The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-11
CLAIMS KHAN HER OU I
 OFMOREHOUSE:
Girl Charges She Was Victim of Invisible Governments Orders Thirteen Names Brought Into Record
 at Hearing

 Daniel and Thomas Richard, hooded band victims, and establish the basis for charges that a "super-govern- ment" had set itself up in More house parish with resultant reign of terror.
 At the end of the day the names of l3 men had been brought into the record through the testimony of six witnesses as having been reeog- nized, by the sound of their voices and by other means, as having par tieipated in Kidnapping expeditions, raids and marching parties attribut- ed to the Ku Klux Klan.
 Many Ciimaxes
 1t was a day Of several climaxes. first with the declaration of Addie May Hamilton, 17-sear-old girl that she was driven from Morehouse by a delegation of "klan members; again with the appearance on the witness stand of Mrs. Thomas Richs ard, wido;I of one of the slain men. and the next with the testimony of Harry Neelis, youthful automobile salesman and garage proprietor, star witness of the day whose testimony brought before the inquiry the names of six men-Jeff Bennett, now being held on a charge of murder; J. K. Skipwith, recognized klan leader in Morehouse parish; Jim Tisdale of Menroe, A B, Campbell of Jones, pr. B NJ. McKoin. former mayor of the village of Mer Rouge. aud man named Rogers, SIS members of a black -hooded kidnapping" party which operated on the Highway near Bastrop August 8 last when Rich ards was taken into the koods for questioning.
 Neels also brought forward the n3sne of Fred Carpenter, sheriff or Morehouse parish.
 Carpenter was within 100 feet or the garage in Bastrop from which Richard was Kidnapped at the time he was taken prisoner August 1S, Neelis said.
 On another occasion during the ex- animation Neelis declared Carpenter, overhearing a conversation in which he was engaged with another man with reference to klan activities, called him aside and advised hin" to "quit talking about our affairs"
 Husband Questioned
 Mrs. Richards testimon.- was de- voted almost entirely to the kidnap- ing of Richard on August 1. when she said Richard told her of being taken into the woods by black hooded band and questioned as to an attempt that had been made some time previous to assassinate Dr. Me K oin.
 My husband told me he had been exonorated.' Mrs. Richard said, and laughed about being kidnapped.
 Mrs. Richard said she first learned that her husband had been kidnapped on that occasion when their S-year- old child, who was with Richard at the time. met her with an exclam- ation that the Ku Klux has daddy"
 Richard returned to his home in Ner Rouge later In the day, after he had been releassd, Mrs. Richard said.
 She then told of the second kid naping week later when he failed to return
 stopped by Hooded Men
 Neelis was on his way to Mer Rouge when he said he was stopped by a party of black hooded men a sl ort distance from Bastrop, ques- toned and allowed 10 proceed but was stopped again short distance further by two unmasked men whom he named as Burnett and Rogers ''
 When 1 was stopped by the two men 1t was decided that | be re turned to the point where the masked men were" Neelis testified.
 When Burnett and Rogers held me up 1 talked with them long enough to know what they wer: after. It was Richard. Burnett did not say bull intmated that Richard was the man wanted. told him ten if he wanted Richard he need not resort to any of these measures.
 Burnett and Rogers then took black masks from their pocket and put them on. Fred liigginbotham q up. lie was unmasked. He consulted with Burnett and Rogers and then w&s told | could go
 Reachcd Bastrop First
 Neelis described how he was picked up by another automobile and reached Bastrop ahead tf the hooded band.
 "The first thing 1 did was to get Richard and tell him the ku kIuN were after him and for us to go over to the sheriff's office where we might have protection." Neelis continued. "Richard had his. little girl with him and he suggested that we wait until his wife came back.
 "Abolt that time the automobiles came up to the garage. 1 went to them and told them to leave Rich ard alone. hoy went into the ga- rage and led Richard Cut.and to al automobile.
 q was mad and warned them again to let Richard alone. About that time Rogers pointed a long shot Gi1n at me and told me to step aside. They left with Richard
 What were the conditions in Bas- trop at that time? Wasn't the klan very active?" Neelis was asked
 Yes, the klan was active and the court house was being guarded by citizens. They said the people in Mer Rouge were coming over to attack and the people at Mer Rouge told me the people of Bastrop were com ing over to attack them, They did not
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