The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1922-12-27
LOUISIANA LAKE
GIVES UP BODIES

SENSATION AT NLElR ROUGE, LOU
ISIANA, WHEN BODIES OF TWO
MEN THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN
KILLED BY NIGHTRIDERS, ARE
BLOWN FROM DEPTHS OF LAKE
BY DYNAMITE.
Mer Rouge, La, Dec. 22.-Bodies OF
two men blown from the bottom of
Lake La Fourche early today by un-
identified dynamiters were lying at an
undertaking establishment here to-
night, While military men stood guard
pending the arrival OF additional
troops from Alexandria and New Or
leans, ordered here today by the adju-
tant general.
The bodies, badly mutilated and
bound with wire, were believed by the
authorities to be those of Watt Dan
1els and"rhomas Richards. members of
party Of five prominent Mer Rouge
cltl%ens, who were kidnapped last Au-
gust by white robed and hooded men
then the object Of three days raking
OF the lakes. of Morehouse parish by
National Guardsmen, federal agents
and professional divers.
Authorities here state they are sat
1sfied the bodies were the ones sought
Relatives and close friends Of missing
men viewed the bodies during the day
and tonight and it was reported bits
Of clothing Of the men were recogniz-
ed. The coroner announced tonight
an inquest would be held over the bod
is, probably tomorrow. The arrival of
the attorney general of the state and
two prominent pathologists of New
Orleans is awaited.
1T was not known tonight whether
the inquest would be held here or at
Bastrop, the parish seat. ~
In the absence Of official dnforma-
ton the next move on the part Of the
state was not known here, but 1t was
he consensus OF opinion the inouest
would be followed by the arrest Of ut
least 20 persons, alleged ringleaders
Of the August mob. The names of these
men will be presented to the military
or civil authorities by the four DEPART
ment of Justice agents, who for four
months have been conducting secret
investigations, it was stated here.
Martial Law Expected
<tks
selves tonight as believing martial law
will be declared
Everything was quiet and peaceful
on the surface here tonight but those
informed are authority for statements
that there is an underlying feeling Of
bitterness.
Some resistance is expected when
the states warrants calling for arrest
of number Of men believed to have
been the ringleaders of the hooded
men are served, it was indicated here.
The Dresenc OF an additional BODY of
state troops, it was believed, however,
VIII serve as Il prccaution against a
probable outbreak
ment Of justice working under the di-
rection OF the governor arc said to
have partial list OF members OF tho
kidnappers. Many names were obtain
ed several months ago when the in
yestigators reported an attempt was
made during the night by group OF
men to reach spot on La Fouche lake
guarded as the probable resting place
of the bodies.
The opinion Is advanced that these
same men returned in the dead hours
OF last night and placed the charges
Of dynamite that wrecked part Of tho
bank near the eastern ferry landing
and released the decapitated, wire
bound bodies from the weight that for
four months had held them to the bot
tom Of the lake. Divers spent the af-
ternoon trying to locate the rusty
wagon wheels that we're missed from
the banks Of the lake simultaneously
with the disappeance OF the men, said
to be the only missing link in the
chain Of evidence the investigators
had submitted to the governor as their
solution Of the mystery. 4.
While ia Fouche was being blasted,
what was believed as a decoy or eight
or ten men were active in Lake Coo
per, 20 miles away, drawing the fire Of