The Pensacola journal., 1922-12-27
FORMER MER
ROUGE MAYOR
IS ARRESTED
Two Former Law OF.
ficials Now Held on
Murder Charges;
Others Expected.
(By Associated Press)

BALTIMORE, Dec. 26.-s
DR.. B. M. McKoin, forTne.
mayor Of Mer Rouge, La.s,
who is wanted there in com.
nection with the MorehousF
parish kidnappings and tn
finding Of two mutilatef1
bodies in Lake La Fourchet
was arrested here today al
the Johns Hopkins universit. /
Brady institute, where hy'
is taking a post garduat
course. The arrest follower
receipt of a telegram from
Gov. John M. Parker of Lou
isiana, requesting the loca.
police to arrest McKoin on ],
charge of murder. Aftel
questioning by police officialsb
DR.. McKoin was locked up ta'
await further action by LouE
isiana authorities. II
DR.. McKoin denied knowledge of tit
killing of the two men, IAN know
he declared, is that both men wi1.si
were killed were on the bad side--tsl
side of bootleggers. gunmen and met
who associated with negro women.
BATSROP. La, Dec. 26-The sea
ond arrest in connection with tlil,
Morehouse Kidnapping of last Augus$
was made late today when Nr. B. al
! NcKoin, until few months ago may8
or of Mer Rouge. was taken into cuaa
, tody at Baltimore at the request II
| Governor Parker who charged hifk
| with murder.
| The former mayor is expected tr
| reach here within a few days to join Il
| deputy sheriff who is now being hers
on a similar charge in the Batsrop 5all
| While the arrest was being made.
| detachment of national guard was rel
| connoitering along Lake Fa Fourch1
| for evidence TO lead to the arrest H
| dynamiters responsible for the blaHtl
| ing at a ferry landing last week whal
! the bodies OF two men, believed II
| have been tortured and murdered h7
| masked and robed men, were blow
! from the bottom OF the lake Il
Soldiers on Guard.
The company also was to act as
body guard for the sheriff who wae
to make arrests in the event his sud
| picion5 justified them.
During the day Adjutant Generss
Toombg. suddenly called back froll
| Washington by the governor. arrive
in Morehouse to direct the operation
Of the three companies of state trooIl
| encamped here and at Mer Rouge. l
! Soldiers are on guard duty at tFl
jail here and cncamped in the l1eaA
Of Mer Rouge where the situataiou
| such that the governor does not watI
to leave the township people to them
| selves in the fear there will be blood
| shed beca use Of the friction amor
| them following the August even
Many Of the populace are armed.
| Attorney General Coco yesterds|
announced that at least six or sevr
more arrests viii be made before II.
open hearing in connectA n with tf
| case which has been set for Januaf.
>, here
Citizens gathered m the street coz
nrrs tonight and discussed the arrea
Of wo Of their former law official
| The arrest OF the man who had bef
their mayor until he resigned lsi
August came as a complete surpriss
DR. McKoin was born and grew
| manhood at Monuoe and later movg
: TO LIcr Rouge where he was a praa
. | tiCing physician. His friends n
7 duced him to make the race for maj
= or and during his incumbency 4
? | fear!cssly upheld the law and attemp
= cd to rid the community OF moonshif
2 | ers and other law breakers, it "
stated.
= On August ., he reported assassii
? fired two loads OF shot into his mos
= ing automobile as he was answering
sick call. He later received persis
g ent warnings to leave the communI
/ and he did so. This event led
. the tragedy of the 24th, in the theo
0 Of the state.
. r. J. Burnett, arrested last sztli
s day. is denied visitors except urd
Y military surveillance. Today he grs
n sullen and restless and repeated
h | gripped the iron bars in which he
enclosed. His battery OF attorne
spent several hours with him.
1t was recalled here tonight that 4
- murders are attributed to hooded 70
ID since last May along the Arkansa
louisiana border,