Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-03-17
GRAND JURY ENDS
MER ROUGE PROBE;
NONE IS INDICTED
Report to Court Says Ma
jority Find Evidence Insult
ficient-Mofe Than 100
Witnesses Heard in Inquiry

Witnesses Heard in Inquiry
BASTROP, La, March 16. - The
Morehouse parish grand jury, which
began it's sessions here on March 5,
and heard more than 125 witnesses
in connection with the masked band
activities in the parish during last
summer, which had as their climax
the kidnapping on August "a Of Watt
Daniel and T. F. Richard, whose
bodies, the state charged, were
found in a lake four months later,
submitted its report to Judge Fred
NJ. Odom yesterday, stating its fail
ure to find indictments on account
Of insufficient evidence.
Attorney General Coco and his
assistants, who presented to the
jury the mass of evidence obtained
at the states open hearing here in
January, were today on their way
to New Orleans and it was not
state would take in the case.
The grand jury confined its brief
report to the "deplorable crime OF
August "a, 1922" not mentioning
the fioggings, deportations and 9th.
err offenses charged against the
masked band by the state.
After stating that it had "care-
fully considered all the evidence
brought before this grand jury as
to the activities of masked and
hooded men," the report added:
'"The majority of this body are of
the opinion that the evidence pro-
vided was not sufficient to warrant
the finding of true bills against any
particular party"
Judge Odom dismissed the jury
without commenting on its report.
Two previous grand juries had
been called into session since the
outbreak Of, masked band depreda-
tions, but neither Of these return
ed true bills. Judge Odom, in his
charge a year ago, last summer and
when the present jury was organic
ed, vigorously arraigned those re-
sponsible for the various crimes and
laid them at the door OF the Ku
Klux Khan.
The report Of the investigators to-
day caused little surprise here as
it had been forecast by many of
Bastrop's citizens.
Captain j. K. Skipwith, exalted
cyclops of the Morehouse khan, de.
clared he was pleased with the ver-
dict. 1.-THE state has done it's duty
and I hope it is satisfied and will let
the matter rest" he said.
NEW GRAND JURY MAY
BE ASKED BY STATE
NEW ORLEANS, La, March 16.
The state, may move to obtain a. new
grand jury in Morehouse parish and
through it make a second attempt
to olaain indictments on murder
charges of those it believes respon-
sible for the death of Watt Daniel
and T. F. Richard on August "a,
according to T. Semmes Walmsley,
assistant attorney general, here to-
day.
He indicated that at the same
time the attorney generals Office
probably would file information
against more than two score indi-
vidusls who he said had been link
ed with the Morehouse parish crimes
On minor charges, such as lying in
wait, assault and battery and de-
porting from the state.
If this plan of procedure were car
ried out, he explained, the cases in
which the men charged with minor
offenses were involved would not re-
quire action by a grand jury and the
state could proceed with their prose
cution in the courts.
The new grand jury then, II 1T is
sought by the attorney general. he
added would receive only such evil
dence as the state thought neces-
sary to bring about murder indict-
ments.
Keen disappointment was ex-
pressed by Mr.. Walmsley when in
formed that no indictments had been
returned by the grand jury.
L am very much surprised at the
news he said. "The state had
counted on indictments at least for
the lesser offenses, but to learn that
none at all were returned in the face
Of the mass of evidence is amazing
to me-"
"The public can feel assured that
Attorney General Coco will take
prompt action in the matter"
Attorney General Coco and his as
sistant, George Seth Guion. who
have been in Bastrop since this
grand jury began it's investigation.
left there yesterday before the re
port was submitted.
Mr.. Walmsley thought Mr.. Coco
would have something to say con-
corning the case upon his arrival
here, probably today.
Tofforeon;;or Maoazino /