Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-04-14

the knights Oh the ku KluX Khan, un-
der an order signed by Judge n. -.
Thomas, disposSessipg w. j. Simmons
imperial emperor VINO TOOK charge ol
the headquarters and the khan yester-
day under a temporary injunction Oh
tanned by HIM against Imperial WIZ
ard II. w. Evans.
The order, signed about 2:30 o'clock
this morning by Judge Thomas, direct
ed Emperor Simmons and the other
plaintiffs in the action to appear Tor "a
hearing before him this afternoon az
z O'Clock to show cause why the temper
AIRY injunction against imperial wiz
ard Evans and the other officials of the
khan should not be dismissed
DEPUTY IN CHARGE
Sheriff Lowry at once proceeded to
the imperial palace on Peachtree ROAD
and placed Deputy Sheriff Milan in
charge, all of the Simmons faction
leaving after having taken charge yes
.terday, when they secured temper
AIRY injunction against imperial wiz
ard Evans following the break when
the emperor undertook to organize &
womanS order on the lines of the ku
kluX khan.
The imperial wizard had issued n
proclamation prohibiting klansmen
from affiliatng with the "kameiia,"
;the woman's order, and threatening
ibanishment for any who disobeyed the
proclamation.
-MISREPRESENTAT CHARGED
The order early today was issued by
Judge Thomas, when Paul Etheridgc
and other attorneys representing I'm.
perial Wizard Evans appeared before
him after midnight and presented argu
ments denying the allegations of En-
peror Simmons in his prayer for in
junction yesterday. They charged
"gross Misrepresentation" were mad
in the petition OF Simmons.
DIR. Evans, the imperial wizard, re-
turned last night and decision was
made to go before Judge Thomas fol
lowing conferences with headquarters
officials. In discussing the latest turn
in khan affairs, DR.. Evans said: 1.-THE
issue would be settled, once and for all
as to whether the Knights of the Ku
Klux Klan is an institution to he con
Quoted by one individual for his priv
ate financial gain or great Ameri-
can fraternal order, the affairs OF
whi>h are in the hands Of it's men,
.bers."
STATUS is UNCHANGED
Ben H. Sullivan, attorney for En-
peror Simmons declared today that
!lre modification made by Judge Thorn
as order this morning does no
change the status of the temporary in
j .E.'tiOn granted to Col. Simmons Nc n
day in which he was virtually recoa
niZed as imperial wizard and head or
Khan" He said it merely placed :he
property and records at imperial head.
quarters in the custody of the court
pending the outcome Of the hearInS
this afternoon.
The temporary control of the khan
yesterday was assumed by Emperor
simmons when his attorney obtaine1
a temporary injunction against Imper
ial Wizard Evans on the ground that
simmons. as founder OF the order. IN
der its charter possessed supreme au.
thority in the administration of it's al
fairs. hearing on the temporary III
junction yesterday had been set for
Saturday. April T.
DIR. JOHNSON IN CHARGE
Emperor Simmons named DR.. Fred
b. johnson Of San Antonio. Tex. chies
OF staff and placed him in control OF
the Imperial palace. When tire Sim
mons faction appeared at the headuuar
tiers to take charge they were said ~
nave been informed by subordinates
that DR.. Evans, the imperial wizard
was out of the city DR.. Evans is said
TO have been informed by telegraph Of
the situation and returned late yestel-
day to Atlanta.
The imperial wizard and his faction
were said to have spent the greater
part of last night in conference before
going before Judge Thomas after mid
nigh an securing us or-o~ which
0ustCd Simmons fro coni-o' md -,e,
ed the sheriff of Fulton count ir
charge until the hearing this after.
noon. a.,
KLANSNEN FLOCK 10 ATLANTA
klansmen were reported flocl;,ng 10
Atlanta from several parts of the coun-
try following the action yesterday.
DR.. Evans was made imperial wiz
ard Of the order at the first klonyoka
ton Of the khan held i'm Atlanta last
fall. Col Simmons was made emperor
for life and placed in charge of the
ritunHstic and philosophical affairs a.
cordins to announcement at that time
He was said to have been given an hon
or9ry title and that the imperial wiz
ard had been made executive head.
Che fret public evidence of the
break between Simmons and Evans an
Feared last week when the emperor
issued a proclamation saying Dr..
Evans was without authority to forbid
Flansmen from having any connection
with the "KamaIia the order For W
men heing founded by Col Simmons
The imperial wizard replied with Il
statement saying he was the executive.
heed cf the order and Col Simmons ~
em"eror was without authority and
held an honorary title.