San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-25

The attorney general declared that
since the advent of the klan in the par
ish there had arisen condition OF
disorder and lawlessneSs. which has
ripened into a suppression Of consti-
tuted authorities by the Ku Klux Khan
and the establishment Of a government
of its own" The parish, he added,
was on the brink of riot and blood
she'd when Governor Parker sen5
troops here and initiated the investisa-
ton.
MIR. Coco declared that. while it
might be conceded that many klans-
men did not actually participass IN
actions of lawlessness, ~they nevertne-
less may be deemed responsible by
their silence and inactiOn.'
The statement follows:
The state has decided TO discontinue
these proceedings until conditions may
justify their resumption.
proof is convincing that since the
advent of the Ku klux Khan there
has gradually arisen a condition OF
disorder and lawlessness which has
ripened into a suppression Of con
stituted authorities by the Ku kluN
Khan and the establishment of gov
eminent Of its own. from which a
reign of terror and chaos has resulted.
The parish was on the brink of riot
and bloodshed when the governor sent
the militia here and these proceedings
were initiated.
Guilty Of InaetiOn.
while it may be conceded that many
klansmen did not actually participate
or encourage these acts of lawlessness
and crime. which finally eliminated in
the murder of Watt Daniel and T.
+. Richard, they may nevertheless may
be deemed responsible by their silence
and inaction. These offenses and
crimes were committed in the name of
the order under the protection Of its
regalia and in the use of its recognized
methods and practices, and under the
leadership of its officers. the principal
of which has. for the last six months.
brought about condition which is =
blot upon civilization and brings into
the question the proud title of Amer
lean citizenship.
The flOgging of citizens. their de
portatiOn and Punishment and other
kindred offenses were but mere pastimes
and of such frequent occurrence that
they were accepted as commonplace
things, the protest against which was
itself sufficient ground for deporta-
ton.
without going into detail, we beg
to say that the conclusion we have
reached is that many persons have
been identified and connected with
these acts of violence and crime, in
Guiding the murder of Watt Daniel
and 1. T. Richard, and Il is the pur-
pose of the state TO present this evil
dence 70 the grand jury as soon as We
get a transcript Of it,
Attacks Legality Of Hearing.
Judge William Barnette, counsel for
DR.. B. NJ. McKoin, 7, jeff Burpett and
~ Newt" Gray. ideSiiied by numerous
witnesses as hayin( bsen members of
various masked paties,l also issued a
statement attacking Shs legality Of the
hearing and the simony given By
those summoned 10 iabe stand.
Judge Barnette's sltement. the first
formal comment fE>rgyfhe defense, fol-
lows, in part -
"The corpus deficit hes not been es-
tabliShed to reasonable certainty, 20
say nothing Of the rule that IL must Be
established beyond a reasonable dolb'
Two bodies were found in Lake Ia
Fourche. The coroner Of the parish
Or. o. NJ. Patterson. a man Of undues.
tiOnable integrity and standing both a.
a citizen and rs a physician. wss not
permitted 10 make any examination %
them. He never got closer than 30
feet 10 the bodies while they were yet IN