New-York tribune., 1922-12-27
McKoin Arrested in Balii.
more on Parker's Order
While He Boasts Troops
Must Come After Him
Taken From Clinic
AT Johns Hopkins
Fled Mer Rouge Before
Ku-KluxC Crime oEscapc
Vice Foes, He Declares
s,,,,,I Dl,saieh 70 Ths Trbuns


BALTIMORE, Dec. 26.-Dr. B. NJ.
McKoin, formerly Mayor Of Mer
Rouge, La, was arrested here to-day
by detectives from City Police Head
quarters.
Action against the man who fed
the little town which to-day. follow
ing the finding Of the mutilatsd
bodies Of Watt Daniels and Thomas
Richards, believed 10 have been muir
dered by Ku-Klux Klansmen, Is un.
der martial law, was taken at the
request Of Governor John NJ. Parker
Of Louisiana. Governor Parker tel
egraphed, asking that the man be
held on a charge Of murder.
The arrest was made at the Brady
Clinic Of the Johns Hopkins Hospital
here. IL came Immediately after DR..
McKoin, who declares that his flight
from Mer Rouge was caused by an
attempt against his life, had boasted
that he never would return 10 the
state Of Louisiana until the militia
was sent after him.
seized to Echoes Of Boast
He had hardly finished making this
declaration TO a little group Of hospi-
tai listeners when Detectives Porter
and Qulrk, Of the headquarters stAh,
entered with a warrant. and took him
into custody. DR.. MeKoln was wearing
the white coat and trousers used IN
clinical work He asked permission 20
change to-rueet clothes This was
granted. 70 then was taken 70 head
quarters and locked up.
Before the arrival Of the detectives
DR.. McKoin talked freely 10 newspaper
men Of his experiences in Mer Rouge.
He was found by newspaper men In the
Johns Hopkins Medical School, whers
he was taking a post graduate eourss
in urology under Or. Hugh Young. He
protested that he knew nothing Of the
murder of Richards and Daniels He
left the town, he explained, last
August after he had been shot at one
night as he was returning from
professional call on an old negress.
Ruined Financially
"f am practically ruined financially"
he went on. II got out Of Mer Rouge
without collecting the bills due me
from my patients and without being
able TO sell my home. Physician
friends Of mine arc providing the
money 20 enable mo 20 study here.
Nv friends advised me 70 leave be-
cause my work required me 10 90 Into
rural communities much al night.
Shot at once from ambush and Just
missed. | was told that I could not pro-
tect myself from such attacks.
"The trouble, 80 far as ] was con-
cerned, began six years ago when ] was
elected Mayor Of the town for period
Of two years. / did not want the posi-
tion, but the best people Of Mcr Rouge
wanted me 20 run. They ran me and ]
did my best 20 stop the association OF
white men with negro women, gambling
and other evils.
aMer Rouge Is town Of between
75O and 200 people. II is surrounded
by a prosperous farming community
You know how things are In a small
town when any change Is attempted.
One-haf Is With those who are IN.
The other half Is against them.
"When I had finished my frat two
wears. I got a letter telling me nos %
run again. After getting that. OF
course. had 70 run. I was elected.
finished my second term IN 1920
Family Terrified
"since then there has been some die.
order AZ various tines Last summer
some Of the men who were opposed b
me used 20 come out In front Of ny
house and FIRE on their guns and shout
n Frightened my wife and ny children.
And / asked that Il be stopped. Bat Y
wasn't stopped.
'"Then I began TO hear threats. One
evening. after I had been 20 see an old
negYess out beyond the town, negro
stoned and told me that I was wanted
at her house again. thought perhaps
nv medicine had been too strong FOR
her and went out.
aWhen ! rob there asked her bus-
hand how she was. She's been tolera-
bic well since you were here THIS morn
Ing he said.
s'why dld you send for me again
then7 I asked.
aI thought that Was strange, and
when fust as I got IN the town on the
way back, several shots were hreo y
NV car. i knew what Il meant. mao
4 heen lured out there 70 be shot some
days after was shot az got . letter
/ telling me that they had missed ne
that time, but that they would get me
the next time.
Got Out in Pour Days
~It was then, afser my friends had
toId me that I couldnt practice medi.
elne. make ny calls and protect myseii
from such night attacks hs that, ! got
out. / got this letter on Friday and
I left Mer Rouge on Tuesday. Ihat
wss last August. / had been q drug
sist In the town before ! studied raedi-
Zine and was graduated from Tulane
! University In 1912. Ny wife was born
n the town and lived there all her
| lie. She il now ia Baton Rouge. /.
n know nothing about the death of
T. II. Richards and +. W. Daniels.
II The attack Of the mob on these men
and on J. L. Daniels, W. q Andrews
and &. G. Davenport took place aftef
/ haA left. But / know the men,
! ..rrf - ~ -. fIm-4IHaI ..Ikh a.mu 49,