The New York herald., 1922-12-26
CHARGE LIFTED HOOD
REVEALED BURNETT
AS SLAYERS DRANK
Louisiana Authorities Say
Relative Will Identify
Murder Suspect.
FARMER UNDER GUARD
Berry Milestone Held Up
by Mob That Killed Two
Last August.
FORMER MAYOR SOUGHT
Prisoner Denies Belonging to
klan-yisit by High Of
ficial Reported.
FORMER MAYOR SOUGHT

SpecioI Dispatch TO The NV YORK IIuRALp.
BAsTRoP. La, Dec. 25.-It is con-
tended by the State that T. j. Bur-
nett, under arrest here as a member
of the hooded and masked mob which
kidnapped and murdered Fillmore Watt
Daniels and Thomas It. Richards, will
be identified as one of the mob be-
yond the shadow Of doubt.
Burnett will be identified. the au-
thorities declare, by Berry milestone,
farmer whose home is near Oak
ridge, in tho southeastern portion os
Morehouse Parish Whetstone and
Burnett are relatives, and it is said
there Is no possibility for Milestone
to be mistaken.
MILESTONE, according to inforrna-
ton here, was on his way home from
Bastrop on the afternoon of August
"a. the day Of the kidnapping, when he
was held up by masked crowd on
the Bastrop-Mer Rouge highway,
about three miles from Bastrop. One
Of the masked men. the story runs,
called MILESTONE by name and COM
manded him to halt.
Milestone obeyed and was told TO go
over the hill to branch and bring a
bucket OF water for the thirsty mob. To
make sure that he returned with the
water tho mob compelled whetstone TO
take off his coat and leave It with him.
Would Not Let Him Go.
When he got back with the bucket
of water one OF the hooded men offered
90 cents 70 MILESTONE for the errand. but
lie refused the money. Thinking t.ey
We're through with him, MILESTONE
started 10 leave, when he was again
halted and told that he must remain
because he might give the alarm further
UP the highway. lie was directed TO
take a. seat on q log. where he sat for
some time and saw the mob seize T. W.
Daniels. T. T., Richards. J. L. Daniels.
W. G. Andrews and G. Z. C'Tot'D Dav-
export.
While MILESTONE was on the leg ne
saw some OF the hooded men raise their
masks TO drink from the bucket OF water.
This enabled him to recognize them. and
among those whom he recognized ~
T. J. Burnett, his relative. the IAN who
Is now in the Bastrop Jail.
MILESTONE, Il Is understood here. told
the whole story TO agents of the Federal
Department OF Justice. After relating all
he knew. MILESTONE. II is said. informed
the secret service men that his life would
not be worth Atty cents IL Burnett
knew he had identified him as mem
Der of the mob.
The secret service men. It Is said. as
sured him he would be given the fullest
protection. and he was tawen by them
20 q place OF safety.
After MILESTONE disa ppeared klans-
men who are implicated In the case be-
came greatly alarrnd and attempted to
find him. Secret service operatives have
information. Il Is understood, that .ho
frightened Illanslnen employed detec-
tives. who traced Milestone to Baton
Rouge and thence 20 New Orleans, where
they lost the trail. To date they have
not been able to find him.
One of the sercret service men said
to-day that MILESTONE was In a SAFE
place and was enjoying himself. He
intimated that milestone was in Missis-
sippi In the custody of "A Government Of
ricer. lie said the witness will be pro-
duced In court at the proper time.
report that a high official OF the
Ku Klux Khan had visited Burnett In
his call here to-day and an intlmation
by the prisoner that he would be able
to prove an alibi. We're the two develop
lnents at Bastrop to-day.
This afternoon train stopped NJ
the station near the Jail and a prosper
Gus looking man alightcd and walked
hurriedly, to the JAIL few yards away.
Tie got permission from the guards 70
talk with Burnett through the jail win
dow. Tho guard was unable TO hear
what the man said as he uttered but
a few words in a low tone and then
walked away. His Identity has not been
established but it is reported that he
was high national official Of th Ku
Klux Khan. The stranger left Bastrop
by automobile after refusing to be In
terviewed.