The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-01-25
CRIMES DONE
UNDER COVER
OF REFORM
Attorney General Arraigns
Activity of ku Klux Khan
In Statement
BLOT ON CIVILIZATION
Hearings on Mer Rouge Out
RACES Continue at Bastrop
-Floggings Frequent
(By the Associated Press)

inc so-called "Morehouse hooded
atrocities" investigating floggings,
! deportations, kidnapings and the
death OF two men was concluded to-
day after having been in progress
since January 5.
Leon Jones of Mozelle, Miss, the
/ only witness today, told of having
seen two cars with masked men near
Lake La Fourche the night Watt
Daniel and 4. +. Richard were kid
mapped near Bastrop. Two bodies
identified as those of Daniel and
Richard were found on Dec. 90
floating in the lake.
before adjournment of the hear
ing Acknowledgement Coco made a
statement to the court repardirr
outrages in the parish, charging the
hu hluX Khan with responsibility.
The attorney general addressed the
court Immediately before adjourn
ment.
Text of Statement.
Inc text of the statement follows
in part:
III Is my very painful and humil-
ltating duty to refer to deplorable
conditions in this parish as revealed
IN the evidence. The proof is con.
Vlnclng that since the advent of the
ku klux Khan in this parish Their
has gradually arisen a condition ne
disorder and lawlessness which has
rlpened into super session of con-
stltuted authorities by the Ku KIu..
Alan and the establishment of a gov
err ment of it's own from which il
reign of terror and chaos have re-
suited and the parish was declared
on the brink of riot and bloodshed
when the governor sent the milit,
here and the proceedings were init
atrd.
while it may be conceded tn
many klansmen did not actually pa
ticlpate or encourage these MAJ
acts of 1awlessness and crime whit
finally eliminated in the murder
Watt Daniel and T. F. Richard
they may nevertheless be deemed r,
sponsible therefor by reason of thei
silence and inaction.
In Name of Order.
"These crimes were committed i,
the name of order under the pro
lection of it's regalia aad in the use
OF its recognized uses and practices
and under the leadership of it's Off
GERS. the principle of which has for
the last six months at last bro,vht
about condition in this paf -
which is blot on our civilizat; i
and brings into question the prout.
title Of American citizenship.
1.-The fogging Of citizens, their de-
portation and Punishment and 9TH
kindred ofenses were but rlere. pas.
times and of such frequent occur
renee as they were accepted as COM
monplace things the protest which
was itself sufficient ground for the
protection.
without going into detail we beg
to say that the conclusion we hoy.
reached of these many acts of vio-
lence and crime is clear and it Is
the purpose of the state to present
this evidence to the grand jury for
its consideration and action as soon
as we can get transcript of it,
The Ku Klux Khan was charged
outrages in Morehouse parish to-
day statement by Attorney
General A. B. Coco, of the
state of Louisiana, at the conclusion
of the open hearing into activities
of masked bands which eliminated
August "a in the kidnapping near
here of Watt Daniel and T. F. Rich
ard whose. bodies were found in
lake 25 miles from the scene o,
Dec. %.
Lawrence Leon Jones of Mozelle
Miss, declared by the state to have
ben the last person known to hav,
seen Daniel and T. F. Richard after .
they were kidnapped by masked men
on August "a and whose bodies were
found in a lake near here on Dec.
% took the stand today at the open
hearing into operations of hooded
bands in Morehouse parish.
Issue Statement
William Barnett, counsel for Dr..
B. M. McKoin, T. Jeff Burnett and
Newt Gray, identified by numerous
witnesses as having been members
of various masked parties, also is
sued statement attacking the lc-
gality of the hearing and testimony
given by those summoned to the
stand. Attorney Burnett's statement,
the first formal comment for the
defense, follows in part:
"This hearing has been held un-
der section 1918 Of the revised sta
tutes of this state.
''The statute does not provide that
witnesses may be drawn before
court and grilled and crdss-exam-
ined but in order that their deposit
tions may be taken.
s'None Of this has been done If
this case. Therefore this whole pr,
ceedings, in my Judgment. is = n,
lity and the testimony adduced ca
not be legelly used in any procet
ings whatever. It cannot even
used legally before = grand jury.
would be. hsarsay apd any bill
(ceatine91 . Prs xAsss)