davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03

together several hours. He decided tt
go to his home, about three miles from
here. but on the way out we changed
our minds and stopped ut the home OF
Bessie Jones to have her cook some
chicken for US. When we got in thu
house Saunders went into another
room and fell asleep. Neither Jack nor
I had gun and II Saunders had one
do not know 1t. All OF US were drunk
Jack and ] sat in the hall holding q
Rouge tragedies and the khan. Jack
declared that Jim Noteworthy had
not acted right and when he said that
an argument followed, for Jim is my
friend.
During the argument Jack slapped
me and / slapped him back. Then he
struck me and struck him. There was
big revolver in the next room on the
dresser and Jack rushed for it. We
both tried to ct the gun and in the
scuffle that followed the gun was dis.
charged and Jack fell to the floor
Bessie Jones rushed in and asked what
had happened. l said: L guess I have
killed Jack -"
Calhoun, Il big, husky man. buried
mis- face in his hands and wept. boz
ems of men in the courtroom flocked
to his side and many of them, his
friends for years, openly sympathizeG
with him and offered their support, de
claring they believed the killing TO
have been an accident.
Over and over Calhoun repeated. II
wish it had been me that was killed.
Jack Parker was the best friend
had
DR.. c. Fl. Mosely Of Monroe who was
called by telephone to the scene of the
killing, testified that he was met d,
the door by Calhoun and Saunders
Parker was lying on the floor in the
nall. unconscious, in a pool of blood
His face was bruised. Near the body
was pocket knife with a large blade
open.
Rose Jones, daughter of Bessie
Jones, declared she was in the rear of
Inc house and heard neither the argu-
ment nor the shot. When she entered
the house her mother was gone and
the body of Parker was lying or the
floor. She ran to her grandmother's
Wesly Saunders testified he was
asleep in the rear of the house when
Bessie Jones awoke him and said.
Get up Mr.. Saunders Mr.. Carey
shot Mr.. Jack" He saw Parker's body
on the hail floor. He did not hear thu
shot or an argument The gun was on
the floor in the room Just of the hall.
Sam Jones, IL years old. son of Bes-
sic Jones identified the pistol as his
mother'a
Chief Deputy Sheriff CloverdaIe tes.
tilted that the bullet. after passing
through Parker's head, struck the wall
rebounded and fell under a couch In
the hall.
The jury returned a verdict that
Parker was killed by gun in the
hands of Carey Calhoun during a scuf.
fle, but made no recommendations
Sheriff Grant. obviously disinclined to
prefer charge against the prisoner,
conferred with the attorney for Mr..
Calhoun and 1t was decided to place
the matter in the hands of David I.
Garrett. Prosecuting Attorney for final
decision
Calhoun was arrested last night by
Sheriff Grant and Deputy Cloverdale
at his residence here. He was found IT.
bed.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03
TRIES TO SHIELD.

Puckett Mason testified that he saw
Daniel, Richards and "Tot" Davenport,
in Bastrop on August "a sitting on the
Court House steps. A short distance
away he saw Captain Skipwith and
some strangers. They seemed to be
talking about the three men as Skip
with frequently pointed in their direct
ion. Ray BroadnaX testified to seeing
Captain Skipwith and some stranger.
standing a short distance from the
three men, looking toward them and
pointing in their direction.
Clarence Teegestrom a brother OF
Harold T. Teegestrom, missing time
keeper of the Southern Carbon Com
pany declared that he did not know
the whereabouts Of his brother but
that he received letter from him on
January 10. The letter, he stated, bore
no postmark. He was asked to produce
the letter but said he had burned 1t.
The witness had promised Federal IL
vestigators that he would inform them
Immediately If he received any word
from his missing brother. He admitted
on the witness stand that he had failed
TO keep that promise. He admitted that
he had Joined the ku klux khan about
the first of the current month, or a
few days after the disappearance of
his brother. A specimen of his hand.
writing was taken. The State. it is be-
lteyed now doubts whether Harold
Teegestrom ever wrote the much dis
cussed letter.
The open hearing will end tomo-.
row. according to the State officials
Whatever arrests are to be made win
not be made at once The Grand Jury
1t is understood, will meet immediate
ly but whether the State will be ready
to ask for indictments then is profile
matical.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03
VIGILANCE GROUP.

Among the witnesses who received
this letter were f. G. Osborne. now q.
Madison Parish, and Bud McGowen,
father-in-Iaw of Osborne, who was al.
lowed to return to Morehouse afte,
his wife had pleaded with Influential,
klansmen. Dewey Brown testified that
Ire was ordered out, but he gathered
friends about him, made fight and eff
fected compromise whereby he was
put on probation for sixty days. If he
behaved the khan was not to disturb
him. All of these men were accused of
making moonshine.
II. G. Osborne a brother Of E. c. Os.
borne. now living in Madison County
was so prosecuted by the khan that no
was forced to move. He was not order.
ed out of the parish, but while he was
talking with Gus Calhoun in Bastr or
one day last Summer he was seized by
hooded men. carried into the woods
along the Cooper Road and lasheo
fifty times by two members of the
mob. re was then told to go home and
behave himself.
Harry Prophitt. of Monroe, the last
witness of the day, testified that he
was in BastrOp on August "a. That eve
ming while on his way home, on the
Mnnroe-Bastrop roadway he saw Cap
tain Skipwith in motor car, which
was standing in fork of the ronu,
leading to Collinston. Captain Skip.
with. he said. appeared to be accom-
panied by Negro. Prophitt was ask &c
II the person appearing to be a Negro
might not have been a black hooded
white man and he said that might
have been the case.
When Court adjourned, Attorney
General Coco made ready to go to Bat.
on Rouge having been summoned by
Governor Parker for conference
over Sunday, on the progress made In
the open hearing.
jeff Burnett accused of being one O!
the slayers of Daniel and Richards,
has returned to Monroe and was al
mitted to $4,000 bail by Judge Odom
with the Attorney Generals consen,
after it was made known that his
health demanded his freedom.
Captain Skipwith admitted today
that Burnett's release was against his
wishes. 81 wanted him to stay in jail
so that we'd get the benefit of a pre-
liminary trial" he said as he stood
on Court House Square with a circle
| OF his friends around him "His family
got him released without letting me
know about it. I'm sorry Of it,"
Immediately on his arrival here
from the Shreveport hospital this
morning Burnett went to Spyker and
was not seen again during the day.
The bail granted Burnett was the
same amount as that under which DIR
B. M. McKoin was released last week
1t was not long after Burnett's arriy
al in Bastrop that Mrs. Carlisle identi
fled him as member OF the murder
mob.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03
PHONE GIRL TELLS.

Lillian Weileman, the telephone
operator, was examined as follows:
Q.--Your lines connect with Mer
Rouge? Ayes, sir.
Q.-One to Collinston? Ayes sir
Q.-Do you talk to Mer Rouge d.
rect? A.-Yes.
Q.-Do you recall any one visiting
your office on August "a relative to
your receiving or sending messages
A.-That day or night Captain Skip
with visited the office and said not to
take any calls to or from Mer Rouge
Q.-What do you say? A.-Nothine.
Q.-Was that the day of the hail
game? Al don't know
Q.-Iou remember the incident parti
"ularly we'll? A.-Yes. sir.
Bastrop La, Jan. 3O-The truci,
that carried Watt Daniel and Thomas
F. Richards to their death was ident!-
fled today at the open hearing and
two Of the black-hooded men who
were on it were named as Oliver Skip
with son of Captain Skipwith, Exalted
Cyclops of the Morehouse Khan and r
Smith Stevenson, owner of the truck
by State witness, H. e. Blankenship
He testified that on August "a he
saw the motor truck, accompanied by
two automobiles loaded with black
hooded men, pass his house which Is
one block from The Bastrop Courr
House.
He saw on the Ford truck a man
whom he recognized as Watt Daniel
He was not sure of the identity of tht
other victim.
care you positive OF thes, men," he
was asked.
II am this positive", he replied
that If 1t had been my brother held OF,
that car Skipwith and Stevenson
would have been the first men
would have looked for"
Blankenship testified that he knew
the truck, but that he failed to eaten
the State license number that night
A day or two later he sought the
truck, found 1t, identified it by certain
pronounced marks and put down the
license number on a card. The number
was74657. He read 1t from a memoran
dunn. A statement from The Motor
Vehicle Bureau at Baton Rouge show
ed that the license was issued to F.
Smith Stevenson Of Bastrop.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03
PARKER SHOT.

John p. Parker, Jr.. shot last Might
by Carey Calhoun. his lifelong friend
ut the house OF Negro woman. died
early today. Calhoun was arrested AMI
IS being held here hut no charge has
been laid against him and Sheriff
Grant asserted that none would bc
preferred unless II was made by Park
cr's relatives
Calhoun testified 81 tho Coroner n
inquest In his own behalf and with the
consent of his attorney. T. - Thoua.
with tears streaming from his cyea
Following The shooting Bessie Jones.
coloreh disappeared 6Bd u parish wide
senrcb Tor her Is being made Onicin q
believe She e1b shed considerable
i'm on The mystery surrounding the
shooting
y loved jack Parker like brother
5bd tsek i6Vfd me" said Calhoun y
met him sBd Wesley Saunders yester.
Day afternoon and VIC were drinking
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03

Q.-When did you hear OF the kid
mapping? Al didn't hear OF it
saw them pass my house, a block from
the courthouse. / was about fiftee,
feet from them. thouht they were
'niggers' in the cars, but as they came
nearer saw they were white Me.l
with black hoojs.
Q.-How about the cara? A.-There
was one truck. Daniel was in the
truck, sitting down. 1t seemed rs II
his hands were tied behinI him. He
was the only one 1 knew.
The witness then described how he
had later identified the truck. The ex
animation then continued:
GLOW many cars did you see? A.
There were three. There might hav.
been more.
Q.-Did you recognize anybody? A.
i thought / did. / recognized young
Skipwith and Smith Stevenson.
Q.-You mean the son of Captain
Skipw1th? Ayes. the youngest SOL.
Q.-Oliver? Al think that's his
name Captain Skipwith has two sons.
killian and Oliver.) The witness tesIl-
fled that he knew it was not Killian,
but the other one.
Q-How about Stevenson? Al
thught | know his car and l thought
he was driving it, that is judging by
his general build and form.
Q.-You feel sure that the men were
Oliver Skipwith and Smith Stevenson?
A.-So sure that if my brother had
been held there Skipwith and Steven
son would have been the first men =.
would have looked for. (Stevenson.
testifying earlier in the week asserted
that he was Deputy Town Marshall
on the day of the Bastrop Picnic and
that he lent his car to Lucky Evans
to haul water with it. He asserted
that he didn't use the car that day.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03

started by former Governor Henry ].
Allen who has been succeeded by a
Democrat has virtually eliminated the
invisible empire from that State.
Even In the Morehouse Parish.
where there were 500 men voters. 500
OF them klansmen. prior to the muir.
ders OF August cath. the khan. 1t is
freely predicted cannot survive more
than six months. There are klansmeG
there who are openly hostile to Skip
with. This has been learned positive
Nv by Federal investigators. 1t is pre-.
dicted that there will be demand for
n new Cyclops and it also is freely
predicted that there will not be a man
In Morehouse Parish willing to ac-
cept the responsibility.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03

klans throughout the nation. I think
we have made forward step and
am heartily in favor OF It,"
The former Klansmen from whor,
this statement was obtained, said:
This is an attempt to create a Sc
cret political obligarchy in Louisiana
II these secret political bosses
should by some chance. get in power
conditions far worse than those Of tire
reconstruction period will result. The
shocking revelations in Morehouse
Parish would be duplicated In many
other parishes and we would have
anarchy. No mans life would be safe
The State Of Louisiana would become
med camp. do not believe the
pey.,.e will take any chance. Klanism
Will be the paramount issue in the
coming campaign and the khan will
be showed under"
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03
LOUISIANA MUXERS TRAPPED IN ubl PRACTICES BY JUSTICE OFFICERS PLANS tn FIGHT RACK

BastrOp, La, Jan. 26.-Additiona
testimony against Captain J. X. Skip
with, Exalted Cyclops OF the More
house ku Klux Khan. was heard today
at the open hearing on the MeI
Rouge murders. A telephone operate.
testified that one night Skipwith enter
ed the local telephone office, where she
was on duty, and requested that shs
neither make nor accept calls between
Mer Rouge and Bastrop. Reluctant To
testify, she declared that she didn't re
member If it was on August "a, the
day OF the kidnapping of Daniel ano
Richards. State officials. however. have
other information and are certain
that the request was made by Captain
Skipwith on the night of August "a
The wires between this town and Mer
Rouge were cut that night.
Only by persistent questioning was
the fact brought out that Captain Skip
with had visited the telephone ex-
change and made the request. The au-
trorities have information that sh,.
declined to yield to the khan officers
request.
w. H. Hearte told of a threat t.
Kill witness, made by Jim" Harp.
~-e~' hC uSSioACu, Stdlcu tuaC ne
would Kill any man who swore to SEQ
ing him in car about 3 A. M. on the
morning following the kidnapping Of
Daniei and Richards. The witness said
the threat was made since the hear.
Ing started. Earlier in the day vi c.
Garter testified that he had seen "Jim'
Harp and Zap" Jones in car at 3 A.
NJ. near his home
Thomas Surgeon testified to seeing
the murder truck on the side OF tn.
road on his way home after the Bas-
trop barbecue. Two men, both blind
folded. were in the rear OF the truck.
he said and he believed he recognize l
one as Watt Daniel. a relative of his
wife Hooded men, armed were about
he said. Paul Melton, who was with
Surgeon, substantiated the latter's
story.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03
TO CONTROL STATE.

Baton Rouge. La, Jan. 27.-The
fiercest political battle ever staged In
Louisiana is in prospect in the next
Stat campaign with the ku kIux khan
and the foes of the hooded fratel nifty
lined up for desperate struggle.
Enemies Of the members Of the "Invis-
ible Empire" are determined that ne
important office shall be permitted to
go to candidate espousfng the prin-
ciples Of the khan. Realizing that the
organization will make strenuous
struggle to get one of its members or
sympathizers in the gubernatorial
chair when Gov. John. M. Parker steps
out (under the law he cannot run for
ONCE again,) anti-klansmep have pss
fected QUESTIONABLE which will be
put up to candidates for all Offices.
This course was adopted when 1t he
came known that B. Y. Clarke, former
ly Acting Imperial Wizard of the klap
had sent out a secret statement 30 q
selected few Louisiana politicians who
are members of the order, inviting
them to join a political khan within
the ku klux khan. The invitation caus
ed at least one prominent klansman
to renounce the order and make pub
lie the khan within khan scheme.
Clarke's statement reveals the pur
pose OF the political khan, or Imperial
Khan. as 1t is known officially at khan
headquarters, to take in Congressman
Senators, Governors, Judges and 9th
ers OF political prominence, who are
to form an inner circle and whose
membership is not to be revealed ia
the other members Of the Invisible
Empire. The office-holders are to be
initiated at the star chamber sessions
or the khan by imperial authority
from headquarters.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03
A SECRET KHAN.

The closing paragraph of the Clarks
statement shows that the group Of
men composing the Imperial Khan"
are to dictate the political policy OF
the masked organization and that the
local members are expected to obey or
ders from headquarters without ques.
ton. Clarke's statement in part fol
lows:
We are face to face with the oppor.
tunity OF bringing into the organiza.
ton men OF large type but men whose
identy we want to absolutely conceal
from even their local klan-the khan
which is located where they live. For
instance, congressman Senators. Gov
ernors. judges and others whom we
can line up as real kIansmen. but
which 1t would be best; for them and
for us for their identity to he complete
ly and absolutely concealed.
These men can be passed upon III
the Imperial khan and put upon the
roster OF the Imperial Khan and ri ,en
the immortal pass port to enter their
local khan at anytime it was Thought
hest to let them go there and uncover
their identity as klansmen. | believe
this feature of the Imperial Kfan's
possibilities alone justifies it's estab
| lishment at this time
ut will not be long before klans In
all parts Of the nation will begin IL
send In petitions OF various kinds to
he discussed by the Imperial Khan
Problems of local character. problems
Of national character, will come before
this body to be discussed by the head
Of the operating forces of the organi
cation and the action taken will be
passed down in full detail to all of the
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03
SAW SKIPWITH SON

Whom Blankepship was called nc tes
Tried that he was In HayncsvilIe n
week before the Kidnapping OF Daniel
md Richards On that occasion he saw
thrco cars about n mile from town.
Two or the cars contained ack-hood-
cd mon and In the other were two men
who wore no masks. One of these he
recognized as Captain Skipwitir. This
was on the day of the first kidnapping
or Richards. The examination was
continued as follows:
o-Were you in Bastrop August
24th? Ayes, sir.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-03
KHAN FIGHT IN OKLA.

row in Ardmore. Okla, Khan issues are
at stake and tho khan is said to be
openly divided in the conflict. In
Arkansas with the Government forces,
largely favorable to the khan. the
state Legislature has started an in
vestigation of khan lawlessness in Har
rison. Reports indicate that the fight
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-14
C|VITANS TO CONTINUE HOSPITAL FUND DRIVE
With Fourth Of Goal In Hand,
 CIuh Plans To Go Over Top

Determination to carry on the drive for funds for the Children's hospital until the goal of S25,000 has been reached, was expressed on every hand at the luncheon of the ClVltan club held at 1 o'clock Friday after noon at the Tutwiler hotel. Renewed energy was imparted to the work CTS by Sidney J. Bowie, urging every member of the club to concentrate to put over the drive for the current expense budget of the hospital.
 Approximately one-fourth of the goal of s25,0O0 has been reached, but that the campaign would not stop until the club went over the top" with the amount required in the budget.
 I've have had a wonderful re- sponse with the small $1 and $5 con- tributions," said MT. Bowie. put what we must have is several more S250 contributions. This is the last campaign we will have to make for the children's hospital, and we must not lay down on the guns until the war for funds is over.
 Next year the hospital will be financed through the community chest, and so those who give to it this year may be assured that they will not be pledged next year."
 Hugo Black, president, presided, and devoted several minutes to talk on the remaining campaign days. He urged the teams to persevere in their efforts and to- eXpend all energy possible to muster in the next few days in putting over the drive.
 The S25,000 must come," he con- cluded.
 Charles Seaton, treasurer of the Venable Cafe company, was initiated into the club Friday as new mem- Der.
 Following are those who were re- ported at the meeting. Friday of hay ing signed pledges for $25o for the hospital fund:
 Victor Hanson, Crawford Johnson, Horace Hammond and Morris w. Bush Gointly), Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron company, Loveman, Joseph, x Loeb, Mir. and Mrs. H. c. Ryding (jointly), and Sidney J. Bowie.
 A short history of the hospital, written by Mrs. Crawford Johnson. president bf the Childrens Hospital board, was distributed among Civi- tans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-07-14
Five Concerned Provide For Better
 Supply For Drinking Purposes

Safeguarding the drinking water of communities in which eployes of plants in the Birmingham district live has become a live issue with many of the larger institutions of Jefferson county, especially since the outbreak of typhoid fever at Lewis burg in May, when there were 15 cases listed, several of which ended fatally.
 The Alabama company had the well there overhauled and equipped with Hhlorinating apparatus. Since then other companies have taken up the matter and are preparing for preven- ton measures. The Imperial Coal and Coke company has just completed similar equipment at Bradford mines. Companies ordering the installation of chlorinating equipment, as report ed at the city hall Friday morning, are the Gulf States Steel company, for the well at Virginia mines; Porter Coal company for the mines at Por- ter; Alabama Power company for three substation in Jefferson coupnty.
 W. A. Hardenbergh, sanitary engi- neer of the county health forces, said another development for sanitati that he expects to see Is a statewide measure before many years, or as soon as the legislature takes 1t up, Is purification of sewerage before the matter reaches the streams of the state. The directorate of the Girls Industrial school near Bessemer has installed sewerage purtfication equipment for the school for the out flow to go into Valley creek. The subject of stream pollution preven- tion." MT. Hardenbergh said Friday,
 lis destined to be nationwide movement, and when it goes through will do much to reduce i'll health in many localities. Streams passing communities are not infreqently used for many purposes by others, some not so well informed, and. in present conditions, this makes a con stant menace. People bathe in this water, little realizing the contamna- tion to which it has been subjected further up stream"
 Several states have already passed laws on the subject and the topic is one of steadily growing interest ..mong sanitary workers throughout the country.