The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-12-27
ECOND ARREST IN
MER ROUGE CASE


Bastrop, La, Dec. 27.-Justice Ue-
rtment agents and state represen-
tives today renewed their activities
MA the Morehouse kidnapping case.
Xhe efforts to run down persons re-
sponsible for dynamiting the lake, re-
&tulting In the finding of the bodies
~ Watt Daniels and Thomas Richards
Fho were kidnapped BY I masked mob
last Auguss.~-idened. Additional ar
lfests are S.~sared imminent. Detec-
sttves reported that they located the
lace where the dynamite was sold,
md some suspects are being watched.
The arrest in Baltimore OF Former
layor McKoin of Mer Rouge caused
lonsiderable excitement. The people
athered in groups to discuss develop.
tlhents.
$S ]. A. Sylvester, Of Bastrop, today
<3ssued a statement expressing doubt
That the bodies found were those Of
Daniels and Richards. He said the
Eservices of 500 Klansmen have bssn
&ofercd to clear up the mystery.
4 Bastrop, La, Dec. 26.-The second
farrest in connection with the More
E.house kidnapping Of last August was
made late today when DR.. b. NJ. Nc
Koin, until few months ago mayor
OF Mer Rouge, was taken in custody
at Baltimore at the request of Gov
ernor Parker, who charged him with
murder. The physician was taken a
postgraduate course at Johns Hop
kins.
The former mayor is expected to
reach here within few days to join
q former deputy sheriff, who is now
being held on the similar charge in
the Bastrop Jail.
. While the arrest was being made,
detachment of National Guard was
accommodating along Lake La Four
che for evidence to lead to the arrest
oi dynamiters responsible for tho
blasting at ferry landing last week
when the bodies Of two men, believed
to have been tortured and murdered
'Jy masked and robed men, were blown
) from the bottom Of the lake. ,
The company also was to. act as a
bodyguard for the sheriff who was to
make arrests in the event HIS sus-
@picions justified them. J..
! During the day Adjutant General
Toombs, suddenly called back frum
ashington by the governor, eyf1yed
m Morehouse 70 df5eE t66 6paEations
OF the three companies Of stnte troops
I eacamped here and at Mer Rouge.
y 1t was persistently reported airing
the day that all preparations had been
4 n,sde to call out two additional state
companies if conditions warranted.
4 Soldiers are on guard duty at the
jail here and encamped in the heart
Eof Mer Rouge, where the situation is
such that the governor does not want
TO leave the townspeople to them
selves in the fear there will be blood
Rhed because Of the friction among
:. hem following the August event.
Muny Of the populace are armed.
The military also was at the dis
posal of the civil authorities to take
in custody any members IF the hood
ed mob whose identity are known to
the state authorities, according to de-
partment Of justice men.
Attorney General Coco stated that
six or seven arrests will be made
before the open hearing January 5.
1t is reported the number Of ar
rests will be increased as the identity
Of the dynamiters are established.
Federal agents declare they have the
name of the ring leader and his arrest
is imminent.
~ Attorney General Coco is expected
to arrive at New Orleans tomorrow
in preparation for the conference
i there Thursday, at which time plans
for the hearing will be outlined and
, the reports Of the coroner's jury that
conducted the inquest over the head
less bodies of Watt Daniels and
Thomas Richards will be discussed.
Citizens were gathering on the
street corners tonight discussing the
arrest of two of their former law Off
cials. The arrest of the man who
bad been their mayor until he re-
signer last August came as COM
plete surprise. DR.. McKoin was born
and grew to manhood at Monroe and
later moved to Mer Rouge where he
was "a practicing physician. His
friends induced him to make the race
for mayor and during his incumbency
ie fearlessly upheld the law, and at.
tempted to rid the community Of
moonshiners and other lawbreakers
It was said.
On August 2 he reported assassini
fired two loads Of shot into his moving
automobile as he was answering ,
sick call. He later received persisten
warning 70 leave the community ant