Evening star., 1923-01-23
SAYS T|MEKEEPER
WILL TELL TRUTH
Clarence Teegerstrom Be-
lieveS Brother in Vicinity
of Bastrop.
PUT ON WAITING LIST
Declares Harold Intends to Return
and Testify for JEFF
Burnett.
PUT ON WAITING LIST
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BASTROP, La, January 23.--Clar-
ence Teegerstrom. brother of Harold
Teegerstrom, missing timekeeper of
the Southern carb&n Company at
Spyker, who disappeared December
%. and for whom the state of Louisi-
anan has been searching in connec-
tion with its investigation into activities
Of masked men in Morehouse parish.
took the stand this forenoon at the
open hearing here.
DO you know where your brother,
is?' he was asked.
II do not"
When did you last hear from him p"
Il received a letter January TO-"
, Where is the letter.
II destroyed it,"
Teegerstrom was given the let
ter by Dean Ashcraft, an employe of
the Southern Carbon Company, at
Spyker, who said Supt. S. J.. Bennett
had found it in the companys mail
box. The envelope bore two-cent
stamp but no postmark.
VIII Aid .Mr. Jen."
Harold's letter. Teegerstrom testi-
fled, declared he was safe and sound
and in comfortable quarters and he
would be ready TO return about the
2oth, when the state wanted him, and
would testify for Mr.. jeff"
MIR. jeff" he understood to be T j.
Burnett, former Morehouse parish
deputy sheriff. an employe of the Car
bon Company, and now at liberty un-
der $4,000 bail. Burnett was arrested
last month on murder charge, in
connection with the kidnapping of
Watt Daniel and T. F. Richard, near
Bastrop. whose bodies were found in
Lake La Fourche December %.
What did Dean Ashcraft say to
you when he handed you the letter.
He merely said here was a letter
pany's box that looked like Harold's
handwriting
You are sure his disappearance is
voluntary and he has not been sent
or hidden away by any one?"
II am sure, or at least | feel GER
tain it is voluntary"
Did Harold say anything about
Burnett since his arrestY'
He said he was going to testify
for Mr.. jeff"
likely to turn up here at any time,
hut this hearing is likely to be over
shortly. You cannot suggest a way
with?'
Anxious to Find Him.
"I do not, but if he does testify he
will tell the truth regardless of who
1t hits. He's that kind of a Boy. I
am just as anxious to communicate
As you gentlemen are and I want to
assure you that you will have my
Have you got any idea as to how
the letter got into the company's box
without having passed through the
regular post Office channels"
Il do not. The stamps were uncan-
celled: I suppose he told who ever
pany's box was located. 1t convinces
me he Is in this vicinity"
Did government agents call on
you after you received the letter.
Yes; one came to see me and asked
me had L heard from my brother. I
told him no, because I did not think
it was any of his business"
The witness then was put through
a handwriting test. A letter from
his brother was dictated to him and
he was requested to write a series of
and fractions. The result
was filed.
Are Are you a member of the klan?"
When did you join it?"
"The list of this month"
Hearing Nears ConcIusion.
The hearing is nearing it's conclu-
sion and attaches Of the Office of the
state attorney general have said that
the few remaining sessions might de-
velop sensational testimony.
Rumor was rife here late last night
that Teegerstrom had been located at
SwartZ, a station on the Iron Noun
4 q n rQ q fnv MI la =,
here, and that he had been in conceal
ment there since he disappeared from
A detachment Of cavalry, ac-
companied by T. Semmes Walmsley,
assistant attorney general, left here
late last night for Swartz, in an ef-
turned early today without having
found any trace of him.
Associates of the attorney general
said they expected the hearing to be
concluded by Wednesday night un-
less something unlocked for de-
mony, which will not be completed
for several days after adjournment,
will be taken to New Orleans, in
order that brief may be prepared
stated. would consume ten days or
two weeks. 1t was not known
whether the case would be. presented
to the present grand jury or given to
the new grand jury the first week in
March.
Officials conducting the hearing de-
clared they expected to spring a sur
prise at the opening Of the Wednes-
day afternoon session and intimated
that it would eclipse anything pre-
viously brought out.
In some quarters IL was believed
that Harold Teegerstrom would be
the surprise witness Reports persist
that he is being held under cover
to be brought here to testify despite
official denial. The line OF question
ing has indicated that the state be-
lieves the dynamite used to bring the
bodies of Daniel and Richard to the
surface of Lake La, Fourche was
stolen from a supply at the carbon
plant.
It has been established that the gal
yanixed wire with which the bodies were
attached to weights when they
were cast into the lake was similar
to wire used at the plant, and
bunch of keys found near the scene
of the explosion contains one identi.
fed as Identical with those used a.
the plant to lock the Eas-metel
houses
Assistant Attorney General Guio,
assured Teegerstrom's father yester,
day while hesWas on the stand that
the state had no evidence .Whoteyel