The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-31
MER ROUGE KHAN
LEADER WELCOMES
OFFICIALS PROBE
Local Body Will Aid State Or
ganization in Effort to
Learn Members of
Masked Mob

'S~O'NONf
BAsTRoP. La, Dec. 3o.-Capt ]. X
skipworth. recognized leader OF the
Ku Klux Khan in Morehouse parish.
tonight told the Associated Press
that Morehouse Khan would welcome
any investigation by other khan au-
thorities of the kidnapping of Watt
Daniels and Thomas Richards.
masked mob victims.
He reiterated previous declarations
way involved in the disappearance or
death of the two men. He said he
learned of the decision of the state
khan to send Investigators into More
house only. through newspaper dis
patches.
I'VE welcome Investigations. the
klansman asserted. I'VE have al
ways disowned any Implication in the
occurrence and when the day in court
comes We will thoroughly disproye
any charge that may be made"
Await Developments 4
Morehouse settled down tonight to
the state would lay its CARLSON the
table in the Morsehouse kidnapping
and murder cases.
The failure of the state to set in
motion its dragnet during the pass
ing week has given the impression
that additional arrests promised will
not be made before the day of the
open hearing.
In the meantime Investigations are
1.
that department of justice agents
will delve into the activities of I'M
Identified secret organizations who
have conducted raids against the law
less along the Louisiana Arkansas
border.
The Ku Klux Khan of the realm of
Louisiana also had agents in the
field, it was reported, to lear if these
organizations were responsible for
the outrage on the Bastrop Mer
Rouge highway on the night of
August "a when five members of
old Morehouse families were kid
mapped, two logged and two MUIR
dered.
Khan to Investigate
Because of the reports made by
the scores of persons who were re-
turning from the Bastrop celebra-
ton and witnessed the highway cpl
sode that the mob robed and
masked--regalia similar to that worn
by the Ku klux Khan, the state klans-
men are sending Investigators into
Morehouse, to sift the affair to the
bottom and to report their findings.
If the khan as a whole is guilty,
its charter will be revoked; il in
dividual members were impliea ted
they Will be LETT by their fellow
klansmen to the fate they deserve.
This was the edict of chieftains who
gathered in New Orleans yesterday
In the meanwhile, reports are in
circulation that the membership of
the Morehouse khan is dwindlng
through designations of those who,
is is said. do not want the notoriety
that might follow revelations at the
open hearing. Many are understood
to be Influenced by their families
who fear that the innocent as well
as guilty may be made to suffer.
Federal investigators who have
been active here since September
returned today after Conferences
with state officials at New Orleans.
Fear for Mckoin's Health
Friends of DR., B. NJ MeKoin, for
mer mayor of Mer Rouge. who is
under murder charges at Baltimore.
were disturbed over the news that
the slight cold the physician had
contracted in Jail had developed into
bronchitis. They fear his Illness,
although reported as not alarming
at this time, may grow worse under
the mental strain he is now under.
Some of his friends have advised
him not to fight extradition but to
IN tiSfa ~ oc
tain he will be vindicated. In the
meanwhile, they are proceeding with
the accumulation of the fund to pay
for his defense.
Former Judge W. C. Barnett of
Shreveport, La. announced today he
has been retained as counsel for
T. ]. Burnett, former deputy sheriff.
also under arrest on murder charge
in connection with the case. He said
in the event Mc<oin was extradited,
he would represent him also.
II regard the case in no other
light than any other murder case"
the judge commented. "In the last
analysis this case will>have to be
disposed of by due process of law in
the criminal courts
Friends of Burnett and McKoin are
authority for statements they will be
defended by the best legal talent that
money can buy.
Claims Alibi
Witnesses to prove that DIR. Nc
Koin was in Monroe at the time the
kidnapings occurred have been pro-
cured. and a positive alibi can be
established. it was announced today
by his friends.
DIR. C. p Gray. president of the
Fifth Congressional District Medical
society; DIR, A. II. GLADDEN. of Monroe
and DR.. E. NJ. Hemler. a Mer Rouge
dentist asserted they were with Nc
Koin in Monroe during the day and
until late in the night of August "a.
DR.. Mckoin, who has been charged
by Governor Parker as being
klansman, denied his utilization with
the organization. but announced to-
day that he was not only a member,
but an organizer of the Louisiana
Arkansas Law and Order league, an
organization which during the sum-
mer of this year, was said to have
absorbed a number of Independent
law enforcement societies.
The league was reported as having
ceased to function and It Is the gem
eral opinion, has dissolved. Federal
and khan investigators were reported
as anxious to go thoroughly into the
activities of this organization.
NIXON To CONTINUE