Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-01-06

and robed band, and father of Watt
Daniel, Who was murdered on the
same night, was one of the early ar
rivals in the court room. Mr.. Daniel
was accompanied by several Mer'
Rouge citizens.
The court room, seating 500, was
only half-filled.
Troops ON Guard
Bastrop, parish seat, was quiet
but with an air of suppressed ex-
element. A detachment of cavalry
is stationed across the roadway
from the parish courthouse, ma
chine gun unit is on guard at the
courthouse, another machine gun
detachment is guarding the parish
prison and a company of infantry
is encamped within a stones throw
of the court building.
At Mer Rouge, headquarters OF
detail of department of justice
investigators who have assembled
evidence which is expected to re-
suit in sensational disclosures and
wholesale arrests, another infantry
company and a cavalry detachment
is on duty.
Judge Odom made the following
statement from the bench after in
structing the sheriff to take every
precaution to see that order was
maintained during the hearing:
81 want all those who desire to
come and attend these hearings and
all those who may be called at wit
nesses to know that am not going
to permit any interference with the
orders or processes of the court.
"There must be no disorder In or
about the, courthouse; and there
must be no tamperinS-e-Wlth ~ Will
nesses. l want the witnesses TO 1eel
free to come here and testify ana
that in doing so they will be afford
ed every protection that the state OF
Louisiana can throw about~them'
Will Jail Tamperers
'If it should come to me at any
time during the hearing, through
information "UItH illIiiIN - -
able. that any person or group OF
persons have attempted or are at
tempting to frighten, intimidate or
in any manner interfere with my
witnesses either before or after ne
has testified, / am going to nave
the parties implicated arrested ana
incarcerated at once.
This is going to be an orderly
dignifed judicial procedure. Every
facility that the court can possibly
afford is going to be extended 10
the states officers in this probe. F1v-
cry right-thinking, law abiding cltl-
zen of the parish wants TO see the
slayers of Watt Daniel and Thomas
F. Richards brought to justice and
if there is process of power by which
this can be done, it should have. and
I believe has. the hearty SANCTION
of our best citizens. However much
neople may differ in their opinion as
to the methods used, there should
be no dissent from the proposition
that a probe was necessary.
1T is contemplated that through
cut these proceedings all the orders
and processes of the court shall be
executed by the sheriff and MS
deputies. I have never anticipated
and do not now anticipate, the
slightest disorder during these pro-
ceedings, nor do I contemplate any
interference with the officers in the
discharge of their duties. There
will, in my opinion, arise no situa-
ton or contingency,\W with which the
sheriff and his deputies cannot cope
This hearing could have been car
ried on with safety, 1 think, without
the presence of the state militia.
Troops Under Courts Orders
However. the troops are here, and
in order that the people may be re-
assured, | will state that they are
subject to the orders of the court,
and | shall not hesitate to call them
Unto action to protect citizens or to
aid the sheriff in the discharge of
his duties if an emergency should
arise. There is perfect understand
| ing at this time between the court
officers and the military authorities.
The military is at present in sub
ordination to the civil powers, and
will do nothing except in aid and at
the request OF the civil authorities,
unless the governor should see fit