The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-10
SAYS more HOUSE
KHAN CONDUCTED
MANY FLOGG|NGS
Black Hooded Men Sought to
InfIict Their Will Upon Cit
liens of Parish, Morse
worthy Claims

BASTROP, La, Jan. 9.-Delving
into the secrets Of the Morehouse
parish branch of she Ku Klux Khan
into an effort TO fix responsibility
for the kidnapping and staying Of
Watt Daniels and Thomas Richards,
victims of /. black hooded raiders
states attorneys today produced
testimony to snow that floggiifgs
and deportations had been carried
out under the direction of the leader
of the parish khan, and that black
hoods were part OF the regalia used
by bands of klansmen on marauding
expeditions.
Capt. j. X. Skipwith, recognized
leader of the khan organization in
Morehouse, was named by J. F.
Norseworthy, who declared he had
resigned from the khan as the order
giver of the parish organization.
White hoods and robes were for
ceremony. to be worn inside the lodge
room and on parades, but the black
hood was for raiding parties" Morse
worthy declared.
Norseworthy's testimony reached
a climax when he identified black
hood with low-hanging apron under
the chin, produced by a. V. Coco
state attorney general, IS the head
gear worn by klansmen on raids.
The days testimony carried the
narratives for time beyond the
time of the actual kidnapping of the
two men TO expeditions on which
Noteworthy said he was sent to
lash and drive several men from
Louisiana.
Rated ms Captain
Norseworthy declared himself rated
as former captain" in the Khan or
ganization.
Half a dozen witnesses testified
today-men who were taken pris-
oners or were present at the time
Daniel and Richards were kidnapped.
All agreed that the kidnapping was
at the hands of black hooded mob
armed with rifles. pistols and shot
guns. None. however. could identity
members of the banG.
During the examination of two
witnesses, c. c. Tot" Davenport and
Sidney White. attorneys for the state.
set up the question as to whether
there had been any intimidation.
Davenport admitted that during
the noon recess of court he had been
approached and spoken to by man
he knew. in "surly" manner. AT
the time Davenport was on his way
to lunch in company with the attor-
ney general and lis assistants.
Davenport walked away with the
man and did not keep his luncheon
appointment.
Asked About Kidnapings
In addition to Norseworthy White
and Davenport. four witnesses ware
heard today. The testimony of all
of them with the exception of Morse
worthy related to incidents in con
nection with the hold-up of the party
of Mer Rouge citizens and the kid
naping of Daniel and Richards and
three other men.
White, the last witness of the day
only dimly incidents OF
the fateful August "a. last-when
Daniel and Richards disappeared and
three other men and party of Mer
Rouge citizens en- route to their
homes after attending barbecue
and baseball game here, were kid
mapped.
wasn't it a strange thing to see
hooded men, well armed, take away
your companions and you not to feel
alarmed" White was asked.
We'll, | heard of the Khan taking
out fellows and whipping EN-: ther
letting them go.
Therefore, you had no occasion &c
feel alarmed you believed they were
going to whip him ~and then turn
him loose and there was nothing fol-
you to worry about?"
That's right"
snw Strange Trucks
White told of conversation he
had with Marshall Mott, a resident
of the same community in which
he lived, Oak Ridge, in which Mott
told him he had seen truck sim lar
to the ones in which the men had
been put into after they were kid
mapped about 1870 o'clock at night
The truck contained what appeared
to be hooded men and the forms OF
two men lying on the floor.
The truck was travelling in the
direction of Lake La Fourche in
which the mutilated and headless
bodies of Daniel and Richards later
were found.
with your companion having been
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