Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-08
MOreh0use Victims
Terribly Tortured
Testimony Reveals

Testimony Reveals
Bastrop. La. Jan. 7.-(By A. -,
Federal and state investigator = \.
day visited LaFourche which IN Az W
ago. gave UP the mutilated bod,ss 1.
Watt Daniel and Thomas Richss
masked band victims. PhotosrcSs.
and measurements were taken nv ~
party and 1t was reported 4 s Ms
section Of the lake was exn,as.a
with graphing hooks.
This was the only surface act,vs-
today in connection with the mn
ing into masked and hooded band s -
predations in Morehousa Parish I =
stituted by Governor John M d. ~
ker. who duplicates the Ku A..
Khan. u
The proceedings so far hav. !.
revealed the names Of anyone ~ ~
pected to have been members a. -
hooded mob of fifteen to twenty ~. .s
who kidnapped Richards ana ~
lei. but j. L. Daniel, father of ~.
testified that his SON had nsr...
Captain ]. X. Skipwith, ersi...
cyclops OF the Morehouse Khan. \.
B. NJ. McKoin. former mayor Of ".
Rouge, and Laurie Calhoun. den,.s
sheriff of Morehouse as men ~
ognized in q band that held him ~ !.
and questioned him shortly ate, n.
reported attempt to shoot DR. "
Koin on August 2: The fatal ~
mapping took place August "a.
Discussion of the TESTIMONY I'll
yesterdays hearing was divided A.
tween that of the elder Daniel -.
was also kidnapped and floxseA n.
night his son and Richards -.
tortured to death and 4 report !"
the PSYCHOLOGISTS who examines ".
bodies which had been taken f,.s
Lake LaFourche after a mysterisr.
dynamite explosion.
Daniel, questioned about the>sl,..
ed attempt to shoot McKoin, deels,
ed:
Il told Watt I was going 10 NJ.
Koin and talk with him about n.
shooting. A few days before. W.
and couple of other young nv.
ran into a bunch of hooded men Wiz
held up some boys. Watt came han.
and told me about it. That was ~
fore the shooting.
Il thought 1t was my duty =,
being fellow Masons, to 20 to n,
McKoin and talk over the matter n.
told me he was not a Klansman
"A little after that talk. Watt can,
to me and told me he'd been held n
DIR. McKoin. Laurie Calhoun ana
X. Shipwith were in the party. n.
was searched and a box of ear.
ridges and pistol were taken froa
him."
w. G. Andrews. another victim =
the hooded band. testified thai n
thought his assailants were menhn
of the Ku Klux Khan.
r don't accuse the Khan as a WIN.
bit l believe the mob was composed 4
klansmen." he stated.
Applying the report of the paths.
ogists who performed autopsies mv
the bodies of Daniel and Richards r
Charles w. Duval of New Orleans I,
nounced that he has performed Ga
autopsies during his professional d
perience, but never before had he N,
a case in which the subjects had ber
so brutally tortured. He said the ma.
ner in which the men were nut h
death was unparalleled in medical ii.
tory.
Daniels body. was mutiiated M
parts removed before the other tortu
was inflicted, in the opinion Of N
physician. The mutilation was Dr.
formed by a man who has had surr
cal experience, DR.. Duval said and
sharp knife or razor was used. Ahy
that Daniels clothing was rearranrk
Rnfh he nd Tlr. Vpl, 7
that death was inflicted after the bod
we're subjected to some specially coz
structed device designed for inhictir
punishment. Their autopsies reveals
The hearts were drained of blood al
that the manner of torture producu
slow death.
1t was learned here today that b
vestigatcrs for some time have nd
seeking to locate the instruments
torture.
One opinion is that two wide boant
were hinged together at one end and
the inside were set IS teeth" tn
men were placed inside this and d
boards were slowly pressed down upl
them.
The parish prison. although free
its lone prisoner charged by the si|
with completely in the murder, VI
still patrolled by state troops todg
I. j. Burnett. former deputy sheh
facing a murder charge. was remnu
from the Jail yesterday by soldiers d
taken to Shreveport. where he lay
night facing death from pneumonh
DR.. Mckoin. who is also charged vi
murder but at liberty on bond, attes
ed yesterdays sessions. listening clos
~ to the proceedings and appN1
jovial.
He laughed aloud when Daniel ted
ned as to the time his son had VI
held up by hooded men previous to
tragic night.
There will be no session tomorn
because of Louisiana legal hol&
the anniversary of the battle Of N
Orleans. The hearing will be resur
Tuesday morning.