The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-05-19
Threatened BY
Hyatt TSV|LLE
XII kLUK
vioIinist Asks U. s. Aid, Saying
Suburban Officials Have Re-
fused to Help Him.
CONTINUED from First Page.l

tCOnIlnued from 61fSL FageJ
in the vicinity of Hyattsville. Dur.
ing that time I have taught scores
of children and adults The charge
that I in any way intruded on an
other mans family Is absolutely
false.
Saved Woman's Life.
What l did was, on one occa-
sion, to attempt to befriend the
wife of a man whom I had ample.
reasons for believing was not being
treated fairly. She had been driven
to a state of desperation. and, on
one occasion. attempted suicide in
my presence. saved her life by
forcing her to remove q poison tab
let from her mouth, but not until
1t had burned her tongue and lips
badly. Later, when received a
letter from her stating she was in
despair, I wrote her, inclosing a
newspaper clipping which I felt
would help her to face the situation
more brayely. That letter and clip,
ping was taken by her husband and
evidently turned over to the Ku
Klux Khan. The letter received
from them, threatening me, referred
to both, which proves my surmise
is correct.
Last Tuesday, when / visited
family to give one OF the children
a lesson on the violin the father
informed me that the day before an
automobile carrying five men had
stopped at the house and inquiries
were made for me. The family was
told they had come to arrest me.
When asked IL they had a warrant
they said they did not, that they
were acting for big corporation
Appealed for Local Aid.
81 have applied to all Of the local
authorities I could reach in an
effort to protect myself and when
found 1t did no good I came to
Washington to see If the Federal
Government cannot run down one
bunch of klansmen where the lead
to them is wide open to be fol-
lowed Up.
About the only advice / got from
authorities there was to carry q
gun and defend myself If attacked.
What could one man do. even II
armed with revolver. If attacked
by dozen men?"
Otello says that for more than a
week he has failed to receive mail
at the Hyattsvf1Ie postoffice al
though he has a lock box and is in
receipt of considerable mail under
ordinary circumstances.
In leaving Hyattsville yesterday
Otello did not stop to collect many
OF his effects. Some ten days ago
he found a storage room where he
could warehouse his furniture This
precaution was taken when he re-
ceived the Ku Klux letter. His
violins and other teaching equip
ment are still at .Hyattsville.
Left Effects Behind.
by driving me out of Hyattsville
the Ku Klux Khan has deprived me
Of living. In addition, was
forced to leave all of my effects
ton. have not so much az one
violin with which to start teaching
anywhere else.
But ] don't believe they can
drive me out. If have been guilty
of anything they charge me with,
there must be proof of it and the
courts are still functioning on ordi-
nary cases. All they have to do is
to cause my arrest in the regular
way, bring me to trial, and if found
guilty sentence me. / am not
afraid to meet any charge they
make, right in Hyattsville, If I can
courts. / know I am innocent. ]
did nothing more than try to help
a woman / saw needed help and
my activities were of strictly
Christian character"
Otello appealed to DIR. budding of
the Prison Relief Society on reach
ing Washington and was imme-
diately put in connection with the
proper Federal authorities.
ST am convinced Otello is honest"
said budding. the victim of a
charge unmerited by the circum-
stances or the interest shown by
him in the woman. He tells too
straight a story to be lying.
Prompt Action Forecast.
1.-The fact is he is just one Of
those illustrations of a good-hearted
man getting in wrong without do
ing anything reprehensible, who
finds himself at the mercy OF a
group of unprincipled men who,
cloaked with the mantle of secrecy,
to inaugurate a reign of
lawlessness. 1t looks to me like
the man who obtained the letter >,
and newspaper clipping sent by
Otello to the woman is one of the
chief factors in that little unde-
sirable organization down there
that has driven Otello to Wash
ngton.
"Well, we will see what the Gov
probe develops. The Gov
eminent has g long arm, its secret
service works consistently. and I
EEL perfectly satisfied that before
his little case is finished that
4yattsville Ku Klux Khan will find
Itself all tangled up with the Fed
,ral Government.