The New York herald., 1922-12-25
KLANSMEN IN TEARS
AT MILITARY BURIAL
OF VICTIMS OF MOB
Louisiana Authorities Inter
Two Men Killed Four
Months Ago.
TROOPS FIRE SALUTE
Father Weeps at Grave as
Watt Daniels's Dog At
tends Funeral.
SUSPECT UNPERTURBED
Prisoner Laughs at Plight and
Says He Will Be Given
Liberty.
SUSPECT UNPERTURBED

cpec1d1 Dtspotcn 70 IHE NEW AoRk HERALD.
MER ROUGE, La, Dec. 24.--Four
months from the day and almost TO
the hour from the time they were
taken from their cars and brutaliy
murdered. the funerals Of Watt Dan
iels, and T. f, Richards were held this
afternoon In the Daniels family grave
yard, seven miles east of Mer Rouge.
Funeral services were conducted by
! the Rev. Z. w. Hayward, rector of
Grace Episcopal Church Of Monroe.
The bodies of Daniels and Richards
were revealed early Thursday morn
ing at Eason Ferry. across Lake La
Fourche, following terrific explosion
Of dynamite at the ferry landing, said
to have been set Off in an attempt to
cover the bodies or destroy them
entirely.
Daniels was placed in a row of graves
where brothers, sisters and mother lay.
and around which he had constructed
4 the concrete curb and covering with
space left for the remaining members OF
the family. He IS now laid in one Of these
spaces. Two remain for the aged father
and crippled brother.
Richardss body was placed in a grave
almost at the foot OF that occupied by
hts friend. who met deatn under similar
conditions Daniels body was placed
at the grave first and rested on cross
bars until the funera; ceremony mas
read. The body OF Richards was lowered
into the grave first.
| same PnIIbearers for Both.
Both bodies, enclosed in gray metallic
coffins. were taken to the cemetery on
the same truck The same pailbearers
served for both and included several ex-
service men. The funeral procession.
with more than 100 automobiles In line,
left the home of Harry I. Gibson. where
the bodies were taken yesterday from
the rnorgue after the autopsy was COM
pleted.
I With bowed heads men ard women
stood about the graves while prayer
was said and hymn sung. Into the
/ graveyard dog slowly walked.
That's Watt Daniels's dog" said a
spectator ''he seems to know
! On the stone surface of a grave adj
joining the newly made one of Rich
ards sat the father OF the dead man.
In his eyes were tears, In his hand a
small American flag. over and over
he repeated They Killed my boy, they
killed my boy"
All about were all the people OF the
countryside, bare headed, silent, sym
pathetic.
They are here" the father said. 'ber
cause they do not condone the taking
OF the life of any man; their GRIEF is
great"
In the eyes of more than a feN Klans-
men there was a hint of tears.
salute Fired, Taps Played.
The final words OF the MINISTER ended
hymn was sung and the body OF Watt
Daniels was lowered into the grave. The
squad OF soldiers under Lieut.. Randolph
II Percy stood at attention and salute
| of three guns was fired. Taps sounded
the end.
| Fears of the authorities that there
might be trouble at the funeral were
unjustified. The presence of tho militia
| however. was deemed a necessary pre-
caution, for in this backwoods country
almost every one for generations has
carried weapons and since the I>u klux
outbreaks there Is hardly man who
! docs not tote a pistol. In the process
eral who arc known 70 be members of
the Khan.
/ While Daniel and Richards were be-
/ ing inferred. Burnett. the only alleged
member Of the gang that killed the
/ two men under arrest. was apparently
enjoying himself in the jail at Bastron.
Scores OF his friends called upon him to
wish him we'll and they demanded that
they he allowed 10 go his bond. Sheriff
Carpenter explained that the offense
was not bsilabie but they still insisted
any amount Of money necessary would
be forthcoming IL his release could only
be- brought about. The last appeal 10
the Sheriff In this regard was made
when a group offered 20 go his bond In
\ th the sum OF 100000.
Laughs over His Plight.
Burnett has become something OF a
hero in the community since his arrest.
I He stands at the bars OF his window
/ waving 20 acquaintances on the street
or chatting merrily with friends who
cali and wish him we'll. Mrs. Burnett
I visited him to-day and assured him she
\ would bring him the best Christmas
dinner he ever had tomorrow And IN
| the meantime ne is finding the lot or
a prisoner pretty easy. being allowed 10
| obtain his meals from the hotel and
sleeping on springs and mattress with
which hls cell has been provided. Bur-
nett merely laughs about his imprison-
| lnent.
~ am wholly Innocent Of anything
wrong" he said, 49, he waved through
the bars At an acquaintance who asked
~ he might like a fresh pouch OF
/ chawln' terbaccer" and thanked the
donor There amt nothin fer me 70
fear" he declared
Further arrests will be made after
Christmas Day. Department of Justice
r1en. under whose supervision afidavits
have been prepared. made no move in
] the direction Of further arreats tn-daN-