The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-03-08
HUGE TRACTOR
USED BY BAND
IS NEW THEORY
PathOlOgists and Others Tell
of Terribly Mutilated Con-
ditiOn of Bodies
GRAND JURY PROBE ON
Many Witnesses Are Called To
Tell of Masked Band Ac-
tivities in Parish
GRAND JURY PROBE ON

Bastrop. La, Mar. 8.--Persons wao
have carefully examined the report
of pathologists on the condition Of
the mutilated bodies of Watt Dan
LaFourche December % last, and
iel and II. +. Richard, found in Lake
who are familiar with the mechani-
cal devices, declared they believed
they had identified the so-called
torture machine" was one of the
many road or farm tractors used
throughout the parish.
Daniel and Richard were kidnap-
ped Aug. "a and nothing was heard
of them until four months later
when two bodies were discovered in
the lake and identified. The head
of each was crushed. The hands and
feet had been crushed off and 1T
equal distances the lower legs,
thighs, upper arms and forearms
were broken. The chests also had
been crushed in and the man iden
titled as Daniel had been forced I"
submit to what was termed. as Il SER
ious surgical operation
The pathologist testified at the
hearing here in January that an ex-
animation indicated the wounds had
been inflicted just before or just at
death.
The heart of each man, they said,
had been drained of blood.
Huge Tractor Close.
About three miles from Boston. on
the Bastrop- Collision Monroe high,
way, is a huge tractor used to pull n
road scraper, typical machine of
its kind, propelled, by heavy duty
gasoline motor. The iron wheels are
or & feet in diameter, while their
rims had width of approximately
three feet. Riveted to the rims to
prevent the wheels from slipping in
soft earth are steel cleats, the width
of the wheels and about 10 inches
apart.
The parties apparently had been
stretched full length when they were
mutiliated, with the arms brought
above the head. Fractures of the
forearms were on a level with the
head, and those who assert the bod
les must have been broken with II
tractor believed they were stretched
on the ground and the machine run
or pushed over them. Such Il ma
chine as the one near here, il is
contended, would inflict such injur-
les.
1t is known that the authorities
had received numerous anonymous
letters from the plantation owners
a g., all 81 l. Bate.
suggesting that tractor must have
been used and the arguments used
| to sustain the theory are similar to
those advanced here.
Probe Continues.
Ten names appeared on the list OF
| the witnesses summoned to appear
here today before the Morehouse
parish grand jury investigation into
masked band operations in the parish
last summer. Louis FELTON,, "Top'
Davenport, J. W. Noteworthy, Fred
and Rufus Eubanks and d. J. Peter
son, who were to have testified yes
| terday, were not examined and were
in todays list. Mrs. b. d. Carlisle,
J. N. Keen, Hugh Andrews and Rev.
c. l.. NJ Holmes were the others
questioned
| Woman on Stand.
The principal witness yesterday
were Mrs. }. A. lnabnet of Mer
Rouge, J. l.. Daniel, father of Watt.
and "Tot" Davenport.
Mrs. Inabnet at the open hearing
here in January testified after much
hesitation that she had recognized
+. N. (Newt) Gray as one of the
hooded men who made captivcs
Richard, Daniel, J. L. Daniel, w. y
Andrews and Davenport. The flee
men were questioned concerning an
alleged attempt to assassinate from
ambush DR.. B. M. McKoin. former
mayor Of Mer Rouge. j. l.. Daniel
and Andrews were flogged and with
j. Davenport were released at Collins
ton eight miles from here. Daven.
port was unharmed.
There has been no intimation wher
the grand jury would. complete it;
work but prior to its organizatio,
attaches Of the attorney general:
stass said they believed it would re
quire week or ten days.
| WV ~-~