The New York herald., 1922-12-23
LOUISIANA TROOPERS
GO AFTER KLANSMEN
| With MACHINE GUNS
Two Bodies Rise as Lake Is
Dynamited in Move to
Steal Them.
GUARDS FIGHT DECOYS
State Believes Men Found
Were Killed by Mob Four
Months Ago.
BATTLE Is LOOKED FOR
Citizens Of Mer Rouge Are
Armed and Expected to
Resist Arrest.
BATTLE Is LOOKED FOR

MEE ROUGE. La, Dec. 22.-Company
A. National Guard, of Alexandria. was
en- route tonight to Morehouse parish,
and at New Orleans a machine gun
company was ready to leave for here
to reinforce company Of National
Guardsmen Of Monroe. The troop
movement followed the recovery to-
day in Lake La Fourche. near here,
of bodies of two men after the lake
had been dynamited by men whose
identity has not been established.
Relatives and friends late to-day
partly identified the bodies as those
OF Watt Daniels and Thomas Rich
ards, missing since they were kid
naped by hooded men four months ago.
Buckles and bits of clothing were
recognized by several who viewed the
bodies.
Attorney-General A. V Coco will ac-
company Machine Gun Company D,
Louisiana National Guard. which was
ordered into service to-right to entrain
for Bastrop. parish seat OF Morehouse.
The departure of the Attorney-G
eral for Morehouse Is taken as an fndi-
cation that the State Is ready to pro-
ceed with the arrests and prosecution
OF those said to be responsible for the
murder OF the two men.
Parker silent ON Plans.
Gov. Parker at Baton Rouge. di-
recting operations OF the military forces.
refused to divulge the significance OF the
call for reenforcements or the next move
OF the State In the program he has OUT
lined to ferret out and punish the nleni-
aers of the hooded mob responsible for
the abduction of five Mer Rouge citi-
zcns last August and TIE alleged mur-
der OF two of them.
Martial law in Morehouse parish was
considered tonight by those In touch
with the situation as possibility. Large
stocks of guns and ammunition have
been reported stored ir residences and
stores by citizens of Mer Rouge and the
surrounding community. resulting from
the reported establishing OF hostile
camps during the four months since the
kidnapping.
Some resistance Is expected when the
States warrants calling for arrest OF
men believed TO have been the ring
leaders of the hooded men are served,
II was indicated here. The presence OF
an additional body OF State troops. Il
was believed, will serve as precaution
against a probable outbreak.
Special investigators OF the Depart
rnent of Justice, working under the ci-
rection OF the Governor, are said 70
have a list of some members OF the
mob. Many names were obtained sew
eral months ago when the investigators
reported an attempt by a group Of men
to reach a spot on Lake La Fourchs
regarded as the probable resting place Of
the bodies.
The opinion Is advanced that these
men returned last night and placed the
charges of dynamite that released the
decapitated. wirebound bodies from the
weight that for four months had held
them at the bottom Of the lake. Divers
spent the afternoon seeking to locate
the wagon wheels that were missing
from the banks OF the lake simultan-
eously with the disappearance OF the
men, the only missing link In the chain
OF evidence the investigators had sub
mitted TO the Governor as their solution
of the mystery.
Decoy Draws Guards Fire.
While La Fourche was being blasted.
what was believed was decoy Of eight
or ten men we're active in Lake Cooper,
twenty miles away, drawing the fire OF
the State guards and bringing the entire
military company from Mer Rouge 10
the banks Of the lake. The military
Captain announced the investigators
were not responsible for the blasting last
night and search IL under way to
identify those responsible.
II was said the guilty mon feared the
bodies eventually would be located and
decided 10 recover them and remove
them 70 another burial place In the in
terror. The dynamiters, II Is thought.
became frightened. or, failing to ind the
bodies. ran away. A fcrryman reported
the finding this morning.
Positive Identification OF tho bodies
was lacking this afternoon. but investi-
gators said they were satisfied tho bodies
were those sought.
The State, several weeks ago. decided
to establish court OF Justice sonie-
where In Morehouse 20 hear testimony OF
those who were believed to be IN POSI-
tion TO Identify the guilty. and the
recovery OF the bodies Is heraided as
the signal for the opening OF the hear
ings. under protection of troops.
Gov. Parker has charged that hooded
men from Mississippi. Arkansas and
Louisiana porpetuated the outrages.