Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-25
ALLEGED ATTEMPT
ON LIFE Of NJ KO|N
AIRED At HEARING

BASTROP,. La, Jan. 22.-(By the
Associated Press).-The alleged at
tempt to assassinate DR.. B. M. Nc
koin, former mayor of Mer Rouge,
which is believed to have prompted
the kidnapping and killing of Watt
Daniel and T. F. Richard. was
brought up at the outset at today's
session of the open hearing being
conducted by the state into the &C.
tivities of masked men in Morehouse
parish, particularly into the murder
of Daniel ard Richard.
c. Wagsdale, of Wagster, the first
witness. testified he was in a poker
game at the home of J. L. Daniel
at Mer Rouge the night DR.. McKoin
is said to have been fired upon from
ambush. Watt Daniel, ]. L. Daniel,
T. F. Richard. w. c. Andrews, Tom
Bell and man by the name of
Hicks, were the other players.
After I left the game 1 went to
restaurant" said Wagsdale, latter
which 1 went to my home. On my
way 1 heard two shots. I did not
pay any attention to it. was going
away that night, so / left home and
walked down to the restaurant again
to wait for the train. l joined Watt
Daniel, Richard, w. C. Andrews and
others in the restaurant. 1 did not
hear of any attempt to kill DR.. Nc
Koin until l reached Bonita the next
day"
1t has been testified that when
Watt Daniel, his father, Tot DAY.
export, Richard and Andrews were
kidnapped by masked men the eve
ming of August "a near Bastrop,
their captors questioned all but Dav-
export about the attempt to assassi-
nate DIR. Mckoin. j. l.. Daniel and
Andrews were logged and with Day.
export later were released. Watt
Daniel and Richard never were seen
again Until their mutilated bodies
We're discovered in Lake Lafourche,
20 miles from here, on December %.
S. |. Bennett, forty, general man
agtr of the Southern Carbon COM
pany plant at Spyker, was the next
witness.
"How long was Harold Teeger-
strom in your employ?"
About four years, both at Lamp
IL
as timekeeper."
Teegerstrom disappeared the night
of December 20, a few days before
the beginning of the hearing. Two
days later he appeared at the home
of Henry Jones, near Bastrop. Jones
testified before departing from his
home Teegerstrom informed him it.
was best for him to leave, because.
federal agents were "hounding'' MIN
concerning certain evidence and he
believed that should he continue to-
main in the vicinity ''they would i'm
plicate him" in the kidnapping case.
do you remember someone re
porting to you he had disappeared?'
Bennett was asked.
Eyes, the matter was reported to
me by Dean Ashcraft after / made
inquiry as to where "Teeg' was. l
was informed that someone had call
ed him out last night I notified the
sheriff at Bastrop. I also notified
Teegerstrom' brother. The sheriff
came to the plant and talked to Ash
craft"
Did Teegerstrom read the me-
ters?''
mo, Ashcraft attended to that"
"Who had access to the buildings
where the meters were stored?"
''Ashcraft and myself
do you remember a bunch of
keys were handed to you after Tee
gerstrom had disappeared?'
Eyes, Ashcraft gave them to me.
They are at my house now"
A bunch of keys was handed the
witness and he was asked whether
a certain one opened the meter
houses.
Mr.. Bennett replied it was a mas
ter key and it would open all the
meter boxes.
The keys exhibited to Bennett, and
a hacksaw, were found on the banks
of Lake Lafourche by J. c.. Nettles,
a fisherman, the morning after ex-
plosion of a charge of dynamite
and Richard to the surface. 1t has
been testified previously that the
keys were similar to those used by
the carbon company, to unlock and
adjust the concerns natural gas
matters.
Keys Lost by Negro
Handed the bunch of keys found
at Lake Lafourche, Bennett was
asked if he knew to whom they be-
longed.
Il think so. 1 believe they be-
longed to Simmy Harris, a negro,
who had charge of the meters about
eight months ago."
The negro, who Bennett said he
had discharged because of incom-
potency, lost the keys some time
before he left the employ of the
company. The witness added that
the keys were lost near Spyker,
which is two miles south of Bastrop
and more than 25 miles from Lake
Lafourche.
"Do you think the keys which
had been lost for such a length of
time would be in such condition."
"No SIR"
The keys were highly polished and
bore no evidence Of having been ex-
r~~ad to the weather. They were on
a keyring attached to a leather strap
designed to be fastened to the car
rier's belt.
Woman Tells of Warning
Mrs. Doster MILESTONE followed
Mr.. Bennett on the stand. She said
cha in ElI6OraIn AYIZ