The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-12-27

| fOptS anu lutif UfucfS ofis
but / never knew anything
like this they did"
He said that he was q dea-
con In the Baptist church at
Mer Rouge and that the
church people were general
ly" with him when he was
mayor.
Or. Hugh Young Of Johns Hop
kins hospital attendcd McKoin's
hearing. Dr. Young said he would
back Dr. McKoin and put up what
ever security or cash was necessary
70 obtain his reiease.
McKoin opened his fight today to
avoid return to Louisiana. He en-
gagged Robert r. csrman, former
United States district attorney here.
to seek his reiease on a writ Of
hsbeas corpus. Regardless of the
murder charge. he says he does not
want 10 80 back.
DIR. McKoin explains his reasons
for not wanting 10 return by saying
that he left Mer Rouge long before
Watt Daniels and Thomas Richards
were scixed by masked mob and
murdered. that he knows nothing
about their deaths. and before he left
the state he had appeared before
grand juries and other agencies OF
Justice and told all ne knew.
McKoin admits having killed
another physician seven years
ago. hut said that was a case Of
self-defense. He said there was
q feud between him and the
other man; that the other man
started TO draw and he Dr. Nc
KoIn) was quicker. This. how
ever, had nothing to do with the
recent disorders ut Mer Rouge.
which followed the physicians
activities "a . reform mayor, he
| declared.
| He was being held In central police
station today pending action on the
habcas corpus writ or arrival OF the
Louisiana officers with rsouisition
papers.
DR.. McKoin said:
'T am practically ruined. financial.
iy. got out OF Mer Rouge without
collecting the bills due me from my
patients. and without being able 10
sell my home. Physicians. friends of
mine. are providing the money TO en-.
able me TO study here. My friends
advised me TO leave because my work
required me 20 20 into rural COM
munities much at night. Shot at
once from ambush and Just missed.
| ! was told that could not protect
mself.
THE trouble. so far as J was
concerned. began six years ago
when was elected mayor OF the
town for q period OF two years.
did not want tho position but the
best people OF Mer Rouge wanted
me TO run. They ran me and
did my best TO stop the association
Of white men with negro women.
gambling and other evils. Mer
Rouge IL town OF between $50
and 1000 people. 1t IL surrounded
by a prosperous farming community.
You know how things are in
small town when any change is
attempted. One.half is with those
who are in. The others are against
them.
when / had served my first
two years got a letter telling me
not to run again. After getting
that OF course. had TO run. 1
was elected finished my second
term In 1920.
''Since then there has been
some disorder Mt various times.
Last summer some Of the men
who were opposed 70 me used
Ia come out in front OF my
house and fire off their guns
and shout. II frightened my
wife and children and ! asked
that II be stopped.
But II wasn't stopped. Then ]
began to hear threats. One evening
when ] had been 10 see an old
negress out beyond the town. a
negro stopped mo and told me that
| was wanted at her house again.
mr.A-. H..r......- NJ