Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-27

Baltimore. Md, Dec. 26--Dr. B. M.
Mckoin, former mayor of Mer Rouge.
La, who is wanted by the Depart
ment of Justice agents of that place
in connection 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. where he is taking a post
graduate course. The arrest was
made after receipt of telegram from
Governor John M. Parker, of Louis
lana, requesting the local police to
arrest McKoin on a charge of mur
der. After questioning by police Of
ficials, DR.. McKoin was locked IN
to await further action by Louisiana
authorities.
other than requesting the local
authorities to arrest McKoin, there
was nothing contained In Governor
l'arker's telegram. 1t read:
important. Arrest DR.. ,IcKoin
murder. Hold him for Louisiana au-
thorities."
DIR. Mckoin denied knowledge of
the killing of the two men. "All T
Know he declared. "is that both
men who were killed were on the
bad side, the side of bootleggers-
gunmen and men who associated will,
Negro women
The discovery OF DR.. McKoin here
and his subsequent arrest came about
purely by accident. Word was re-
ceifed here several days ago that DIR,
Mckoin was student at Johns
Hopkins. and department of JUS
nee agents sought to question him.
however university officials denied
Mckoin was registered as q post
graduate.
Larry today q policeman was found
on the waterfront unconscious and
was removed to n hospital. When the
hospital report reached police head
quarters, it was signed by DIR. Nc
koln. 1t was then that local news
paper mon rushed to the hospital and
interview him. Up to that time the
telegram from Governor Parker ask
ing for his arrest had not been re-
ccived. DR.. McKoin spoke freely and
insisted he was not fugitive from
justice, and that he had made no
attempt to conceal his identity.
He stated that he had been in
! Baltimore since October I, and had
left Aer Rouge after an attempt had
, been made to assassinate him.
DR.. Mckoin insisted he was not
member of the Ku Klu.; Khan. He
praised the organization, however.
saying 1.-The members did much TO
hold down bootlegging and immor-
ality while L was mayor Of Mer
Rouge" He also stated that lawless-
ness is common occurrence at Mer
Rouge and that he was among those
who started to clean up the place.
The result, he said, was a hard bat
tie with bootleggers, moonshiners and
men Of bad reputation. "Just before
left Mer Rouge boy OF good family
was shot in the back. What did the
sheriff and governor do? The case
was dismissed after jury filed with
bootleggers and the vicious element
declared the alleged murderer inno-
cent"
Now. however, when bootIegger
and some one else is killed, the gov
ernor joins in the investigation. This
affair, in my opinion. will decide
whether the decent and good element
of the town will control"
Dr. Mckoin stated that ne had
received threatening letters a long
time before he left Mer Rouge and
asked the sheriff to investigate,
without success. Gust as I left the
mayorship and the successful can
didate went into Office" he continued,
gangs that paraded the streets fred
shots around my house. I asked the
sheriff to take matters in hand, but
nothing was done"