The New York herald., 1921-10-03
SHERIFF IS BLAMED
FOR XII KLUX FIGHT
Citizens Of LOrena. Texas, De-
clare Officer Precipitated
Battle During Parade.
GRAND JURY TO BE CALLED
60unty Attorney Refuses De-
mand to Proceed Against
Wounded Official.
GRAND JURY TO BE CALLED

WACO, Texas. oct. 2.--County Attor-
ney +. B. Tierney to-day refused the
demand of committee Of 100 promi-
plants against Sheriff Bob Buchanan
and Deputy Sheriff Burton in con-
nection with last nights fight a.
Lorena between parading knights of
posse, in which ten men were
wounded. three perhaps fatally.
The County Attorney declared that
the Grand Jury here would be called
TO investigate the incident, and that
pending it's action he would take no
steps in the matter beyond an inves-
tigation by his department for evil
dence for submission to the Grand
Jury.
J. ID. Willis, local attorney. acting
as spokesman for the Lorena deiega-
ton. charged that the Sheriff and his
deputies precipitated ''promiscuous
shooting and cutting affray which en-
dangered the lives Of Lorena men
women and children
Following the meeting with the County
Attorney the Lorena citizens drew up a
resolution, signed by 200 additional Lo-
rena citizens and saying
In order that the world may know
the facts. we desire to make public
the following statement:
We do not believe that the MEM
bers Of the Ku Klux Klan who staged
the parade violated any law or that
they had any intention of violating
any law.
We attempted to prevail upon the
Sheriff of this county and his depu-
ties through the medium OF dozens
of representative citizens to permit
the parade to be held, guaranteeing
that it would be law abiding and
orderly.
We induced the leaders of the pa
rade to accede to the Sheriffs de-
nand that two of the paraders should
be unmasked.
We implored the Sheriff not to
jeopardize the lives OF our women
and children.
We unequivocally place the blame
for the shedding of blood on the
Sheriff.
We admire and we honor the spirit
and the Individual that kept the
American flag from being trampled
to the earth.
We conclude by affirming our be-
lief in the preservation of America
for Americans and by offering tribute
to the little band OF men who last
night showed their calm and deter
| mined action that their lives sup
| ported this principle.
! Tlto tt;rJ cto tl1o abnya rpe-
olution repudiates the assertion Of Sher-
iff Buchanan last night when brought
to hospital here. to the effect that the
masked men would not unmask
Asked IL he had any statement TO
make regarding the resolution. County
Attorney Tierey said he had nothing TO
say.
Physicians attending Sheriff Buchanan
would not permit him to be questioned,
I'm view of his serious condition. He
did not make q formal statement last
night.
The fight occurred when Sheriff Buch-
anan. with Deputies Burton and Wood.
attempted to dispense the marching
Klansmen, who were masked and robed,
after according to the Sheriff. they had
refused to divulge their identity. He
had agreed to permit them to parade,
he said. IL they would allow him TO
identify those participating.
After a conference with two masked
leaders at a house on the outskirts of
the town, where he tried to persuade the
Klansmen to desist from violating what
he interpreted as the law against un-
known masked men marching in a pub
lie demonstration, the Sheriff declared
there would. be no parade.
Immediately afterward the throng OF
more than 5000 people gathered to wit
ness the parade saw the column OF
white clad figures begin their march
toward Lorena, down the road leading
in from Waco.
AS the marchers advanced cheers
from the crowds which lined the road
greeted them. mingled with boots and
jecrs from those admonishing the Sheriff
not to interfere.
When the leader or the column. bear
ing an American flag. reached point a
block from the main business street OF
tho town Sheriff Buchanan, followed by
his two deputies and "a crowd OF curious
spectators, halted the standard bearer
and grapped with him. in an attempt
20 snatch the mask from his face.
Other marchcrs then came TO the as
sistance of their leader and In the melee
which followed the Sheriff was knocked
down.
a single pistol shot was heard and as
the Sheriff fought his way to his fec,
fftecn 3T twenty more shots were nrcd
In rapid succession.