Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-06
KHAN ISSUES A STATEMENT

Monroe, La, Dec. 26.-Morehouse
Khan No. 81, Realm of Louisiana
knights of the Ku KluX Khan, today.
issued statement stating that the or
ganization had offered to assist In
every way possible In clearing up the
Morehouse Parish Kidnapping affair
and stood ready to continue its efforts
to he of assistance.
Everything possible is being done
by the Khan" said the statement,
that would be Of assistance to the
State and other authorities.
Captain j. X. SkipwitH, Exalted Cy
clops of Morehouse Khan No. "a, Realm
of Louisiana, rendered to the Attorney
, General the assistance and co-operat-
/ ion Of 500 klansmen to be used in any
capacity deemed necessary to bring
TO justice the guilty parties connected
with the alleged kidnapping of Daniels
and Richards
The klan's statement expresses
! doubt as to the identity Of tie bodies
| found in Lake La Fourche
Although it is rumored that the
! bodies of Daniels and Richards have
been found, there is, however. no posi-
tive evidence that this is true. Two OLD
| jects were reported to have been found
| floating near the banks of Lake La
| Fourche, and it was presumed that
! tlese bodies were those OF the missing
| men.
CDR. o. NJ. Patterson, Coroner of
Morehouse Parish. was summoned to
the scene but upon his arrival he was
not permitted to hold Coroner's in
| hoinO told in nv.
man who stated that he was a Govern
ment representative that an inquest
could not be held until after the arriv-
al of Attorney General Coco, at which
time it would be concluded ut Mer
Rouge. Immediately on his arrival At
torney General Coco was interviewed
by Coroner Patterson as to the necess
ity of holding Coroner's inquest over
tire bodies that were supposed to have
been found in Lake La Fourche, but
was informed by the Attorney General
that such would not be necessary"
The Ku Klux Khan is preparing To
show that 1t was not responsible for
the kidnapping and murder Of Daniels
and Richards. A Monroe Klansman Is
authority for the statement that after
the alleged attempt to kill DR.. McKoin
telegram was received by an officer
to notify officially the leader Of the
Khan In Morehouse Parish that Their:
must not be any reprisals under penal
l. revoking ~, cnarter of the Mcrt
mouse khan. The klansman said this
notice was delivered personally to the
Morehouse Khan leader.
Secret Service men. when informed
OF this statement, replied that all they
cared to say was that 1t would be
SHOWN by positive evidence that the
mob which kidnapped and killed Ricr
ards and Daniels was composed exclu
sively of klansmen.
EXTEND INQUIRY INTO
ARKANSAS
Investigations being made in Ashle,
: County, Ark. north OF Morehouse Par
ish, by representatives Of the Depart
ment of Justice following the murder
: OF Daniels and Richards. may resul
in number of arrests on the Arkan
sas side of the Louisiana line accord
ing to reports received here.
Department of Justice men have ac
cumulated information to the effec
that men from Ashley County. and De
! haps other parts of Arkansas. were II
the masked band that kidnapped tn,
five Mer Rouge men. Detectives SUI
posed to be representatives OF the De