The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1922-12-27
DR.. NIXON FLAYS
GOVERNOR R PARKER
Former Mayor of Mer Rouge Arrest
~ ted in Baltimore
CHARGED WITH MURDER
Louisiana Executive Is Defender of
Bootleggers, Is Claim

Baltimore, Dec. 26.-Dr. b. NJ. Nc
Koin, former mayor of Mer Rouge,
La, who is wanted there in con-
nection with the Morehouse Parish
kidnappings and the finding of two
mutilated bodies in Lake La Fourche,
was arrested here today at the Johns
Hopkins University-Brady Institute
course The arrest followed receipt
of telegram from Governor John M.
Parker of Louisiana requesting the
local police to arrest McKoin on a
charge of murder.
After questioning by police Of
ficials DR.. McKoin was locked up to
await further action by Louisiana
authorities.
Other than requesting the local
authorities to arrest McKoin there
was nothing contained in Governor
Parker's telegram. 1t read:
Important. Arrest DR.. McKoin
for murder: Hold him for Louisiana
authorities"
Dir. McKoin denied knowledge of
the. killing of the two men. "An
I know" he declared, "is that both
me nkilled were on the bad side
the side of ootleggcrs, gunmcn and
men who associated with negro wo-
men,"
Purely by Surprise
The discovery Of Dr.. McKoin here
and his subsequent arrest came
about purely by accident. Word
was received here several days ago
that Dr.. McKoin was a student at
Johns Hopkins and Department of
Justice agents sought to question
him. However,, university officials
denied McKoin was registered as a
postgraduate, and stated several
letters had been received thcr, but
unable to locate him, the letters
we're turned over to the postoffice
department as unknown"
Early today policeman was found
on the water front unconscious. He
was removed to n hospital. When the
hospital report reached police head
quarters it was signed by DR.. Nc
'Koin. 1t was then that local news
papersmcn rushed to the hospital and
interviewed him. Up to that time tie
telegram from Governor Parker ask
ing for his arrest had not been receiv-
ed. DR.. McKoin spoke freely and in
sisted he was not a fugitive from JUS
tice, and that he had made no at
tempt to conceal his identity.
He stated he has been in Balti-
more since October l, and had left
Mer Rouge after an attempt had
been made to assassinate him.
Not Member of Klan
DR.. McKoin insisted he was not
member Of the Ku Klux Klan: He
praised the organizatio.l, however,
saying the members "did much to
hold down bootlcgging and i'm
morality, while I was mayor of Mer
Rouge" He also stated that law
lessness is a common occurrence
at Mcr Rouge and that he was
among those who started to clean
up the place. The result, he said,
gers, moonshiners and men of bad
repute.
Gust before I left Mer Rouge
boy of good family was shot in
the back. What did the sheriff and
Governor do? The case was dis
missed after jury filled with boot
leggers and the vicious element de-
clared the alleged murderer inno-
cent.
"Now, however, when a bootleg
ger and some one else is killed, the
Governor joins in the investigation
This affair, in my opinion, will de-
eide whether the decent and good
element of the town will control"
DR.. McKoin stated he had re-
ceived threatening letters long
time before he left Mer Rouge and
asked the sheriff to investigate
without success. "Just as I left
the mayorship and the successful
candidate went into Office" he con-
tinued, "gangs that paradcd the
streets fred shots around my house.
I asked the sheriff to take mat
ters in hand, but nothing was DONE"
HEARD ON ISLAND OF MAUN