Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-12-25
BODIES OF. TWO
LOUISIANA MOB
VICTIMS BURIED
Stores and Residences at
Mer Rouge Reported
Stocked With Supplies of
Guns and Ammunition

''S"sS loA A9ll Ndo SpNi4NAhb q AAANt
eve tonight in the midst
Of the startling Investigations in
by the state last week to
solve the mystery of the kidnap-
ping case Of last August when five
citizens Of Mer Rouge
were abducted by masked and
white robed men.
Bodies Of two Of the alleged VIC
inns of the mob, blown Up from the
bottom of Lake La Fourche last
identified as Watt Dan
iels and Thomas Richards, were
buried in the Daniels family ground
seven miles from Mer Rouge today
side by side in the presence OF a
hrong Of relatives, friends and cur
ious onlookers.
Salute Is Fired
The Episcopal service was read
and squad Of national guards
escorted the bodies to the graves,
sounded taps and fired n salute as
the bodies were lowered into their
resting place. Daniels was a world
war veteran, having seen service
in the tank corps. lie was unmar-
ried,
Richards was married and the
father of two young children. Both
we're members Of families that were
pioneers in Morehouse.
With the funeral services ended,
the crowds started quietly for
home There was no outward eX-
preston of the feeling that has
been reported as surging within
the kin of the dead.
Fearing that pent up emotions
might be loosed during the dead
watch last night and following the
today, Governor Parker
late yesterday rescinded the order
issued previously in the day for the
Monroe national guard troops sta
toned at Mer Rouge to proceed to
Join two national guard troops here
guarding the court house and jail
square.
Stores and residences are gem
orally reported as stocked with
supplies of guns and am
munition and citizens are said to
5e moving about in vehicles and on
foot with fire arms at their side.
The Mer Rouge community has
been divided into hostile camps
since the events following last Aug
lst, it is admitted.
Lone Suspect In Jail
n. j. Burnett, the lone suspect
to reach the parish jail discussed
today with his attorneys the charge
af murder ,c muzt face .~at- tho
open hearing set for January by
the attorney general,
Visitors were denied admittance
today as the military patrolled the
iail grounds which are fianked
with machine guns.
A former deputy sheriff Of More
house, a farm owner and a mem
Der of a we'll respected family
Burnett is declared by many to
have come to his assistance. NO
further arrests were made today
At the conclusion of the open hear
ing is was mi-officially announc-
ed here, the men, if indicted, viii
be moved to some other parish for
trial, most likely Baton Rouge.
Guards Ordered Out
Governor Parker's program III
sitting the Kidnapping mystery was
set in motion last Tuesday when,
after q conference with state and
military officials, he ordered Com
pany G, Monroe national guard in
fantry to entrain under sealed or
ders.
The military men made their ap-
pearance at Mer Rouge early
Wednesday and went into camp in
the heart of the little town. The
same afternoon a detachment was
thrown about two lakes in More
house parish for guard duty. Prof
essional divers under the direction
Of department Of justice men be-
gan to rake the bottoms of the
lakes for the bodies Of two men
missing since the five were kid
mapped by a robed band last Aug
ust.
On chart prepared by federal
agents was drawn a ring around
4 ferry landing on La Fourche
lake, as the most probable resting
ground of the dead. This location,
which had depth of so feet, was
penetrated first but without sue
cess.
The next day the states principle
forces we're directed TO Lake Coop
ar "a miles from La Fourche. Men
md hove Of tbe surrounding COM
ioined The searchcrs and,
IinItjng hands, waded through the
swamnv portions of the lake. A
rrevious man to drain the shallow
waters was abandoned.
Men Seen in n Boat
shortly after midnight on Thurs
dav n nartv of eight or ten men
yere seen in a boat on Lake Coon
ar I'm, tho arg, under military guard
in which raffic was forbiddeu.
Tho men refused to answer calls
NJ tha puards whereupon ma
chine pnr was turned ppon them
and 1b0 shots fired. The men es-
rnned Two guards rushed ON foot
many miles and reported the event
.o tbo commanding officer nt NTer
Poure. Tho entire companv was
Ia,shed IA tho scene of the skirmish
hut Investigation after daylight re-
vealed notIinr.
While tba +roons were rushing to
I,ake Cooner blasfin was in prog.
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