The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-17
Bastrop Witness
Refuses Names
of Hooded Band
Man Who Declared He Could
Identify Three Night Rid
ers Tells Court He
Was Mistaken


Bastrop, La, Jan. 16.-(By A. P.I
Admission by one witness that at one
time he thought he recognized three
members of the black. hooded band
held responsible for the kidnapping OF
Watt Daniel and Thomas Richard
lengthy examination of two other
witnesses-Smith Stephenson and E.
N. Gray-and protest made by a
Bastrop attorney against the pro.
pounding Of certain questions to Gray
were incidents of lively days pro-
ceedings in the open inquiry into
masked band operations in More.
house.
w. Fl. Todd, during the examina-
ton Of Gray, called the attention of
Judge Fred L. Odom. before whom
the inquiry is being held. to a news
paper dispatch intimating that Gray
might be named as a defendant with
several other men in criminal pro.
ceedings as result OF the disap-
pearance Of Daniel and Richard.
Gray testified that he attended a
baseball game in Bastrop on the
morning Of August "a and that later
he had a conversation with Jap
Jones. William Higginbotham and
others relative to threatening letter
said to have been received by Higgin-
botham and at Higginbotham's re.
quest went to the latter's home that
night.
Supplied With Pistol.
Gray said he remained in an auto.
mobile in front OF the Higginbotham
home for some time. While he was
there he was supplied with a pistol
by Higginbotham
Higgenbotham was warned In the
letters to get up and get out Of the
country" Gray said. The letter did
not go into detail. but intimated that
he might expect some trouble in the
future"
Gray said he was seated on the
porch Of a house near the roadway
when automobiles passed with black.
hooded men and the men taken cap.
tives in their custody. Soon after, the
witness said. Higginbotham came
along and he went with him in his
automobile to the Higginbotham
home.
Gray was asked II he was a member
OF the Ku Klux Klan.
Yes" he replied.
when did you join?"
Initiated ut Courthouse.
I'm the latter part of 1921 or early
in 1922. was Initiated at a meeting
held in the Morehouse Parish court
house."
II Joined to see what it was all
amount, and then got out"
Robert Lee Harkness, employe of
a Collision merchant. testified he was
with the hooded band when, they
passed through the town the night
of August "a with two blindfolded
men seated in the rear Of a small
truck.
Didn't you say you had a. sus-
picion who three OF the men were?''
Howard Warren, special states at.
torney asked.
"Yes, about three Of them"
Tell the court who you had an
idea they were."
IT wouldn't like to-" Harkness said.
adding that he did not think his sus-
picions at that time were warranted.
Changes His Mind.
Didn't you make the positive
statement that you could identify one
of them. and that someone told you
that you had better keep your mouth
shut?" Harkness was asked.
II don't think SO"
"You have now reached the con.
clusion that you were mistaken"
"Yes, l have changed my mind"
W. G. Walter testified that during
services in a church near Mer Rouge
a party of men gowned in black and
wearing black hoods marched into the
church and read a warning against
disturbance of public Worship. He de.
clared two Of the men were DIR. B. NJ
McKoin, former mayor. Of Mer Rouge
and a man named Kirkpatrick.
Guarded Door.
Walter said Kirkpatrick stood in
the church door with a pistol in his
hand while DIR. McKoin read the
warning.
| Smith Stevenson, who was on the
witness stand all morning, was ques
toned as to the assembling q mem.
bers OF the Morehouse parish Ku Klux
Klan organization in Bastorp on the
night of the kidnapping expedition to
repel- possible attack on Bastrop
by the people Of Mer Rouge, which,
1t has been testified. was feared.
Stevenson said he was deputized as
special policeman. He admitted 60
ing from store to store that night but
could not recall the names OF men he
came in contact with.
Stevenson was questioned regarding
what occurred early that night and
during a celebration In Bastrop dur
| ing the day.
Legion Holds Convention.