Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-11

Bastrop, La, Jan. 10-(By A .P.)-
States Attorneys today began sound
ing the depths in the open court in
quiry to fix responsibility for the kid
mapping and Staying Of Watt Daniel
and Thomas Richard, hooded band
victims and to establish the basis for
charges that a ''super government"
had set itself up in Morchouse Parish
with a resultant reign Of terror.
AT the end of the day, the names
or IL men had been brought into the
record through the testimony of six
witnesses as having been recognized
by the sound of their voices and by
other means. as having participated
in kidnapping expeditions, raids ana
marching parties attributed to the
ku kluN Khan.
1t was a day of several climaXcs-
first. with the declaration of Addic
May Hamilton. 17-ycar- Old girl, that
she was driven from Morchousc by q
delegation of "Klan" members; again
with the appearance on the witness
stand of Mrs. Thomas Richard, wild
dow of one of the slain men, and the
next with the testimony of Harry
Neelis, youthful automobile salesman
and garage proprietor. star witness
OF the day. whose testimony brought
before the inquiry the names of six
men-Jeff Burnett, now being held
on charge of murder, J. X. Ship
with, recognized Khan leader in More
house Parish, Jim Tisdale, of Monroe,
a. Il. Campbell of Jones, DR.. NJ. B.
Mckoin, former mayor of the village
OF Mer Rouge, an "a man named
Rogers" as members of a hooded
kidnapping" party which operated
on the highway near Bastrop August
is. last. when Richard was taken
into the woods for questioning.
Neelis also brought forward the
name of Fred Carpenter, sheriff of
MOrehouse Parish.
Carpenter was within 100 feet of
the garage in Bastrop from which
Richard was kidnapped at the time
he was taken prisoner August 49,"
\colis said.
On another occasion. during the
examination. Neelis declared Car
pentier. overhearing a conversation
in which he was engaged with an
other man with reference to Khan
Nised him to quit talk about our
affairs
Mrs. richards testimony was de-
voted almost entirely to the kidnap-
ping of Richard on August is. when
she said. Richard told her of being
taken into the woods by a black
hooded band and questioned as to an
attempt that had been made some
time previous to assassinate DR.. Nc
koin.
My husband told me he had been
eXonerated," Mr.. Richard said. and
laughed about being kidnapped"
Richard returned to his home in
NIer Rouge later in the day after
he had been released. Mrs. Richard
said.
She then told of the second kid
mapping week later when he failed
to return.
Ncclie was on his way to NIer Rouge
when he said he was stopped by a party
of black hooded men near Bastrop.
questioned and allowed to proceed. but
was stopped again short distance
further by two unmaskcd men whom
he named as Burnett and Rogers"
Ncclis described after he was allowed
togo how he was picked up by an au
tomobilc and reached Bastrop ahead of
the hooded band.
Asked what were the conditions in
Bastrop at that time and if the Khan
were active. Neelis replied:
Eyes. the Khan was active and the
court house was being guarded by cit
liens. They said the people in Mor
Rouge were coming over to attack
and the people at Mcr Rouge told me
the people of Bastrop were coming
over to attack them. They did not
ask me to take part in the guarding of
the court house.