The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-12-26
SEVERAL MEN.IN
KIDNAP|NG.PARjIV
TO Be IDENTIFIED
--
Some Of Abductors Said To-
Have Been Recognized BY
Farmer Held Up.
HEARING JANUARY
Student in Johns HopIslns
University One of Witness.
es Already Called.
HEARING JANUARY S

BASTRoP, La, Dec. 6-secfat
service men who have worked on
the case several months said here
today the state would be able TO
identify several men OF the mask
ed mob which last August lidnap-
ed five Mer Rouge residents, iii-
Guiding Watt Daniels and Thomas
Richards, whose decapItated bod
les were taken from q nea16y.i
lake last week.
A farmer will testify at the op.
en- hearing ordered by Governor
Parker to begin January 81. that
he witnessed the seizure fand sspirs
iting away OF the quintet and rec
ognized some OF the abductotsi
when they lifted them hoods to
drink water they had forced him
to get for them. the investigators
said. The farmer was held up by
the band on the Mer Rouge Bus
trop highway, 1t was said and sent
for water by the thirsty men.
The investigators declined TO
disclose the witness whereabouts,
but 1t was intimated he "a sotne-
where in Mississippi under pro
lection Of federal officer.
Plans for the open hearing hers
will be formulated at confer
ence in New Orleans next Thurs
day of those conducting the In
quiry. The coroner's inquest over
the bodies OF Daniels and Rich
ards and the report Of the New
Orleans Psychologists who conduct
ed the autopsy will be discussed.
7 "A report that the farmer who
said he had the brush! With the
mob and give his name is Berry
Whetstone, was being seefeted In
Baton Rouge, along with another
important state witness could not
he verified. \ Z =;
4 Another Witness Is reported ns
having been removed to Texns to
await the hearing.
\ Those acquainted with the char
acter OF the witnesses the state
will call are authority for the
statement that they will not fear
to testify.
Il whetstone told the authorities
he was a nephew Of former, Deputy
Sheriff D. j. Burnett, the Suspect
who has been Jailed here:
Attorneys for BuTpett are auxi-
ous for a ruling on their petition
for a. preliminary trial for their
client through the regular court
channels.
Governor Parker at Baton Rouge
today declined to- affirm or deny
a report that the state had two
men in custody who have made
complete confessions.
Witness Asked 10 Return.
BASTRoP. La, Dec. 6:+Shefin
Fred Carpenter today sent q tele.
gram to Dr.. B. M. McKoin; former
mayor Of Mer Rouge, believed 70
be a student at Johns Hopkins Uni
versity at Baltimore. instfucting
him to return to Louisiana as g vii.
ness at the open hearing Of the
Morehouse kidnapping case which
begins at Bastrop, January 8:
Denies knowledge Of Case.
BALTIMORE, Dec. &c. DR.. 3.
NJ, McKoin, former mayor Of Met
Rouge, La, who Is wanted by LottiH-
lana authorities for Interrogation
concerning the Morehouse Parish
kidnapings, Is attached to the
Brady THEOLOGICAL Clinic at Johns
Hopkins Hospital. He said today
that,he knew nothing about thelisid-
naping case and .coudl give tho
authorities no Information concern
ing them. For this reason he add.
ed he had not yet made up his
mind whether he would return 10
Louisiana or not.