Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-26
NET TIGHTENING
AROUND HOODED
MOB SUSPECTS
Many of the Alleged Ring
Leaders Will Probably Be
Served With Warrants
Before January 5

Bastrop, La, Dec. 25.-The prob
ability that the next chapter in
the Morehouse kidnapping inyesti-
cations would be written soon in
Mer Rouge loomed strongly here
tonight.
Attorney General Coco's an
nouncement in Marksville, La,
where he is spending Christmas
that the state expected to arrest
at least six or seven more persons
on charges of murder in connec-
ton with the death of Watt Dam
| iels and Thomas Richards, is GX-
peeted to be fulfilled in the Mer
| Rouge community.
1t is believed that many of the
men the state suspects as ring
leaders of the August white robed
and masked mob will be served
with warrants before January g.,
the date set for the open hearing
here. Developments at the hear
ing may bring about the arrest Of
others. Federal agents have de-
clared they have the names of
twenty members of the mob.
Believes Burnett Is Guilty
"The state believes 7. j. Burnett
guilty of the murder charge upon
which he was arrested Saturday,
the attorney general declared today
in speaking of the lone suspect
held in the Jail at Bastrop. We
further believe we have the evi-
dence upon which to convict those
we arrest" he added.
An order as issued today deny
ing visitors permission to commun-
! icate with Burnett except in the
| presence of an officer of the mill
| tary detail. Burnett's friends, who
are many, are rallying to his sup
port.
The state forces penetrating into
the mystery, and the populace of
| Morehouse relaxed today under the
| influence of the Christmas spirit.
The troops stationed here and at
Mer Rouge rested on their arms as
the townsfolk brought them good
| things to eat and helped them to
| be merry.
Governor at His Desk
Governor Parker was at his desk
at Baton Rouge summarizing the
| developments of the past week
| which began with the troop move
ment that succeeded in locating
the bodies Of two men believed by.
| the state to have been killed by the
hooded mob. The governor dis
pensed with the traditional Christ
and relatives at New Orleans to
remain at his post,
A conference of those conducting
the inquiry was announced today
| Tor Thursday at New Orleans. AT
that time plans for the hearing
will be outlined and the findings
of the coroner's jury which held
| the inquest over the bodies OF Dan
! iels and RiCnards will be discussed.
| The report of the pathologIsts will
| be carefully weighed. 1t is re-
garded by the state as going tar
| toward clearing up the manner in
which the former service man and
| his companion met death.
bodies Wen Preserved
The bodies, lying in cool water
at the bottom of the lake four
months before being shot to the
surface by unidentified midnight
dynamiters, were said to have beea
we'll preserved. The heads and
limbs were missing. The patholo-
gists are not in a position TO state
whether these parts were hacked
Off by the eXecutioners, or blown
away by the blast or eaten off by
fish.
The Dhysicians disclosed that eVi-
dence indicated the men were beat
en- and their bones broken before
they died.
Doctor Being Sought
Department of justice men are
seeking to locate DR.. b. NJ. Nc
Koin, former mayor of Mer Rouge,
wanted for interrogation. The
mayor cult Mer Rouge following
an attempt made to assassinate
him. He went to Monroe and then
to New Orleans and upon depart
ing from here declared he was en-
route for Johns Hopkins University
at Baltimore for post graduate
course. Efforts to locate him there
have failed and his whereabouts
are unknown to officials. 1t was
the attempt on his life that is be-
lieved to have eliminated in the
event of August.
Testimony Of a sensational ma
ture duplicating many substantial
citizens of Mississippi and Arkan-
sas as we'll as Louisiana is eX-
pected to be developed by the state
at the open hearing.