Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-13
courthouse SCENE
Of KLAV MEET NCS.
WITNESS TESTIFIES

BASTROP, La, Jan. 12.-Here is
the complete report of wednesday
and Thursdays developments in the
investigation of the Mer Rouge muir
derS.
Fred. HiggenbOtham, who declared
himself a member of the Nu kluN
Klan-a charter member and stun
rnember-aSserted on the witness
stand that although he attended the
meetings of the khan he could name
only one official, Captain j. Is. SKIP
with. Skipwith IL exalted cyclops
of the Morehouse khan.
Higgenbotham declared the last
meeting of the Morehouse khan he
attended was held in the parish
courthouse. He could not rcmem'
Der who was a. -fe meeting G,her
than Skipwith and L. l.. Home.
Lengthy questioning as TO khan
affairs brought repeated declarations
from the witness he knew nothing cf
the business Of the parish klah
Hisgenbotham was mentioned by
Harry Neelis, youthful automobile
salesman, who testified yesterday, as
one who seemed active in carrying
messages between men who took
part in the kidnapping of Richard on
August II or 1S--last-when ne WAS
taken into the woods and question
ed but later released.
Refutes Neelis' Testimony
do you approve of what hap
pened 10 Daniel and Richard?' liiS'
genbotham was asked.
IJa rapIiod hn 61d not
Higgenbotham. who operates seTE'
ice cars between the towns in this
section, was questioned at lensth as
to several recent trips and the
identity of his fares. He declared
the men he transported. and whose
identity. states attorneys seemed
anxious to learn, were strangers 10
him.
Higgenbotham was asked the al,
rect question as to whether he did
not go out on the Mer Rouge-Bas
iron road at the time Richard was
held I'm 70 talk with the men "a
Gaged in the holdup.
II did not, Higgenbotham re-
piled.
iHiggenbotham said he was reieas-
ed after being held a short time pV
the hooded men and ordered to re
turn to Bastrop.
He said he did not think 1t neces-
sary to report the occurrence to the
officials here, that he did not think
# ''important' but thought possibly
Neelis would report It.
+. Denies Carrying Message
The Whereabouts of Higgenpotham
on the night of August 24-wnen
Richard and Daniel were kidnapped
and from which kidnapping they did
not return-was the subject of sew
eral questions. He declared lac was
at his home.
LAS an American isn't it true that
tou knew where Richard was aIo
YOU went to the masked band and
told them he was still in BastrOp?
Higsenbotham was asked, with ref
erence to the kidnapping of RIchal
on August II.
81 did not" replied.
States attorneys announced dur
ing the noon recess of court that
the mother of AddIe May Hamilton
would not be among those to testify
during the afternoon. "A case o.
small pox at the Hamilton home
was given as the reason. Neither
Addie nor her mother, it was said
had contracted the maiady.
One Man Unmasked
Higgenbotham was the first wit
ness today.
"Do YOU remember an occasion OF
or about the 18th of August Wnef
IT was said T. F. Richard was take1
nv a band of hooded men from
paSfrnn2'f
Eyes, 1, was on my way TO Me
Rouge"
Ibid you go to Mer Rouge"
mo, L was held up by maske'
men right outside of town. The,
were armed with pistols a%d shcI
guns. I was frightened and PAID n
attention to the number of guns.
"Where did they take YOU
"Out In the woods"
Did you see any one there VII
was unmasked?'
Eyes, Harry Neelis."
"Who else did you see?'
81 don't know, the rest of Their
were masked. NeelIs was away >fror
them
"They detained me for littl
while and told me to go back t
Bastrop."
How were they dressed?"
"They had on black hoods
Are you a member of the K
Nlux klan?"
II ANA charter member Ct tn
Bastrop khan"
who are the o1ficers?''
"I don't know any in part'cul9
except Captain Skipwith."
HE is the cyclops or the sheik- !
the klan?"