The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-07
MEMBE RS IF BAND. WORE BLACK HOODS. SUFFERERS AsSE ERT|
Experts Believe Special h. strument For InfIicting Pun- ishment Was Construct
 ed--No Names Given
By Associated Press

BASTR0P, La, Jan. 6.--That Watt Daniel and Fletcher Rich ards, put to death on a rack of tor ture, according to deductions made by pathologists who examined their crushed and mutilated bodies, were victims of black-hooded band was l. indicated by testimony put into the record today in the states investi- . gation into masked band outlawry in Warehouse parish. Exhibiting crushed and broken bones as visible evidence, Dr. Charles Duval and Dr. John Lam ford, pathologists, testified that ] scientific examination of the bodies of the two men showed that they had been tortured on a de- vice specially constructed for in- flicting punishment. , That the men who halted the automobile party, of which Daniel and Richards were members, wore black hoods, was testified to by witnesses who felt the wrath of the raiders, but were allowed to return to their homes after being flogged.
 Horrors Described
 These were the outstanding fea- lures of a day of sensational testi- mony investigation undertaken under the direction of Governor John NJ Parker to fix responsibility for the staying of Daniel and Richards and reveal perpetrators of other masked band depredations which the gover nor has laid at the door of the kh Klux klan,
 Describing in minute detail the crushed and mutilated condition of the bodies the two pa biologists testified that ths men were subjected to torture in what was believed to have been 8 vise-like eontrivance, which broke their bones at equi-distant intervals and that the body of Daniel showed a revoiting operation performed before he was put to death.
 Two witnesses, J. l.. Daniel, father of Watt and W. c. Andrews-de- scribed members of the mob which halted the party en route from Bastrop te their homes in Mer Rouge on the evening of August A last as blackhooded.
 Both Daniel, man nearly 70 years old. and Andrews 25 declared they were flogged by the raiders Andrews testified he was beaten until he was numb. The elder man declared he was not given more than four or five blows.
 For the first time during the in auiry which began fyesterGsy. rer- erence was made today to shhe "klan." <.
 Testimony Similar
 T believe 1t was home members Of the klan, maybe not the action of the kian as an organization but by some members of the klan," Andrews said.
 He declared, however. he could not name any man whom he suspected Of being implicated.
 The testimony of the two men was along much the same lines.
 They declared they were returning from Bastrop where they attended a barbecue and baseball game and were halted by an automobile parked across the road.
 we were stopped at a cross-road,' Andrews testified. ''by a crowd of men-15 or 20-who wore black hoods. One came to the car in which I was riding, covered me with gun and ordered me to the road. I was blindfolded with red bandanna handkerchief, my hands were tied and I was taken to the side of the road. Soon after the elder Daniel was taken prisoner and seated bedside me. l heard a voice which 1 recognized as that of Watt Danel saying wait minute, don't be so fast
 "Then I was questioned as to an attempt which had been made to as- sassinate pr. McKoin. I told them l knew nothing of 1t; that l was In another part of the Parish at the time.
 They said they knew I had some thing to do with it and were going to whip me to make me tell
 Severely Whipped
 Next old man Daniel and I was taken to a woods where I was laid on the ground and whipped until l was numb. They told me if l couldn't talk they were going to hang me.
 Then they whipped old man x >Daniel.'
 Andrews said after the flogging the