The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1922-12-23
SEEK VICTIMS OF
HOODED RIDERS
Louisiana Guardsmen Search
:. ....* Lake For Bodies. - Gu
GOVERNOR BACKS PROBE.
Victims, Weighted Down With Iron
Wagon Wheels, Believed to Have
Been in Water Four Months.

! NIer Rouge, La, Dec. 22-The search
OF Louisiana national guardsnen In
the waters Of Lake La FOuche for the
! bodies of Watt Daniels and Thomas
Richards, two alleged victims of q
band of fifty or more masked anG
hooded men, is so far unsuccessful.
A second detachment OF the state
troops left for the lake, about eight
miles from here. Rumors were cur
rent opponents of the states investi-
CATION of the kidnapping Of five men
last August were planning to inter-
fere.
The ferry at the lake was patrolled
by O detachment of troops. Dragging
there is under direction Of w. e. Dun
comb, st. Louis, professional diver.
Soldiers also will drag q location at
Alcoper's Lake, twenty-five miles dis
tant.
Inasmucb as the bodies are believ-
ed to have been in the water about
four months divers believe they will
find only portions of the skeletons of
the men.
A chart showing the location in the
lake where the bodies, presumably
weighted down with iron wagon
wheels, were thrown, and other infor
nation is in the hands Of those con
Quoting the dragging and diving oper-
ations. Certain positions on the lake
have been watched for months and
the bodies are believed to be resting
close to the location outlined unless
the slayers have succeeded in running
!. the gauntlet of the guards and remov.
ing them.
: State authorities and detectives sent
here several months ago were report.
ed to have intimated they believed
:. the hooded band killed Daniels am
Richards and threw their bodied into
the lake.
/. In the event the bodies are recover
ed, open hearings, discussed by Gov
ernor Parker and other state officials,
will probably be instituted Ct Bas-
trop, the parish seat. Under this meth
evidence upon which to convict MEM
bers of the band of ksdnapers.
The three victims who returned told
Of terrible experiences, but declared
they could not identify any Of the
kidnapers as they were clothed In
masks and robes One declared some
of the automobiles bore Arkansas and
Mississippi license tags.
This statement Is believed to have
been the foundation for the recent
visit to Washington of Governor Par
ker, who asked the president to In
woke his authority in what he charged
was an interstate crime.
Efforts of local authorities to learn
the identity of hooded men were I'M
successful and although g grand jury
was invoked, little evidence was sub
mitted, 1t being said certain witnesses
were being inundated.
Governor Parker later took on the
burden Of the case and announced the
state had determined to reach and
prosecute the guilty.
A motive for the kidnapping has
never been definitely established. The
cries of a feud of some twenty-five
years standing has been offered as
well as the opinion Of many the Ku
T Klux Khan of Louisiana, Arkansas and
Mississippi was involved.
An event almost Immediately pre-
ceding tfa kidnapping, given credence
as probably bearing on the case, was
the Isssempted assassination of the
Mayor Of Mer Rouge, who had an
nounced a campaign against the law
less and was answered by note to
leave the community and upon refus-
ing was greeted by fusillade Of
shots while riding in his automobile
a few nights later.
That Governor Parker received Off
cial information threats had been
made against state officers who were
investigating the kidnapings was one
of many unconfirmed reports circulate
ed as the reason for sending troops
here.