Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-27
PROSECUTOR RAPs
KLAV AS K|DNAP|N INC
HEARING IS ENDED
Attorney for Accused Men
Attacks Methods of BdS-
trop Hearing as Illegal and
Unfair

BASTROP, La, Jan. 25.-(By the
J Associated Press)-The states open
hearing here into the so-called
Morehouse hooded atrocities in
vestigating 1oggings, deportatiors.
kidnapings and the death of two
men, was concluded today after hav.
ing been in progress since January
5.
Leon Jones, of Moselle, Miss. the
last and only witness TODAY. tolG OF
having seen two cars with masked
men near Lake Lafourche the night
Watt Daniel and T. F. Richard were
kidnapped. near Bastrop. Two bodies,
identified as those of Daniel and
Richard We're found floating in the
lake on December %.
Before adjournment of the hear
ing. Attorney General Coco made a
statement to the court concerning
outrages in the parish, charging the
ku Klux Khan with responsibility
for them.
!. May it please the court:
The state has decided to discon-
tinue these proceedings. for the pres
ent at least, and until such time as
conditions may justify their resump-
ton. The hope is expressed, how.
ever, that this may not become
necessary.
Puts Blame on klansmen
Before taking leave of your hon.
or and of this par.sh,sI desire to ex-
press my qualification at the orderly
and dignified manner in which these
proceedings have been conducted.
and my pleasure in the assistance
we have received from the officers
in obtaining the prompt attendance
of our witnesses and in preserving
order.
"On the other hand, it is my very
nainful and humiliating duty to re
Fer to the deplorable conditions in
his parish, as revealed by the evil
see. The proof s convincing that
nee the advent of the K. K x. in
IS par sh there has gradually
son condition of disorder and
wiessness. which has ripened into
supercesss5n of constituted au-
.arities by the K K K and the
enlistment of a government of
its own. from which a reign of ter
ror and. chaos have resulted. and
the parish was on the brink of rot
and bloodshed when the governor
sent the militia here and these pro-
ceedings We're initiated.
while it may be conceded that
many klansmen did not actually pc"
ticipate or encourage these many
acts of lawlessness and crime. which.
finally cI-,minated in the murder of
Watt Daniel and T. F. Richard, they
n may nevertheless be deemed respon-
2 sible therefore by reasons of their
silence and inaction. These offenses
name of the order, under the pro-
lection of its regalia, and in the use
of its recognized methods and prac-
tees, and under the leadership of
its officers, the principle of which
has, for the last six months at least,
brought about "a condition in this
parish which is a blot upon our civil
lization and brings into question the
proud title of American citizenship.
Crimes Commonplace
'The flogging of citizens. their de-
. portation and Punishment and other
kindred offenses, were but mere
pastimes and of such frequent &C.
currence that they were accepted as
commonplace things, the protest
against which was itself sufficient
ground for deportation
. without going into detail, we
beg to say that the conclusion we
have reached is that many persons
have been identified and connected
with these many acts of violence and
crime, leading to and including the
kidnapping Of August "a, 1922, and
the murder of Watt Daniel and T.
F. Richard, 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,"
Judge William z. Barnett, coun-
sci for DR.. McKoin. T. Jeff Burnett
and Newt" Gray. identified by
SsvIn1erous witnesses as kaving been
members of various masked parties,
also issued a statement attacking
the legality CT the hearing, and the
testimony gwen by those summoned
to the stand.
Judge Barnett's statement, the
first formal comment from the de-
Tense. follows iii part:
"This proceeding has been held
under section 1,018 Of the revised
statutes of this state. s.
1.-THE statute does not provide that
Continued on Page 6, Column a
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