination arising over the
acts of night riders in the neighboring
county of Sequstchie. At the request
of Judge Lynch, Gov. Rye sent the
Rangers to Sequatchie County to pre-
serve order and ferret out the individ-
uals concerned in the outbreaks. The
posse has been in Sequatchie county
). for the past four or fve weeks under
sommand of Capt, John P. Fyffe.
The Chattanooga News has a special
correspondent on the scene, and Thurs
, davis issue contained the following;
''The Sequatchie county grand jury
late Tuesday afternoon returned three
indictments involving fourteen men
charged with night riding and with
being involved in the Ku Klux raios
that have resulted in terrorizipg tue
Second district of the county for the
past year. Ten of the fourteen men
Indicted spent the night in Jail as q
result of some prompt work on the
part Of the rangers. " !'.1
1.-THE indictments came as a sur
prise, as 1t was only expected that SIX
men indicted in a whipping case,
which occurred yeai ago, would be
tried. It was believed that the ku
Klux organization had kept its opera
tions 40 secret that none of those con-
nected with the killing Of Sam Ciem-
ons some time ago would become
known.
"Nearly the entire population OF the
Second district had been summoned at
witnesses for one side or the other IL
the trial of the six men, which it was
thought would be held Tuesday. NC
grand jury subpoenas had been issueo
in the cases. The defense, it is said,
came in with complete supply OF tes'
timony to establish an abb for each Of
the six and more than forty Witnesses
To impeach the two solitary witnesse'
that were supposed to be the only re-
lance of the state.
stAtty Gen. Ben O.. Mckenzie,
however, proved q most able strate
gist and entirely upset the plans iaio
to secure an acquitai.
aWhen the court opened, Judge
Frank Lynch delivered ringing
charge to the grand jury that left al
entirely different atmosphere in com
mupity half inclined to sympathiz'
with the Ku Klux.
..The grand jury spent a leisurei!
morning Investigating a number o
small offenses, and after the noon re-
ce,s tacklet1 the night rider cases, VIII
Col! II, p. Fyffe in the role OF assist
ant prosecuting attorney. AT . p. m
the jury filed into court and presente'
three indictments against fourteen o
the accnsed Ku Klux. Rangers Ernes
Reil. Carl Wellniz. Taylor Layne ant
a K Knight, in less than fiftee'
n,;rntes had locked mp ten of those tn
,a;ctadg who were in town. One maj
only escaped to the mountasa@. i"'
wen mounted rangers gave chase AN
40 far have not Geturned. h1l
& .sThose arrested were THdsh NIP
ton Memal Mofiett, John Seals. Car
roll Seals. Bob Hillas, John Harmon
Ernest Harmon, Alex Clemons, ]on'
Hitchcock and Jesse Land. The ON
ha;no pursued into khe mountains d
luther Tate. Tate evidently beeam
srsn;c;ous and left town before tn
trap was sprnng. .oa
ai,ne OF Che indictments charges
oa,;tal offence and bail Is denies
them. The ease against the siA IN
aicted at the last term was mot tries
NJ ali. but was continued on aocoun
Of the new Indictments.
1Tbe community, heretofore siien ~.
.na apparently inclined to stae VIII
.ba night riders, woke mp to-day ant
.nra;se of the courageous acsion Q
f,S,age and attorney general was nea''
on every hand. - ,,., hov,
son the mountain, where men nav N'
,,a.n t,rni,g out with a shotgun ever!
go. go tna dor, barked at night. it wa
nIns,ncad nIno today, they had slept las
AMY ss;thout feaI of moiestation TO
isns s,st' fine in many months I'M
s,. tnv :. srssidents declare. that.the conr
vsii0y skly yyastored d the good name OF TN
,tv mas and sentiment has swept 70 en'
couny of the court in q great wave.
supn1nisao pCns y. ~; denee I upon which the in
+ a,.tmspts bns were returned was all gath, gath
cred py snG ~ an excellent piece o
credited Jndas Ml Lynch stated that th'
work yna .,.a ysneers in this case ha'
WORK q a.;Gsd ~; fhe new law and prov
en Il 10 be one Of the best msasprss passet
BY tss i IN m s'ssss csasr ysnTs directp
the prisoners to be taken eiI ~ sbe Febrnar