Evening star., 1923-01-16
Acted as Special Policeman at
Bastrop Day Two Men Dis
appeared.

date Of the barbecue and of the swift
descent OF the black masked men and
the sudden disappearance OF Daniel
and Richard until their bodies came
from the depths of Lake La Fourche
few weeks ago.
Stevenson had been questioned about
his actions, whereabouts and the
things he saw the night Daniel ana
Richard disappeared into the dark
ness, tied and and blindfolded, In the
back of a small truck, the line OF
questioning was suddenly switched.
Line of Questions Switched.
"You own a truck?" The question
came out of the blue sky.
Yes, bought it from Harry NeeliB.
1t was a secondhand"
where is the car now?"
at my house"
you can give US some idea as to
when you bought the truck?"
About thirty days before the kid
naping."
Yes, to haul water the the ball
players UP at the ball game"
Was the car there when you went
home that night?"
Il don't know"
WAS it there next morning."
Il think So
Cant you be positive about it?'
II think IL was. but l don't remem-
Der eAdCIly. HARRY N6ellS kept MS
car there, but ] don't remember any
thing about it,
Denies knowing Men.
Stevenson denied repeated questions
by states attorneys as to whether he
had seen any one point out the two
men prior to the kidnapping.
swer me?" George Seth Guion, assist
ant attorney general, asked.
Yes" Stevenson said and repeated
his denial he had seen any one point
IF your car was seen on the roads
out of Bastrop. IL was being driven
without your permission?" Stevenson
He replied in the affirmative.
Stevenson was questioned as to
whether he was one of the party Of
ku Klux Klan members who II has
been testified, gathered in the Thorn
armed themselves after news of the
kidnapping was received.
Andrews Mother Told Him.
Stevenson said he first learned of
the kidnapping when Andrews mother
told him her son had been captured
by the black khooded men.
Was the town excited?" Stevenson
was asked.
People were going in every direc-
tion, but did not notice any particu-
lar excitement" he said.
Stevenson explained that barbecue
and base ball game was held in Bas-
trop that day and a number of visitors
were here.
'Did you see any hooded men come
through town.
"If they did pass through Bastrop
from the Mer Rouge road
twhere the kidnapping occurred on the
Mer Rouge-Monroe road) could they
have done so without you seeing
them?'
"Yes. they could have passed with
out me seeing Them
Gould they have gone from the one
road to the other by skirting the
town.
yes"
"The night of the kidnapping did
parties and arrest the kidnapers?"
NO" .
"Why?"
II don't know. I was just a special
deputy and it was nothing 1 could
You heard that five men had been
kidnaped?"
Surprised at Kidnapping.
Yes" Earl Andrews told me how
Were you surprised at the kidnap-
Eyes"
You had no intimation there was
going to be a kidnaping?"
Did you know about any other
cases Of kidnaping?"
Yes, 1 knew about Richard and
Harry Neelis."
"Did you know of any bitterness
existing between Daniel and Rich
No"
You are a member of the klan?"
"Did you know of any bitterness in
the khan against these men?"
mo, l don't think So"
You know DR.. McKoin?"
Yes"
you know of any bitterness that
might exist between him and the
men?"
mo, sir"
did you go to the Thomas store at
Bastrop the night of the kidnapin r ?''
Il passed by, but / did not go in"
You did not go into the rear of the
II believe 1 did"
did you see any guns?"
well, think l did,
loaded?"
II don't think did"
Were you armed2"
Yes. ! had my gun as an oficer Of
What did you go to Capt. skipwith
Il don't remember. / don't remem-
Der whether went or sent for Capt.
Skipwith."
Has Faint Recollection.
You can't remember whether you
sent or went for Capt. Skipwith?''
II guess sol have faint recollec-
tion something like that happened.
Jap Jones said something about see
ing Capt, Sktpwith."
do you know whether Capt. Skip
with came to Thomas store?"
'I think he did"
Where did you see Skipwith?''
81 saw him standing on the street
near the restaurant" 5
"You didn't send for him at his
home, then? You sent for him while on
the streets?"
yes"
eff you had been there with bunch
Of armed men waiting for a riot or
the kidnapers, or the men don't you
think you could remember something?'
"I guess so."
Well. can you remember going any
where else?
"Yes. went to Turpin's store"
WHO did you see there?"
81 think saw Jim Noteworthy and
Others"
who eiser' =
II don't remember"
what time did you so home?
81 don't remember"
Where else did you go?"
Well, went down by the dance
that night"
Higginbothamr
ass