New-York tribune., 1922-12-25
Suspect Lionized i'm Jail
as Militia Fires Final
Salute for Two Slain by
Louisiana Night Riders
Ku-KluX Members
March to Grave
100000 Bond Offered
for Arrested Man; To
Jail Others Tomorrow
sp,c,ai Dl,pateh 10 The rrtspr,

MER ROUGE. La. Dec 2i.-Tn a
ceremony attended By the most dra-
matte features this community has
witnessed in It's history. the bodies Of
r Watt Daniels and Thomas T. Rich
ards, who were slain and east into Lake
Lafourche by n hooded mob. said 10
be members Of the Ku-Klux Klan, we're
buried this afternoon.
No further arrests. il was announced,
would be made until after Christ
mas. but the Federal dragnet
for those concerned in the kidnapping
and murder Of tho pair is to be thrown
out in earnest Tuesday. Secret Service
men have the names, II is said, Of
virtually every one who was in the
lynching party and the movements Of
these suspects are being watched.
Several who arc wanted as accom-
pliees or witnesses are said 70 have
gone 10 towns In Arkansas and Mis-
sissippi, but are Ihadowed by Federal
agents. who will make arrests when
ever Attorney General Coco gives the
word.
we can put our hands on the ring
leaders any time we want to- Secret
Service man said tonight. "The evi.
dence is full and complete. People who
felt that this crime was 10 90 down as
an unsolyed mystery are going 20 get
n big surprise shortly"
The funeral ceremony to-day took
place az tho Daniels family burial plot
az the plantation home. seven miles
from Mer Rouge. Richards grave was
given a place near that Of his fellow
victim.
While soldiers with loaded rifles and
side arms gllstening IN the bright
sunlight passed through the throng.
the Rev. r. ". Hayward rector OF
Grace Episcopal Church at Munroe,
consigned the bodies 10 tho grave.
az Mor Rouge, n United States flag
was thrown over them, and while sol
diers stood az attention the cortege
started 10 the cemetery. Full two hun
dred eonveyanoes we're In the process
sion. There were touring cars, fiivvcrs
and horse and mule drawn spring wa
gons.
Crowd Gathers al Grave
when the burial ground was reached
II was found that a great crowd Of
eountryfolk had gathered Young
Daniels was favorite with the
negroes on his fathers plantation and
they had made a special request, which
was granted. that they be permitted 10
attend.
When tho easkets were being re-
moved from the truck, an old negro
nurse who had mothercd young Daniels
from the hour he was born started
rocking back and forth, convulsed with
grief.
The eAskets we're placed beside the
Graves and the rector took his position
10 read tho ritual OF the faith. The
old negress broke tho stiffness with n
cry Of grief Tottoring back and forth
supported by one Of her sons, she
walled:
"Watty. my Watty, how could they
have done ~ How could they have
done III" She was a pitiful figure m
her heartfelt grief, that perhaps was
as deep as that Of the father and
brother OF Daniels. who stood nearby.
drv-eyed, steeling themselves 20 pre-
vent a breakdown. or Of the mother,
the widow and the two little daughters
Of Richards. who already were almost
prostrated by the suffering they have
undergone and were III fortified for the
strain Of the service.
Orphans Mourn Father
While DR.. Hayward read the ritual
Leota Richards, three years old, ana
her sister. Terra, seven, only children
OF Richards, stood with tears on fheir
sorrow -pinched faces. II was Leota
who a few days ago wrote letter 70
the Ku-KluT, or az least asked her sis.
ter 70 do so, begging them TO send
Daddy home for Christmas"
Into the graves inelosure dog
slowly walked.
aTkats Watt Daniels's dog" said a
spectator. "He seems to know"
On the stone surface OF q grave ad-
ioiniuR the newly made one OF hleh-
ards sat the father Of the. dead man.
tears furrowing his cheeks. In ms
hand was small American nag
over and over he repeated:
"Thcy killed my boy, they killed my
boy"
Troops PIre Salute
"pust 20 dust, ashes TO ashes read
tbs minister and gave signal 20 a
40 lad OF militia which fred the last
tribute Of respect for comrade OF the
World War, r. Watt Daniels who
fought in France as member OF the
tank corps.
were lowered into the earth and the
speeta,ors hurried 10 their vehicles,
while members Of the two families
remained for a time.
Pears Of the authorities that there
might be trouble at the funeral were
uniustihed. The presence OF the
Militia. however, was deemed a neeess-
sry preeaution. for IN this county al
tooatlnu,d On sass thrssl