The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-03-10

Jackson, blhcksmith, PROTESTANT.
Rev. J. NJ. Keller, catholic priest,
who has been rector OF st. Joseph
Parish since 1915, was taken from
his home here last night about 8:30
o'clock by band Of masked men,
spirited out OF town short dis
lance and whipped, after which he
was treated 10 coat Of tar and
feathers, and left alone at the place
Of the occurrence 10 find his way
home.
Such ia the gist Of the story
CLEANED by Constable w. r. Brown,
j. s. Edwards, j. X. McAtee and
others who visited the priest at his
home upon his return from the
party.
The local paper had put on sub
scription contest, with an automo-
bile as the prize, which campaign
closed Saturday night at nine o'clock
and large number Of people were
on the streets and about the Sla-
tonite office, when word was re-
ceived from the catholic parsonage
that the priest, J. NJ. Keller. had
been shot. j. X. McAtee and J. W.
Nesbitt, prominent citizens and cath
olics, and among the leaders Of the
catholic congregation In opposition
10 the priest, at once communicated
with the parsonage by telephone,
and were answered by Constable
Brown, who advised that the two
girls living in the house in which
the priest resided had informed him
that a bunch Of men had come and
carried the priest away. That one
shot had been fired, but II was not
known whether or not anyone had
been hit. II was not until later In
the night that the information was
definitely gained that no one was
hurt.
The two girls living in the priests
home were named Brosch, and were
keeping house for him. According
20 Constable Brown, who was the
first one go the house after the
priest had been taken away, the
girls were badly frightened and did
not know whether or not the men
were masked. They said the men
had told them TO 20 into another
room and be quiet and that no
harm would come 10 them. They
promptly obeyed.
After the news became known on
the streets. j. S. Edwards, ex-bank.
err and ranchman. J. r. McAtee,
prominent capitalist and catholic.
and others went 10 the priest
home and found him covered with
tar and feathers, and complaining
Of his heart, but otherwise seemed
10 have suffered no III effects from
the whipping h. said he received
Mr. Edwards went after DR.. w. A..
Tucker, who supervised removing
the tar from the victim.
Keller told them that he had been
lectured and warned 10 leave the
! county by noon Sunday and not 10
return, and that he had agreed 90
comply with the demand lie said
the men told him that what he had
received would be only rs break.
fast spell 10 what would be done b.
him n he did not 90 and remain
away
Sunday morning Keller was TAX.
en- 20 Lubbock. whore he boarded "a
train for Amarillo, saying he was
going from there TO Dallas. what
his plans are for the future were
not disclosed.
Keller has served az rector II
the local catholic church since be.
fore the war, and he occasioned
much unfavorable criticism Of him
self during the war, being openly
accused Of being pro-Gcrman. II
q. IL. Lot h..
months ago applied for final citi-
zenship papers in the Federal Court
at Amarillo, certain citizens, some
Of them members ~ his own con
gregation, appeared against him
prominent among them being Paul
7. Murray. present justice Of the
peace at Slaton, and that he not
only was denied citizenship. but his
first papers were revoked by the
court. II is reported that Keller
later put out the report that he
had been 10 Amarillo and had hi
first papers restored, but this re-
port has been denied by prominent
members Of his congregation, who
demanded to see the paners, but
that Keller did not have them.
DuHudl ulifTUotH Nihnn Ui'fAihf
Of prominent protestants and cath
olics was held in Slaton, at which
the many speakers told Of the ef
forts that had been made repeatedly
10 cause Keller 10 be removed from
the Slaton parish, all Of which had
been unavailinR. and that request
and demands from his own conRro-
cation from his resignation were III
nored, and those present az the
meeting were unanimous in their
approval Of the action Of the Gar
and feather party. Many stated thai
such action was the only means a.
fectual 10 accomplish his removal
Three protestant ministers Of Sla-
ton attended the mass meeting The
catholics present we're Paul i. Nur-
ray, J. X. McAtec. J. W. Negbiit
L. J. Strube and W. l.. Meurer. ~
prominent citizens Of this commun-
ity. r. A. Baldwin. local attorney.
presided n. the meeting.
AT the mass meeting an official