 On March 6, 1871, James Rufus Bratton led a group of about 70 white men from their muster at the Briar Patch muster ground west of Yorkville to the Williams cabin.At that time, James William Avery and Bratton were the head and number two in the local Klan.The mob first went to the home of Union League member Andy Timons, beating Timons to learn the whereabouts of Williams' home.