which had held crowds as 5,000 people. Jonesboro at the time had a population of just over 10,000. By September 14, the troops were withdrawn. Two days later on September 16, a tear-gas bomb was dropped outside Jeffers’ tent. Tensions continued to grow when 21 of Jeffers’ followers were expelled from the First Baptist Church. On October 25, Jeffers’ revival tent was burned down. Heard supporters claimed that it was a false flag operation and was used to slander them and gain support for Jeffers. Jonesboro Baptist Church conflict Jeffers had already planned to establish a tabernacle, named Jonesboro Baptist Church. The tabernacle was built at Matthews and Cobb Street, and the congregation continued to meet there. Shortly after the church was built, Jeffers left and hired Pastor Dale Crowley of Deaton, Texas to run the church. After 11 months, Jeffers returned to the church but he had changed many of his fundamentalist ideas. Jeffers and Crowley often fought over control of the church and theology. The church formed two factions (one led by Jeffers, the other by Crowley) and occasionally held services at the same time. There were two sermons and choirs competing to drown the other out. On August 14, 1933 a scuffle broke out at Jonesboro Baptist Church, which included fistfights and men brandishing shotguns. To prevent further conflict Jeffers and Crowley decided to bring the dispute to court. On October 9, the court ruled in Crowley’s favor and awarded him the church. The following day, Crowley and his bodyguard L. H. Kayes went to claim the tabernacle. On the way they got into a shootout with J. W. McMurdo, a janitor and watchman hired by Jeffers. Crowley was unharmed although Kayes was injured. McMurdo was shot twice in the leg and once in the abdomen and died two days later. Crowley was arrested and at the hearing on October 14 and claimed he acted in self-defence. On October 17, an unknown assailant attempted to assassinate Crowley at Craighead County jail by putting his machine gun through the bars and pulling the trigger. Crowley was unharmed. On January 3, 1934 Crowley's trial began in Piggot Clay County after a change of venue due to the remaining tensions at Craighead County. Crowley was acquitted of murder charges and set free. Aftermath After the shooting Jeffers left Craighead County for Miami, Florida where he renounced the Baptist Ministry. He