The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1921-07-13
Mayor and Chief OF Police Failed 10
Act. States Letter Found on
Floor In Grady County
sherIfrs office
COFFMAN AGAIN DENIES
CHARGE OF CLANSMEN
cIty's Chief Executive States That
Conditions A. Outlined In Let
ter From Mysterious Organ.
ixatlon Don't Exist.

knights OF ku klux Kan nave
appealed to Sheriff Matt sankey to
take immediate steps to eliminate
the condition outlined In letters re-
celved by Mayor o. Coffman and
Ben Phillips. chief OF police. The ap-
peal was made In letter found lay
ing on the floor In the sherifrs Of
flee.
A verbatim copy of the letter fol.
lows:
Some days ago letters were writ
ten to o. Coffman. Mayor. and Ben
Phillips. chief Of police of Caickasha
calling their attention to an unde-
sirable condition existing in this
city.
I'VE have knowledge OF the condi.
tions as set forth In the letters re-
ferred to, do exist and Ciave reasons
to believe that Mayor Coffman and
Chief Phillips know OF these condi-
tions and have reasons to believe
that you know OF the conditions
complained OF.
I'VE realize that this is matter
for which you are not directly re-
sponsible, but inasmuch as the city
officials referred to have, through
the press and public statements, de.
MED that such conditions exist and
have not eleminated them and
knowing THAT they do still exist, we
appeal to you as sheriff Of Grady
county and the next higher officer to
whom we can appeal, to take. imme-
diately, the necessary steps to rid
the city of these undesirable citizens
and maintain desirable condition
in the city.
1--WE assure you the undivided sup
port of all loyal, peace abiding
American citizens.
Respectfully,
knights of the Ku Klux Klan."
sankey Issues Statement
Sheriff Sankey issued statement
in which he states that he and his
officers are constantly on the alert
for violators of the law; that he has
the law enforcement in the entire
county under his supervision and
naturally can give only a certain
amount of his attention to Chick
asha. "I want the people Of Chick
asha to feel free to come to me in
confidence" he said.
The sheriff's written statement
points out that he ordered certain
persons rooming at certain room
ing house to leave town, which they
Immediately did. Later according to
the statement, he made arrests In
the same rooming house and turned
the arrested persons over to the city
for prosecution. II am now having an
Injunction issued closing this place.
he declared.
Il want the people of Grady county
and Chickasha to feel that the sher-
rs office is their office and that !
stand ready and willing at all times
to vigorously prosecute all law viol-
ators" Sheriff ,Sankey said.
conveyor Of Letter Unknown
Who conveyed the letter to the
sheriff's office? This question is a
mystery in the minds. Of Sheriff San
key and his deputies No one noticed
the letter until it was found on the
floor Deputy A. Sidney Hancock
found the communication.
The letter including the signature,
was typewritten. The envelope
showed no marks other than the ad-
dress.
When told Of the letter received
by Sheriff Sankey, Mayor 0. Coff.
man emphatically denied that the
condition exists in this city.
"Wet are endeavoring to enforce
all laws and will vigorously prose
cute any case that may be brought
to our attention by any citizen OF
organization" the mayor said.