The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-11-29
TOWN ASKS FOR j. S. HELP
IN THREATENED INVASION
Petition Declares Battle is I'm.
minent; State OF Siege
Exists.

appeal to Gov. John NJ. Parker and
Federal authorities for protection
against threatened invasion by the
Klu Klux Klan of the little town of
Mer Rouge, in Morehouse Parish, in
retaliation for information given to
Department of Justiie investigators
relative to the disappearance of FIVE
persons and reported murder of two
citizens, is contained in a statement
signed by a committee of Mer Rouge
residents.
Department of Justice operatives
have been in Morehouse Parish for
weeks. They have been there open
ly and under cover The post
Office department has conducted an
investigation also.
One witness, who told the FEEDER
al agents he was forced to carry
water for the hooded mob. and who
is reported to have seen several of
. them with their masks Off, was SAX
en- from his home and is beins hid
den for safe keeping. Federal oper-
aiives are conducting the investiga-
tor of the kidnapping because - In.
pclief that members of the hooded
mob came from across the Arkansas
line, with leaders from even more
distant States.
Bodies Dropped Into Lake
1t is known, too, that the Federal
agents have what they believe is
positive information that the bodies
of the two missing men are hidden
in Lake Lafouche, near Oak Ridge
that the two bodies were dropped
into the lake and bound to two large
iron wheels picked up from shore.
The statement of the citizens de-
clares that the article in Washing
ton newspaper relative to conditions
! in Louisiana is true as far as More
house Parish is concerned.
The statement reads: eve do not
know conditions all over the State
but We, as citizens of Mer Rouge
I know that our parish, Morehouse
Parish, is being dominated by tbs
invisible empire.
Several OF our citizens have been
threatened. The safety of anyone
has been threatened il they even
voice criticism of the Klan for kid
naping five of our citizens. beating
and whipping two of them, and max
ing off with two others, when We
believe now to have been foully mur
| dered."
THE Klan dominates Morehous'
Parish. The administration ma
chinery of the local government is
so broken down that it is practically
impossible either to indict or con
vict members of the Khan for THEN
violations of the law"
Town i'm State of Siege
For weeks Mer Rouge has been
prepared, rifles at hand, for the
threatened invasion of our village
by the Klan forces. Telephones have
been cut and we feared invasion.
we appealed for protection, appeal
ed to the State and to the Federal
Government. This is in no sense Il
reflection on Governor Parker from
whom we expect and believe we will
get aid and protection"
"Now that the Washington news
paper and Browne are under fire,
we invite Browne to come to More
house Parish and take evidence to
show not only that all he said in his
first article in reference to condi-
tions in Louisiana is true as far as
Morehouse Parish is concerned, but
also to show that conditions are ev-
en- worse"
Inc otateihSht 10 SiShou " w. -
Stucky, attorney; w. F. Campbell,
village marshall; A. C. Whipple, au-
tomobile agent and garage proprie-
tor and c. X. Brunson.
An attack on one of the Depart
ment of Justice agents was planned.
according to these citizens, but the
agent. ignorant of the plans. left
town in the afternoon of the day the
raid was to be made.
This lucky circumstance, these
citizens declare. is all that prevented
a battle between the opposing forces.
Mr.. George Calvin Keown. who