South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-23
STATE is READY
TO ACT AGAINST
KIDNAPPING BAND
Relatives and Friends Partly
Identify Pair as Missing
IOuisianans.
MARTIAL LAW POSSIBLE
Resistance Expected in Serv-
ing Warrants on Members
of Hooded Group.

MER ROUGE. La, Dec. 2c.-(By
a. P.)-Company A. National Guard
Of Alexandria, was enroute 20 More
house parish. while al New Orleans
a machine gun company was pre-
pairing 10 leave to reinforce a com
pany Of National Guardsmen, Of
Monroe. The troop movement fol-
lowed the recovery today in Lake
La ForChe. near here, OF the bodies
Of two men.
Relatives and friends late today
partially identified the bodies as
Watt Daniels and Thomas Richards.
missing since kidnapped by hooded
men four months ago. it was report
ed here tonight. Buckles and bits
OF clothing were said 20 have been
recognized by several who viewed
the bodies.
Gov. Parker at Baton Rouge. di-
recung the military forces. refused
TO divulge the significance OF the call
for reinforcements or the next move
Of the state in the program ne has
outlined 90 ferret out and punish
the members OF the hooded mob re-
sponsible for the abduction OF I'VE
Mer Rouge citizens last August. and
the alleged murder OF two OF them.
Martial Law Possible.
Martial law in MoorehOuse parish
was considered tonight by those !n
touch with the situation as a posi-
biity Large stocks Of guns and
ammunition have been reported
stored in residences and stores by
citizens Of Mer Rouge and the sur
rounding community resulting from
the proposed establishing OF hostile
camps during the four months since
the kidnapping.
Some resistance is expected when
the states warrants calling for ar
rest OF a number Of men believed 20
have been the ring leaders Of the
hooded men are served, Il was indi-
Gated here. The presence OF an ad-
dtional body OF state troops 10 was
believed. VIII serve as a precaution
against any probable outbreak.
Special investigators OF the de-
partment Of justice working under
the direction Of the governor. are
said TO have a partial list OF MEM
bers Of the hooded mob Many
names were secured several months
ago when the investigators reported
an attempt was made by a group OF
men 10 reach a spot on Lake ia
Forche. regarded as the probable
resting place OF the bodies.
Draw Guards Fire.
While La Forche was being blast
ed. what was believed as decoy ot
eight or 10 men was active few
miles away drawing the fire OF the
state guards and bringing the entire
military company from Mer Rouge
to the banks of Lake Michigan
With. diving operations concen-
trated chiefly on the ferry landing.
where a chart indicated the bodies
OF the missing men most likely were
hidden. IL was declared the guilty
men feared the bodies would even
tually be located. The dyuamiters,
II is thought. became frightened. or
failing 10 find their quarry. ran
away. A ferryman who heard the
blasts reported the finding this
morning.
The bodies were viewed ny many
during the afternoon, including j. J..
Daniels. 20. one Cf|the victims ot
the masked men and father O. Wat-
Daniels. whose body is believed %
be one OF the TWO found. Positive
Identification Of the bodies was lack
ing this afternoon. but investigators
claimed they were the bodies sought
Gov. Parker has charged that
hooded men from Miss-ss- pp!, Ar
kansas and Louisiana were respon-
sible for the outrage