The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-14
PATHOS ADDED.
To HEARINGS
IN MOREHOUSE
Young Farmer Testifies He
and Wife Were Ready to
Sell Their Home to Escape
MoleStations of Mem
berS of MODS
BY Associated Press

mony OF three WltnesSeS-one nam
ing his brother as having been rec
ognized as a member of a black
hooded kidnapping band, another
seized and lectured by the ''black
hoods" and the third telling of his
anxiety to leave the community be-
cause Of Ku Klux Klan activities
with the collapse of plans for con-
ference between A. V. Coco, state
attorney general and Capt. j. X.
Skipwith, Khan leader. furnished to-
days thrills in the states investi-
cation of masked band depredations
in Morehouse parish.
Fred Cobb, who halls from Texas
where he says '.men fight square"
told of being seized nv five hooded
men, one of whom he declared was
Laurie Calhoun, named by other
witnesses as kinsman. Cobb said
he was taken to a woods and given
lecture by the men who accused
him of misconduct.
Walter Campbell. town marshal
and superintendent of the light and
water plant of Mer Rouge, named his
brother, A. d. Campbell, as having
been recognized bv Thomas F. Rich
ard, kidnapped and slain with Watt
Daniel, August ID, last, as having
been member of black hooded
kidnapping party which stalked the
roads about Bastrop week pre-
viously to the disappearance Of
Richard.
Daniel was the eliminating act
which brought about the present
| investigation.
leon Braddock added pathos and
! a dramatic scene TO the days pro-
ceedlngs. Braddock. farmer, who
\ said he has lived all his life in this
section and by the sweat of my brow
have secured home, farm of SO
! acres, seven mules and an automo-
/ bile" told of his anxiety to sell his
| property at a rea sonable price and
leave to seek more peaceful fields
Tor himself and for his wife and
| children. This. he said, Is due to a
raid made on his home by unmasked
I men, led by Captain Skipwith who
| accused him of making liquor.
| Just as states attorneys were
about to name the hour for the con-
ference requested by Captain Skip
with to discuss Ku Klux Khan at
fairs, the khan leader announced
early this afternoon to the Associat-
! ed Press, that as far as he was con-
cerned there would be no confer
ence.
Sees No Good In Conference
Captain Skipwlth said the with.
drawing of his request for the in
terview with Attorney General Coco
was due to states attorneys placing
witnesses on the stand to dig into
the activities of the khan. If they
| carelito go about in this manner
can see no good to be derived from
a conference with Mr.. Coco" sale
Captain Skipwith, known as the
exalted cyclops of the Morehouse
khan.
Attorney General Coco declined tc
comment on Captain Skipwiths de-
cisionl other than to say that hi.
Withdrawal has not brought abou
any action by any members of his
staff He expressed surprise at the
khan leaders withdrawal. however
Preceding Campbell Braddock ane
Cobb on the stand was A. l.. Smith
whose declaration that Il am
klansmap and am proud of it,
brought forth a round of vigorous
applause from the spectators who
were substantially warned by the
court to refrain from any further
outbursts.
Mr.. Smith, stately old Louisianan
said he was president of the boart
| ofieducatton of Ouachita parish ant
was willing to render any assist.
I ance toward the states investiga-
ton.
Kidnapping Reported.
The witness told of the kidnapping
| of Daniel. Richard. Harry Neelis
J. l.. Daniel, w. C. Andrews anc
Tot" Davenport having been re
ported to him. together with a re-
| port that Hugo Davenport, a mem
Der of one of the Oldest Morehouse
| parish families. was the brains be
! hind the plot" to assassinate Dr. r
! Rouge, now under bond on an aft
| davit charging murder of DAME
| and Richard.
I Nj. Smith said that If the reports
were true he believed the Davenport
! family would pc involved in fued
| To avoid this, he hurriedly inform ed
, the DavenportB and conference was
| arranged between citizens of Mer
Rouge, Bastrop, Monroe and the
leaders OF the Morehouse chapter OF
| the khan.
+ He said the conference was for
the purpose of restoring peace and
harmony in Morehouse. and to clear
! the Davenport sllfamily name.
The witness said Hugo Davenport,
was exoneratedd by the khan. He
told OF the various discussions dur
ing the conference and laid empha-
sis on what Dr. McKoin, who was
present, had to say.
McKoin Decides to Leave.
/ After having said DR.. McKon had
decided to leave Mer Rouge ant
( burn his bridges behind him." tbs
witness was asked whether any OF
the anonymous letters alleged tc
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