The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-12-20
TROOPS LEAVE
FOR MER ROGUE

officers, who left here last night on
a mysterious journey, camped at Mer
Rrogue today. Governor Parker and
state officials declined to state the
reason. The troops commander, Cap
tain Cooper, ever the telephone, said
ne knew nothing except that he was
ordered to go to Mer Rouge. 1t is
generally believed the movement is
connected with the situation growing
out OF the kidnapping Of five Mer
Rouge citizens last August, two Of
whom are still missing. One report
was that the troops were to guard the
court house during the opening Of the
inquiry into the kidnappings; another
was that the bodies Of Watt Daniels
and Thomas Richards, missing men,
had been found in the lake.
Monroe, La, Dec. 19.-Company G.,
Louisiana National Guard, consisting
of 65 men and three officers, under
command Of Capt. d. w. Cooper, NOV
ed out of Monroe today on automobile
trucks for Mer Rouge, in Morehouse
parish, under orders from the adiu-
tant generals Office at Batron Rogue.
Although no definite information of
the purpose of the military company
at Mer Rouge has been received here,
it is understood the troops were call.
ed in connection with the situation
brought about by the kidnapping last
August by hooded men of five Mer
Rouge citizens, two of whom have
disappeared.
One report was that the troops had
been ordered to Bastrop, Morehouse
parish seat, where they were to guard
the court house there for 80 days, in
dicating that an opening hearing into
the kidnapings decided on recently at
a conference between Gov. John M.
Parker and Attorney General Coco
would be held immediately.
Captain Cooper, who was ordered to
Eaton Rogue several days ago, pre-.
sumably for conference with Gov
ernor Parker and other state officials,
returned at noon but refused TO dis,
cuss the reason for the military or
der.
In addition to arms and ammunf.
ton the troops were supplied With
Siaicna "a ]ants soNsdassk.- p.sss
Mayor Robert Dads Of Mer Rogue,
in response to message as to condi-
tions there, stated tonight there has
been no disorders Of any kind at Mer
Rouge for several months. Morehouse
parish officials expressed surprise that
troops had been sent into the parish,
stating that normal conditions pre-
vailed there.
The five ber Rouge citizens, includ-
ing Watt Daniels and Thomas F.
Richards, the two missing men, were
kidnapped on the night Of August "a
by 80 or 40 hooded men. They were
taken into the county and a whipping
administered to at least two Of them.
Three Of the party, including John
Daniels, father of Watt Daniels, were
released and after wandering all night
in the woods returned to their homes
the following morning.
Nothing has since been heard from
Watt Daniels and Richards. Parish
authorities, assisted by citizens of
Mer Rouge, instituted a search for
the missing men, which has continued
since the kidnapping appeals by rela-
tives Of the two men were made to
Governor Parker and parish officials,
but all efforts Of authorities to ferret
out the perpetrators have failed. The
ories have been advanced that the lake
near Mer Rouge may hold the bodies
Of the two men.
One report current today was that
the troops ordered to Mer Rouge
would drag the lake.