San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-11
MEMBER Of THE
KHAN TEST|F|ES
At MOB HEARING
Declares He Was Held by
Masked Men With
Guns.
SAW RICHARDS TAKEN
Tells Very Little About the
Inner Workings Of
Khan. ,....-
SAW RICHARDS TAKEN

BastrOp, La, Jan. 11.-Fred Higgin-
botham, alleged messenger for the black
hooded band at the time Thomas Rich
ard was first kidnapped in august, last,
was the first witness to take the stand
today. During the months of July and
= August of last year Higginbotham said
he was a cafe owner and taxicab opera
tor.
DO you remember an occasion on or
about the 18th of August, when it was
said I. Es Richard was taken by a
band of hooded men from a garage in
Bastrop"
Yes. / was on my way to Mer
Rouge"
did you 90 TO Mer Rouge"
mo, / was held by masked men right
outside of town. They were armed
with pistols and shotguns. l was
frightened and paid no attention to the
number of guns"
Where did they take your
"Out in the woods
did you see any one there who was
uumasked?"
"Yes, Harry Neelis."
"Who else did you see?"
81 don't know, the rest of them were
4 masked Neelis was away from them"
well, who else was there?"
ST don't remember"
1 "What happened at the meeting?"
don't remember"
''You are man of average intel
ligence?'
Il guess So
Stranger Told Him.
"How did you join the klan?'
"Just joined"
"Who invited you?"
Nobody"
GLOW did you know there was
KAN"
"a strange fellow told me about it"
"You attended the initial meeting"'
YES"
'NNho was there?"
81 don't remember-Captain Skid
with and r. J.. Home"
Cant you name some of them"
Il didn't pay any attention to them"
Were you afraid:"
81 was not"
You did rot recognize any of the
masked men in the automobiles?"
40"
did you see Captain SkipwIth?" .
Not that ! know Of $50.
"What happened that night"
"Some one told me while was work
ing in the cafe five men were taken
out and whipped"
Did you attend meeting of the Khan
that night"
No" "
"Where was the last meeting of the
khan which YOU attended:"
I'm the court house.
"WhO was there?"
II don't remember" &C..
You don't know anybody
"Well, Captain Skipwith."
He wasn't holding a meeting by him
self was hc?"
NO"
Does Not Approve.
DO you approve of what happened 70
Daniel and RichardT' Higginbotham
was asked.
He replied he did not. ...r b
NTsginbOtham was mentioned by Har-
ny Neelis. youthful automobile sales
man. who testified yesterday, as one who
seemed active in carrying messages TO
the men who took part in the kidnap-
ing of Richard on August IL or IS
when he was taken into the woods and
questioned but later released.
Did you sec the black hoods seize
Richard?"
Yes"
"Why didn't YOU help him out?'
Il don't know. There were plenty of |
people around there. who didn't help ,
him out
Who did YOU see standing around?" !
Il. don't remember"
Now on the night of August II. you |
said you went home when you closed !
up your business?7
- did" go
didn't you see Sidney White at a |
Sdane and tell him three of the five |
kidhared that afternoon had been |
whipped and released. but you did not |
know where the others were?"
II did not see Sidney White"
Attorney General Coco began griIling
he witness at this juncture.
NOW you say you are n charter men,
Der of the MOrehouse Ku Klux Klan. |
please tell me some of the good things
he khan has done since its organiza-
ion."
Have run several bootleggers out.
Negroes or white"
Both"
"Wheie did you run them to?'
81 don't know"
''Do you know Of any flGgging?"
es.L~~tnly heard they kidnapped five
mem"
The klon wants to clean up the bad
lements?7 &