NIGHT RIDERS KILL KENTUCKY FARMER;
Shoot Him Down on Doorstep Despite His Promise to Dig Up His Tobacco.
ESCAPE IN THE DARKNESS
First Murder In the Kentucky Tobacco War Arouses the Entire State -- No Clue to the Murderers.
CARLISE, Ky., March 21. -- Although he agreed to forego his right to raise a crop of tobacco, and promised to dig up his plant bed. Hiram Hedges, a farmer living near this city, was brutally murdered on the porch of his residence by a body of "night riders" early to-day.
The murder is the first that has been committed by the lawless bands that for months have been terrorizing the farming districts of the State. and mards the first outbreak in this county.
A member of the band fired his shotgun just as Mr. Hedges turned to reenter his house after giving his word to abandon his intention of planting tobacco.
Only a few of the Night Riders were masked, and all were heavlly armed with shotguns. Mr. Hedges was awakened about 1 o"clock by rocks being thrown against his door and persons calling for him to come out. He got up and went to the door in his night clothes. He was told to come out, as they had some medicine for him, and then they demanded that he dress and come with them and dig up his tobacco bed.
Mr. Hedges at first refused to go, but finally told them he would dig it up if they would wait until morning. After saying this he started to go back into the house, when he was fired upon.
The entire load entered the farmer's abdomen, and he sank in the doorway and died in about ten minutes. After doing the shooting three of the riders went into the house and looked at him. Mr. Hedges leaves a wife and seven children. who were in the house at the time of the killing. He had often avowed his intention of rasing tobacco this year, and had sowed hid beds in preparation for doing so.
The people of the county are dazed and horror-stricken over the tragedy, and nothing else is talked of on the streets today.
None of the night riders was recognized. The Coroner went to the scene of the killing this morning and held an inquest. but nothing was brought out to throw any light on the identity of the perpetrators of the crime.
A band of about fifty night riders passed throught this city at 10 o'clock last night, coming from toward the eastern part of the county and going in a westerly direction. They cut all telephone wires leading out the city in the direction they went.
It is not known whether it was a part of this band who went to Farmer Hedges's home or whether it was another and different band that killed him.
The New York Times
Published: March 22, 1908, Sunday
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