Evening star., 1923-01-14

due to states attorneys placing WIZ
nesses on the stand to dig into the
activities of the khan. IF they care
to go about 1t in this manner, I can
see no good to be derived from a
conference with Mr.. Coco" sand Capt.
Skipwith. known as the exalted cy-
clops of the Morehouse khan.
Attorney General Coco declined to
comment on Capt. Skipwiths de-
cision other than to say that his
withdrawal has not brought about
any action by any members of his
STAFF. He expressed surprise at the
khan leaders withdrawal. however.
Proud OF Khan
Preceding Campbell. Braddock and
Cobb on the stand was A. L. Smith,
whose declaration that II am klans-
man and am proud Of it," brought
forth a round of vigorous applause
sequently warned by the court to re-
frain from any further outbursts.
Mr.. Smith, a stately old Louisianian,
said he was president Of the board
of education of Cauchita parish and
was willing to render any assistance
toward the states investigation.
The witness told of the kidnapping
of Daniel. Richard. Harry Neelis. J. L.
Daniel, W. c. Andrews and Tot"
Davenport, having been reported to
him. together with report that
Hugo Davenport, a member of one
of the oldest Morehouse parish
families, was ''the brains behind the
plot" to assassinate DR.. B. NJ. McKoin,
former mayor of Mer Rouge. now
murder of Daniel and Richard
Mr.. Smith said that II tho reports
were true he believed the Davenport
family would be involved in a feud.
To avoid this he hurridly informed
the Davenports and a conference was
arranged between citizens of Mer
Rouge, Bastrop. Monroe and the
leaders of the Morehouse chapter of
the khan.
Seeking Harmony.
He said the conference was for the
purpose of restoring peace and har-
mony in Morehouse and to clear the
Davenport's family name. The wit
ness said Hugo Davenport was ex-
onerated by the khan. He told of
the various discussions during the
conference and laid emphasis on what
DR.. McKoin, who was present, had
TO say.
After having said DR.. McKoin had
decided to leave Mer Rouge and burn
his bridges behind him." the witness
q
anonymous letters alleged to have
been receivd by DR.. Mckoin was dis
cussed.
They were not given any credence,"
said the witness. because a man can
write an anonymous letter to him
self. 1t was reported that the letters
were written on typewriter IN DR..
McKoin's office"
Cobb, the Texan, told in detail OF
having been kidnapped by Ave men
and taken into a woods and lectured
and threatened with death If he did
not change his method of living.
The witness said his captors wore
hoods covering the upper parts of their
bodies over overalls and untonallS
He said he thought the procG Gedings
were funny" and that he recognized
one of the men as being Laurie Cal
houn.
He said that at the scene Of the
lecture he had left a pair OF shoes.
Several days later he said, he wrote
note to Calhoun and the shoes were
left at the store where his son was
employed.
Believed He Was Marked.
Leon Braddock, the farmer, gripped
the courtroom as he drawled out how
happiness had been expelled from his
humble home because his family be-
lieved he was q. marked" man. he
dramatically described a raid made
on his home at 1870 o'clock in the
morning, the raiding party breaking
the lock on a door to gain admtttance
under the roof where his wife and
four children were asleep.
The witness named those In the
party who entered his home, declaring
that Capt. Skipwith was the leader
and Marvin Pickett, Cub" Pickett,
Bert Pratt, Sam Cox, Sam Eldridge,
and q man who he said was named
Mcintosh were present. Several of
them were armed and Capt. Skipwith.
he said, informed him they wanted
him for making liquor" The witness
said the band was unmasked and that
he was taken to Bastrop and turned
over to the sheriff. Sheriff Carpenter,
he said, allowed him to spend the
rest of the night in his home, but
that another white man and four
negroes seized by the band before it
reached his home were placed in Jail.
Braddock said the affair had un-
nerved his wife; that she was no
longer happy with her surroundings
and believed that an attempt would
be made to kill him.. He said that
he himself felt unsafe and had de-
price for his farm he would sell out
and leave.
Names His Brother.
Walter Campbell in his testimony
startled the court by naming his
brother and Jim Tisdale, who Rich
ard had informed him were members
of the black-hooded band who kid
in daylight on August /, one week
before his final disappearance.
Campbell was one of the three men
said to have been named by Capt.
Skipwith as having tnterfered with
the operations of the khan in Mer
Rouge and was ordered exiled. Camp
bell said that after w. l.. Pugh con-
sented to vouch for him in order that
he might remain in Mer Rouge, he
willing to put UP $1,000 to pay for
investigation to prove his innocence
Of the charge that he plotted with
others to kill DR.. McKoin. The propo-
sitlon, he said, was not accepted by
Skipwith, who sent word to him that
he could remain unmolested.
The witness testified that he had
aided DIR. McKoin to conduct an in
vestigation after the physician had
lcCSAfOA Glib anonymous lSIlGE LIlrGaL-
ening him.
Former Legislator TeStifes.
He said that he examined all of the
typewriters In Mer Rouge, including
that of Watt Daniel. He said that
he could find no clue, but DR.. McKoin
came to him later and said that the
letter was written on his own type
writer, explaining that his Office was
never locked and that 1t would be
easy for any one to gain access to his
typewriter.
William B. Stuckey, Mer Rouge
lawyer and former member of the