Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-22

Baton Rouge, La, Jan. 21.-That
the evidence already presented and
that to be heard at the states open
hearing at Bastrop into Morehouse
masked band activities will warrant
twenty-five to thirty arrests and
from seventy-five to one hundred
indictments. was the statement to-
night by Attorney General A. V. Coco,
as he boarded the train to return
to BastrOp, after a conference here
today with Governor John M. Par
ker, on the progress being made at
the hearing.
1.-The state has proven" said the
attorney general, "that the X. X. X
had established super government
in MOrehouse Parish. Against some
tcrroriZing the Parish there will be
as high as six charges made"
Mr.. Coco thought the hearing
would be closed by Thursday.
Atty. Gen. A. V. Coco, personally
conducting the open hearing at Bas-
trop into masked activities in More
house Parish. this morning held a
conference with Governor John NJ.
Parker. While nothing was given
out as to what particular phase of
the MOrSehouSe situation was dis
cusSed it was learned that speedier
program had been determined upon
and it was indicated that the hear
ing probably would be concluded this
week.
1t was said that the attorney gen.
eral has about 30 additional witness
es to be called and it was not be-
lieved this list would be expanded
If there is no grand jury indict-
ment. 1T was said the state would
proceed against those involved
through affidavit, in which manner
j. can make charge unwilling any
thing less than murder, according to
the attorney general.
THE evidence is clear that the ku
KluX Khan had built up q super
government and was running things
their own way" said Attorney Gen
eral Coco in discussing the More
house case.
THE ku kluN was the govern
ment of Morehouse. That much is
established beyond n doubt. The
state has also established the iden-
tity of some of the members of the
mob who murdered Richard and
Daniel"
Bastrop, La. Jan. 21.-(By a. p
The third week of the open hear
ing into the activities of blackhood.
ed bands in Morehouse Parish viii
begin tomorrow, the state attempt
ing to learn the identity of more OF
the masked men alleged to have
been implicated in the kidnapping OF
Watt Daniel and T. +. Richard or
Aug. "a Two bodies found in Lake
LaFourche on Dec. - were identi-
fled as those of the missing men and
patholigists who performed an au-
topsy have testified that in theil
opinion the victims were tortured &c
death after one of them had beer
subjected to a painful surgical oper-
alton.
Governor Parker. of Louisiana
has dedicated" himself to the "un-
masking of the Khan in. Morehouse
Parish" and agents of the fedora
Department of Justice have beer
working in connection with the
states forces toward that end.
Federal action. as q result of de-
velopments has been limited at. but
so far as is known it was not until
Friday that testimony was devel-
oped upon which the government
might possibly act.
r.. a. Berry" Milestone testified
that telephone wires along the high.
way at the scone of the holdup had
been cut and were trailing on the
ground.
1t has been stated officially that
the cutting of telephone or telegraph
wires involved severance of lines OF
communication and that such an act
may be construed as federal mat.
ter
Bastrop was deserted today by Of
fcials conducting the hearing. At.
torney General Coco was at Baton
| Rouge for a conference with Cover
nor Parker. having been summoned
TO the capitol yesterday during q
telephone conversation with the OK.
ecutive.