The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-12-23
FIND. BODIES
IN FEUD CASE:
PR0BESTARTS
Relatives of Two Missing Men
Believe These Are the
Bodies
ORDER MORE TROOPS
Investigators Into Louisiana
Parish War Have Armed
Protection

Mer Rouge, La, Dec. 23.-Attempts
to identify positively the mutilated
bodies Of the two men cast up from
the bottom of the lake La Fourche
yesterday morning by heavy
charge of dynamite placed there by
unidentified persons will be made
today. Relatives and friends after
viewing the bodies yesterday ex-
pressed the belief that they were
those Of Watt Daniels and Thomas
Richards, mysteriously mi sins
since the night of August "a, wher
they were kidnapped by hooded
band together with three other pro-
minent citizens of this town.
The wire-bound and mutilated bod
les Of the two men recovered yes
terday in Lake LaFourche by state
troops, believed to be those of Wat
Daniels and Thomas Richards, who
disappeared after being kidnapped
by masked and white robed men last
August, were further identified this
morning when viewed by Richards
widow; J. L. Daniels, aged father Of
Waite, and a score of other relatives,
and friends.
Identification Of at least Watt Dan
iels is complete,N according to author
tiles, because of the initials, IF. W
D." found on belt buckle, which
Daniels is said to have worn at the
time he was spirited away.
The bodies are guarded by de
tachment of Monroe National Guard,
The guards were instructed by Cap
tain Cooper to shoot persons who
may attempt to spirit away the bod
les.
The inquest probably will be held
late this afternoon according to ad
vices received here from Dr.. Fred
Patterson, Morehouse Parish coroner,
who returned today to Bastrop.
The partial identification of the
bodies were made by means of the
belts worn by the two men and 9.
few shreds of clothing. The heads;
arms and portions Of the legs Of
both were missing, believed to have
been torn off when they were loos-
ened from the bed of the lake. The
torsos were bound with heavy wire.
Mrs. Anna Garretson of West
Monroe, mother Of Richards, will ar
rive here this morniny to view the
bodies. Before leaving Monroe she
said she would be able to identify
hc- son.
Company A. Louisiana National
Guard of Alexandria, and machine
gun company from New Orleans, or
dered to proceed to Morehouse Par
:sh, were due to arrive here or at
Bastrop early today. 1t was not
definitely known at which p!ac
they would be stationed.
Attorney General Cocowho it tt
take charge of any legal proceeding
growing out of the kidnapping, ac.
companied the New Orleans mlliif
men.
The Attorney General is sad to
have stated the additional troor.
would be used to protect those en-
gagged in the investigation of the
kidnapping and to prevent q possible
clash between opposing elements.
The pathologists from New Orleans
will arrive this morning and hold an
autopsy on the bodies. to determinc
if they were killed before being
thrown into the lake.
DR.. Fred Patterson, coroner, view.
ed the bodies late yesterday but de-
ferred the inquest. It was stated
that it would probably be held to
day.
A troop guard will be mainta;ned
over the bodies until the completion
of the autopsy and inquest and an
exhaustive effort at positive identi-
fication has been made.
1t was generally believed arrests
of at least twenty persons in Moe
house Parish and the Mer Rouge
ne:ghborhood, alleged members ur
the hooded band, whose names are
said to have been involved in the in
vestigation would be made. The ar
rest of several others in Arkansas
and Mississippi is anticipated.
1t was officially stated that no
one connected with the search oi
the missing men in an official capa-
city was involved IN the dynamiting
Of the lake. It is believed by the
officials that those responsible for
the dynamiting became frightered
and fled before they discovered that
the bodies had appeared.
Another attempt will probably be
made today by DIVER to locate the
heads and other missing portions
of the victims. An effort was made
yesterday to find them and the
weights that have held the bodies on .
the bed Of the lake but conditions
there were found to be too danger.
Gus to complete the work.
Attorney General Coco today has
set January 5 as the date for the
Morehouse Parish open hearing in
connection with the Morehouse Xii.
naping case, it was learned here to-
day.
The Attorney General and special
train with two companies of Louis
ana National Guard arrived in EaS-
trop this morning and the militarg
CONTINUED on Page g.
TO WE'D MOVIE STAR
(By the Associated Press.)