Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-18
SPECIAL OFFICER IS
UNDER HOT FIRE Of
MERROUCE PROBERS
Policeman Denies Seeing
Daniel and Richard Point
ed Out at Bastrop on Day
They Disappeared


son. special policeman in the town
of Bastrop on the day of the base
ball game and barbecue which pre-
coded the kidnapping of Watt Daniel
and Thomas Richard by band OF
black-hoded men August "a last, tes-
titying Tuesday in the states open
hearing investigation into masked
band depredations, denied repeated
questions by states attorneys as to
whether he had seen any one point
out the two men prior to the kid
naping.
ION your honor as man you an
swer me?" George Seth Guion, as
sistant attorney general asked.
eyes" Stevenson said and repeat
ed his denial he had seen, any one
point out the men.
Stevenson said he was a klansman
and was questioned closely as to
whether he was one of the party of
Ku Klux Khan members who, it had
been testified, gathered in the
Thomas hardware store in Bastrop
and armed themselves after news of
the kidnapping was received.
It had been testified by other wit
nesses that the party had assem-
bled in the store to be prepared in
the event the people of Mer Rouge
the homes of Daniel and Richard
might charge the khan with the kid
naping and attempt reprisals.
Quizzed About Truck
Stevenson said he recalled going to
the rear of the store and of having
Captain Skipwith come to the store
at the request of one of the, men
assembled there. SkipWith is the
parish leader of the khan.
Stevenson was questioned also as
. whether he was the owner of an
utomobile truck. He said he was.
where was the truck on the
ight Of the kidnaping?" was one
the questions.
Stevenson said he assumed it was
home.
"Then If. your, car was seen on
lie roads out of Bastrop, 1t was be-
driven without your permits
NJ" was another question.
Stevenson replied in the affirma-
I'VE.
Stevenson testified he acted as
special police officer in Bastrop on
August. "a, last, the day Of the kid
naping of Watt Daniel, T. F. Ricn
ard. ]. L. Daniel, "Tot" Davenport
and w. c. Andrews.
Stevenson said he first learned OF
the kidnapping when Andrews moth
err told him her son had been cap
tured by the black-hooded men.
"Was the town excited?" Steven
son was asked.
people were going in every dlrec-
tfon, but l did not notice any par
ticular excitement" he said.
Didn't See Riders
Stevenson explained that a barbe-
cue and baseball game was held in
Bastrop that day and a number of
visitors were here.
Ibid you see any hooded men
come through town."
mo"
eff they did pass through Bastrop
= from the Mer Rouge-Bastrop road
(where the kidnapping occurre0 to
the Monroe road. could they have
done so without you seeing them?'
eyes, they could have passed with
out me seeing them
could they have gone from the
one road to the other by skirting
the town."
"Yes."
1.-THE night of the kidnapping, did
you make any effotr to locate these
parties and arrest the kidnapers?'
mo"
"Why?"
at don't know; I was just a spe
cial deputy and it was nothing
could do right them
"You heard that five men had beer
kidnapped"
Eyes, Earl Andrews told me hov
many"
"Were you surprised at the kid
naping?"
"Y-s."
"You aid no intimation there wa
going to be kidnaping?"
"No."
Knew of Former kidnapping
ibid you kown about any othe
cases of kidnaping?"
Eyes, I know about Richard an
Harry Neelis."
"Did you know Of any bitterness
existing between Daniel and Rich
ard?"
mo"
"You, are a member, of the khan.
ayes"
"Did you know of any bitterness
in the khan against tehse men,"
mo, don't think So"
"You know DR.. McKoin?"
eyes"
"You know Of any bitterness tina
might exist between him and tn
n.en?"
mo. SIR
ibid you go into Thomas stor
Continued on Page 5, Col. 81
DRESS GOODS 79c A YARD