Evening star., 1922-12-31
MER ROUGE PROBE
STARTED BY KLAN
Louisiana Branch Seeks to
Establish the Identity OF
Lake Murderers.
By the Associated Press.

BAsTROP. La. December 30.-The
failure of the state to make further
arrests during this week in the More
house kidnapping and murder cases
has given the impression that tne
additional arrests promised would
not be made before next Friday, the
day of the open hearing.
Investigations are being extended
and there were reports that Depart
mant of Justice agents Will oeiSe
into the activities OF underlined
secret organizations who have con-
Quoted raids against the lawless
along the Louisiana ARKANSAS Dor
der
The Ku Klux Klan Of the realm
of Louisiana also had agents IN the
field. it was reported, to investigate
the responsibility for the outrage on
the Bastrop- Mer Rouge highway on
the night of August "a, when five
members of old Morehouse families
were kidnapped. two f1oSged and two
murdered.
Khan Probe Is Deep.
Because of the reports made by
the scores of persons returning from
the Bastrop celebration and who
witnessed the highway episode that
the mob was robed and masked-
Ku .klux Klan-the state klansmen
Pare sending investigators into More
house to sift the affair and TO re-
port their findings
| II the khan as whole is guilty.
Its charter will be revoked: II in,
they will be left by their fellow
klansmen to the fate they deserve.
This was the edict of chieftains who
gathered in New Orleans yesterday.
Meanwhile it is reported that the
| membership of the Morehouse khan
is dwindling through designations.
Capt. J. X. Skipworth. recognized
! leader of the ku Klux in Morehouse
| parish, tonight told the Associated
| Press that the Morehouse khan would
| welcome any investigation by other
khan authorities OF the kidnapping of
| Watt Daniels and Thomas Richards.
masked mob victims. He said he
learned of the decision of the state
khan to send Investigators into More
house only through newspaper dis
patches.
| I'VE welcome Investigations" the
klansman asserted. I'VE have always
disowned any implication in the oc-
I tcurrence and when the day in court
comes we will thoroughly disprove
any charge that may be made
been active here since September re-
turned today after conferences with
state officials at New QIleans.
! Friends of DIR. B. NJ Mckoin. former
| mayor OF OlcT fIOukc, WHO Is unOcr
murder charges at Baltimore. were
disturbed over the news that the
physician is ill.
Some of his friends have advised
| him not to fight extradition. but to
return to Louisiana, as they are GER
| tain he will be vindicated. In the
| meanwhile they are proceeding with
| the accumulation Of the fund to pay
for his defense.
Former Judge W. c. Barnett of
Shreveport announced today he has
been retained as counsel for +. ].
Burnett. former deputy sheriff, also
under arrest on a murder charge in
connection with the case. He said In
the event McKoin was extradited he
| would represent him also.
than any other murder case" the
judge commented. I'm the last
analysis this case will have to be dis
posed of by due process of law in the
criminal courts"
Alibi In Claimed.
Friends of Burnett and McKoin are
authority for statements they will be
defended by the best legal talent that
money can buy; Witnesses to prove
the time the kidnapinEs occurred
have been procured. and a positive
alibi can be established, it was an
nounced by his friends.
DR.. Mcko1n, VINO mas been charged
| by Gov. Parker as being a klansman.
denied his affiliation with the organi-
zation, but announced today that he
was not only a member. but an or
ganizer of the Observation-Disclosures Law
and Order League. an organization
which, during the summer Of this
year, was said to have absorbed q
number of Independent law enforce
ment societies.
The league was reported as having
ceased to function. and It Is the gen
eral opinion it has dissolved.