The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-12-27
PROOF OF crime
BROUGHT UP
FROM LAKE

Two MutllaIeQ BOQ1es
Found at Bottom Of
Louisiana Lake by
Divers
Mer Rouge, La, Dec. 22.-Bodies
of two men blown from the bot
tom of Lake La Fourche early to-
day by unidentified dynamiters
were lying at an undertaking es-
tablishment here tonight, while
military men stood guard pending
the arrival Of additional troops
from Alexandra and New Orleans,
ordered here today by the adjatant
general:
The bodies. badly mutilated and
bound with wire, were believed by
the authorities to be those of
Watt Daniels and Thomas Rich
ards, members of a party Of five
prominent Mer Rouge citizens. who
were kidnapped last August by
white robed and hooded men and
who have been missing since and
then the, object of three days rak-.
ing of the lakes OF Morehouse par
jish by NaioHal Guardsmen, fed
eral agents and professional div
ers.
Authorities here state they are.
satisfied the bodies were the ones.
sought. Relatives and close
friends OF miss ing men viewed the
bodies during the day and tonight
and it was reported bits Of cloth
ing Of the men were recognized.
The coroner announced tonight an
inquest would be held over the.
bodies. probably tomorrow. The
arrival OF the attorney general Of
the state and two prominent patho--
tegtsts Of New Orleans is awaited.
II was not known tonight wheth-
er the inquest would be held here
or at Rastrop, the parish seat.
In the absence OF official infor-
nation. the next move on the part
of the state. was not known here,
hut it was the caneensus of opinion
the inquest wonld be followed by
the arrest OF atleast 20 persons, al.
legged linglaaders, Of the august
mob, Tho napae OF these men VII
be presented 10 the military or
ctivif al asy-stlie four de-
nartment Of Justice agents, who for
four months haye been condnct-
ing secret, Investigations, it was
stated here.
Martha Jaw Expected.
Mer Rouge citizens expressed
themselves tonight as believing
martial law VIII he declared here
and the, arrests made by troops:
Everything was quiet and peace
ful on The surface. here tonight but
those. informed are authority for
statements that there is an under
lying feeling :of bitterness.
Some resistance is expected when
the. states warrants calling for ar
rest of number Of men believed to
have been the. rinsieaders of the
hooded men are served, it was
indicated here. The presence of an
additional body Of state troops, it
was believed. however, will serve
as rreeantion against g probable
outbreak.
Special Investigators of the de-
partment Of justice working under
the direction OF the governor are
said to have q. partial list Of MEM
bers Of the kidnappers. Many
names were obtained severa!
months ago when the Investigators
reported an attempt was made dur
ing the night by group Of men to
reach a spot ON La Fouche lake
guarded as the probable resting
place OF the bodies.
The opinion IS advanced that
these same men returned in the
dead hours OF last night and placed
the !. charges of dynamite that
wrecked a part of the bank near
t! the eastern ferry landing and re-
leased the decapitated, wire bound
bodies from the weight that for
four months had held them to the
bottom of the lake. Divers spent
the afternoon trying to locate the
rusty wagon wheels that were
missed from the banks of the lake
simultaneously with the disappear
ance Of the men. said to be the
only missing link in the chain OF
Ieyidence the investigators had sub
mitted to the governor as their
solution OF the mystery.
While La. Fourehe was beng
blasted, what was believed as de-.
Icey Of eight or ten men were active
in Lake Cooper, 20 miles away.
drawing the fire of The state guards
and bringing the entire military
company from Mer Rouge to the
banks Of the lake.
Inquiry into Blasting.
The military captain announced
1.-The investigators were not RESPONSE
! bio for the blasting last night and
search is under way to identify
those responsible.
With diving operations concen-