Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-11-08
Khan Leader Kills Another;
Refuses to Discuss Matter
CHIEF OF SIMMONS STAFF
THREATENED; PLOT is LIMITED

Peace warrants were issued Tues
day night for the arrest of DR.. Hiram
w. Evans, imperial wizard of the
knights of the Ku Klux Khan, and
three other officials of the imperial
palace, on complaint of DR.. Fred b.
Johnston, chief of staff OF Colonel
William j. Simmons. khan emperor.
Others named in the warrant were
I'll. X. Ramsey, imperial kligrapp. or
national secretary; Brown HARDWOOD,
imperial klaZik. or head OF all grand
dragons, and L. j. McklnnOn, head
of the khan investigation department.
The warrants were subsequently
dismissed except that against EVANS
who had not been served.
CHARGES that Philip E. Fox, khan
publicity director, who shot and
killed Attorney William S. Coburn
late Monday afternoon, threatened
Sunday night to shoot DR.. Fred b.
Johnston, chief of staff to William
Joseph Simmons, emperor Of the
khan. have been made by DR.. John-
sion in a statement issued Monday
night, after the Staying of Mr.. Co
burn.
DR.. Johnston says Fox visited the
Simmons hCDle on Peachtree roao
Sunday night, apparently much eX-
cited and somewhat under the lnflu-
erce of liquor. Asking for Colonel
Simmons and being informed by Dr.
Johnston that he was not at home,
Fox en- gaged DR.. Johnston in CONVEX
sation and bitterly denounced various
khan officials, accol ding to the state
ment.
After discussing khan affairs for
some minutes, DR.. Johnston says
FIX pulled a pistol out of his over
coat pocket, leveled it at him, Dr.
Johnston, and remarked: 'Dr. john
ston, I have been sent here to kill
YOU. but I just can't do it," and
| tsrGed the r:stol over 70 DR.. John
Ston.
Death Plot Intimated ".
"You and Simmons and E. Z
Clarke and Bill Coburn are slated to
co. Fox is quoted as saying.
DR.. Johnston declares Fox offered
no explar alton of his remark and
refused to say who had issued in
structions for the Staying of the
four persons mentioned.
DR.. Johnston's statement is cor
roborated by Norris A. Moore,
! friend. who was visitor at the Sim
mons home at the time of F'oX's Visit
| Fox, according to the statement
| declared he had quit the Evans fac
ton and was leaving his post a.
publicity director preparatory to re
| turning to his home in Dallas, Texas
| which he left about a year ago t.
accept a position with the khan il
! Atlanta.
| DR.. Johnston's statement follows:
Colonel Simmons was called out
of town privately and unexpectedly
Friday night without anyone know
| ing of this fact outside of his i'm
mediate family, his mother at Biz
| bingham having sustained broken
arm through a fall and he was hur
riediy summoned.
About $50 Sunday night mar
unknown to, Mrs. Simmons called at
her home at 1910 Peachtree roao
and urgently asked to. see Colone
| Simmons and seemed disturbed and
| disappointed when repeatedly as
|
away from home and out Of the city
He then wanted to see INr. Fred B
| Johnston and when told that DR.
Johnston was at Captain Coburn's
home he asked if he could remain
until the doctor returned. He sait
that he was from the palace and hac
some very important information tc
communicate to the colonel person
ally but that he would talk to DR.
Johnston. He said the information
! he had would absolutely tear up Dial
las CTeXas) khan, No. &C.,
Called DR.. Johnston
Mrs. Simmons said she was Wor
ried and disturbed by the mans gen
eral actions but invited him into the
coloneIs study and telephoned DR.
Johnston to come home at once. Dur
ing the interval Mrs. Simmons son
Kirk, remained with the man in the
colonel's study, and says that he re
! ferred repeatedly to his regret thai
| he could not see the colonel. Accord
! ing to Kirk Simmons, the gentle
man emphasized his desire to see
I Colonel Simmons personally, saying
! that he : d information that Woulc
tear up Dallas Khan, No. &c, and gel
Texas by the horns for the Simmons
faction, and stated that of course i
he could not see the colonel ne
would like to see DIR. Johnston. After
! a period of about twenty minutes
| DR.. Johnston, accompanied by Mr.
Moore, Of Texas, who was in the city