San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-23
KHAN
W|[LATTACK
. INJUNCTION
Texas Grand Dragon Ac-
cused Of Obtaining Re-
straining Order.
BUT HE DENIES IT
Judge Rochester Says San
Antonians Plan Counter
Court Battle.
BUT HE DENIES IT

Charging that the serving of the
injunctions on thirteen members of
the San Antonio Knights of the ku
Klux Khan restraining them from con-
ferring the second degree, that Of the
Knight of Kamelia, was nothing more
nor less than "the first official act
of his majesty, Ralph II. Cameron,
recently appointed grand dragon OF
the realm of Texas" Judge +. L.
Rochester, member of the local Khan
and one of the thirteen enjoined, Sat
urday afternoon declared that the en-
Joined klansmen will counter by i'm
mediately asking for an injunction re-
straining the imperial officers of the
khan from interfering with the local
khan in any way whatsoever.
Mr.. Cameron Saturday evening
stated that the charge was absolutely
false and without foundation.
81 had nothing to do with the in
junction. Mr.. Bracewell has been here
gathering Information for two weeks,
l understand, and he handled the mat
ter entirely. have pur9osely avoid
ed getting involved in the local klan
situation. / was asked for certain in.
formation but refused TO give 1t ID
order to keep clear. There is no foun-
dation to the charge that l had any
thing to do with the Injunction
said Mr.. Cameron.
ave do no wish to fight our case
through the newspapers, said Judge
Rochester. "but we do want TO pre-
sent our side of the case. There was
no reason for the Evans faction to
believe that We were going to confer
the second degree. We had no more
idea Of comforting this degree than
we did of holding a parade. and we
certainly did not think of holding the
Second Degre Not Planned.
Judge Rochester denied emphatical-
" that it was the intention of the
San Antonio khan to confer the sec
ond degree Friday night at the ku
Klux Khan initiation at the Speed
way. He declared that in the en-
peror of the khan alone was vested
the power to confer the degree OF
Knight of Kamelia, and that the en-
peror, Joseph Simmons. was not pres
emit at the initiation Friday night.
When asked whether or not he
was an officer of the San Antonio
khan, Judge Rochester replied, Il will
not admit that / am, and neither
will / deny that i am, but it is
quite likely that at the hearing, which
is set for 10 o'clock on the morning
of October 3. it will be brought out
as to whether l am an officer or
not"
Service "Uncalled For"
Judge Rochester declared that the
serving of the injunctions at the
Speedway Friday "was absolutely I'M
called for" as practically all of the
thirteen San Antonians were promi--
nent business men of the city and
could be reached at any time.
The affidavits. said Judge Roches-
ter. were signed by Jim Bracewell,
body guard and secret agent of I'm
perial Wizard W. ii. Evans.
81 do not hold it against Mr..
Bracewell at ALL said Judge Roches-
ter. ale is employed by Mr.. Evans
and was only doing his duty. l do
believe, however, that he was brought
hereto sign the affidavits by Ralph
III. cameron sOlely Decduse MT. Yam
eron did not want to make public
his connections with the Ku Klux
Khan. So far he has succeeded in
keeping a secret his connection with
the organization.
Assume Neutral Attitude.
Judge Rochester stated that he did
not know why the San Antonio
klansmen had been enjoined because
the local organization had assumed
a neutral attitude in the fight be-
tween Mr.. Evans and Mr.. Simmons
He also expressed surprise that DIR.
S. Z. Howse of Travis county, whom
he declared has nothing whatsoever
to do with the San Antonio khan,
should be named in the affidavit.
Judge Rochester also denied that
Lonnie Irwin, one Of the thirteen
San Antonians named in the injunc-
ton. is a member of the khan. He
further declared that Mr.. Irwin is
preparing to bring suit for damages
against the plaintiffs. saying that he
would be the counsel for Mr.. Irvip.
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