davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27
Girl Names Mckom as Khan Leader Who Banshed Her Saws
He Struck Aged Mother Who Asked Hooded Band to Spare
Her-Wife Says Tortured Husband Named Skipwith
as Among Khan Kidnappers- Klux Law Rule
Admitted in Bastrop Khan Hearings

4
mother. If she objected. offered to 20
with them, and as they took me away
Dr. Mckoin shouted that any one who
stuck their head out of the door would
be shot. They didn't give me time to
get a hat. and DR.. McKoin said my
things would be sent to me and that l
would not be hurt.
Q.-Were you hurt? A.-No, but my
mother was.
Q.-How did she get hurt? A.-Dr.
Mckoin struck her.
Odd your mother slam the door
when the me n came up to the house?
Ayes. she slammed the door ana
yelled for some one to get gun.
Q.-They got in at another door? A..
Yes. they went around the house.
Q.-What did they say to you when
they sent you away? A-Dr. McKoin
gave me 81 and told me to go to Little
Rock and stay there; that if 1 came
back would b e tarred and feathered
Q--When did you leave Mer Rouge?
AT 11:25 that night.
Q.-Who bought your ticket? Al
paid the conductor.
Q-Did you ride in a sleeper? A
No and l had no hat and had on oniy
:; bingham dress.
Q.-What was the fare to Little
Rock? Ask dollars and fifty-three
cents.
Q.-And DR.. McKoin gave you 81. A.
Yes, sir.
Q.-This was in January 1922? A
Yes.
Q.-When did you leave Little Rock
and come back to Mer Rouge? A In
May 1922.
Q.-Were you told not to return
when you were sent away? Ayes.
Q.-And they said they would tar
and feather you? Aft 1 didn't catch
the train that night.
Q.-How did you happen to return?
A.-Hugh Clark and w. e. Hopkins,
friend took the matter up with some
one ut Mer Rouge and got letter
from my mother saying it had been
fixed and I could come home.
Q.-How long did you stay at home?
A.-Two months. then went back tn
Little Rock.
Q.-Why did you go back? Al got
scared.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27
,ut of, the house and surrounded our

out Of the house and surrounded our
| car.
Q.-Then what happened? About
| IL OF them surrounded our car and
ordered us out. They took Watts gun
and mine. They accused Watt Of max
Ing whisky and Watt said be had not
made any since being warned in Nov.
ember. I pulled out the note had re-
ceived and they laughed and denied
writing 1t. They kept Watts gun but
returned mine Later in Mer Rouge a
man yelled. Hey. Watt, is this your
pistol?" 1t Was, and Watt got it back.
The man who gave 1t to him was in a
car.
Odd You recognize any the
men who surrounded your car? A.
Two OF them.
Q.-Who were they? A.-Capt in
Skipwith and Harry Calhoun.
Q.-How did you know? Al recog
nized their voices as they talked to
Watt. thought 1 recognized Bob Dad+
and Dr. McKoin.
Q.-Did they have arms? Ayes,
sir. / saw pistols
Q.-Did they draw them on you? A.
Some of them did
W ou are positive watt DdnlelS .
pistol was given back to him that
night? Ayes.
Q.-Who gave it to him? Al
think it was j. p. Higginbotham, but
I'm not certain.
Q.-Weren't you afraid OF that white
ROBBED band that night? A-No. nor
afraid. ] wanted to know what they
had against me.
Q.-You thought you recognized Dr..
Mckoin as they came down the road
Al recognized McKoin by his walk.
Q-Have you ever been asked to
join the khan? Ayes, Tom Millken
talked to me about joining it when it
was first organized here, but l told
MINI had been reading Of the things
the khan had been doing over in Texas
and didn't want to join it.
On the night DR.. McKoin was report
cd to have been shot at the witness
testified he was in GALLON, and return
ed to Mer Rouge about 1870 that nigh.
going to ]. l.. Daniels's house, where
he expected to find n card game. There
was no game.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27
DRAGGED OUT HOME.

Bastrop, La, Jan. 13..--How tho
Morehouse Ku Klux Khan, headed by
the Exalted Cyclops, Captain J. x
Skipwith, surro Inded the home of a
peaceful farmer, aroused the occu-
pants with shouts and curses beat on
the doors with clubs. broke the lock
on one door and entered and dragged
the head of the house from under his
roof, despite the fearful entreaties OF
his wife, was told today at the open
hearing held to fix responsibility for
the torturing and Staying of Watt Dan
iel and Thomas II. Richards, last Aug
ust. supposedly by hooded klansmen.
The story was told by Alonzo Brad
dock. a lifelong resident of Morebouse
Parish, and an industrious, ambitious
farmer and stock raiser.
The story he told paraIleled the
deeds of the Kentucky might Riders
or the khan of earlier days Bazenly
some without masks. the witness testi
fled, they battered their way into his
home dragged him out in the dead OF
night and left his wife and small chill
dren in state bordering on Mysteries
The testimony of BTaddock proved
the most damaging OF the day against
the hooded organization charged with
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27

and 1t vas the consensus OF their opin
ion that among the group of masked
klansmen w1rO had examined them
Captain Skipwith. Laurie Calhoun,
Deputy Sheriff. another Calhoun, zone
Of the Hart boys" ] d. Higginbotham
Pink" Kirkpatrick and Bob" Dade.
The witness said he could not be posi-
tive that any Of the three had deter.
mined definitely that DR. McKoin was
in the July mob. although he believed
Mckoin was one of them.
While Mrs. Richards said that her
husband had revealed only the name
OF Skipwith as being n membr of the
gang that Kidnapped him on July IS,
Neelis testified that Richards told hir.
he was sure that James Tisdell Mon.
roe and A. B. Campbell of Jones were
in the crowd. Neelis said he wasn't
sure that Richards told him McKoin
was one of the hooded band.
The lines frightened about Burnett,
DIR McKoin and Skipwith and the ar
rest of the third is daily expected. Wit
ness after witness virtually linked thu
names of the three with the khan and
its operations. Other kiansmen were
mentioned but the testimony defined
Skipwith and McKoin as actual leaders
Of the khan.
The power and influence of and the
fear inspired by the khan has been in
evidence many times in the courtroom
In the conduct of witnesses. At times
the States officials. fully aware that
the witnesses could tell much more
than they had told, were almost at
their wits end to get the testimony
wanted.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27
ANSWER FORCED.

When Neetis admitted having heard
Richards mention the names of the
men who had kidnapped him til, first
time, the admission was the opening
was striving for. Attorney Generalrl
wedge the Assistant ATTORNEY General
was striving for. Squarely he put the
question to the witness:
Whom did Richards mention?"
Neelis shrank in his chair A startled
look appeared on his face. He started
TO reply, stammered, subsidized. Quier
reigned in the courtroom.
The voice of the Assistant Attorney
General came loud and clear:
please answer the question"
and replied: Il don't remember. sir"
Mr.. Guion half rose in his chair. He
leveled a finger ut the witness ana
doomed:
do you mean to say that on such
an eventfu. day. in which you yourself
were stopped and questioned by the
hooded mob and an employee of yours
kidnapped that you do not remember
the names of the men he recognized:
Remember, you are under oath"
Neelis flushed, mumbled, hestitated
again, and after brief pause gave the
names Richard had mentioned to him
Even the testimony of Addie May
Hamilton seemed clouded by fear. She
openly admits that she fears the khan
may seek revenge on her for the revela
tion she has made. She seldom went
into details unless firmly urged. De-
spite the presence of troops in the
town. there is wholesome fear of tho
organization Half a dozen prominent
citizens say that the khan will be here
long after the Mer Rouge murders arc
forgotten, and that the khan will not
forget those who now invoke Its wrath
Two citizens whose names. IL used
would create CONSERVATION within
the khan ranks, declared to a reporter
today that they would quit the khan to
night if they were certain convictions
would be obtained for the Daniel Rich
ards murders. Said one:
II am business man and great
deal of my business is with men knowD
, to be klansmen. / believe Governor
Parker is right but I am afraid ha
Fcannot obtain a conviction in this par
ish. Klansmen will not convict klans-
men, in my opinion. am one myself
ana know the oath or the organization.
There are more men like myself in
this town. men who would gladly quit
the khan but if the khan wins the fight
and we resign it would not be healthy
for us around here"
The first witness Of the day was
George (Nip) Eckols, who rode with
Watt Daniel and Sidney White in the
car from which Daniel was taken by
the masked and hooded band. Eckols
said all of them were ordered out Of
the car, and after Daniel had been
taken away he and White were told to
depart They were stopped a second
time but were not molested, and went
on to Mer Rouge. He could not recog-
niZe any Of the kidnappers. Nor could
he identify any of the automobiles
used.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27

reducing Morehouse Parish to a state
| of terrorism. Calmly, but obviously
| with fear in his heart, the witness told
his story. He fears the khan so much
that he declared that he was willing
to sell the farm where he had laboreI
all his life for one.half the actual val.
ne. so that he could take his family
and move to a lcality where citizens
need not fear midnight raids of the
ku klux khan.
On November morning the farm
er testified about 1880 or 2 o'clock, he
was awakened by shouts and curses
ABOUT his house. Peering out Of win
dow, he saw q mob of men, some bea,
ing on the doors. They were shouting
his name and demanding that he come
out. Braddock called to them to wait
until he was dressed. Before he could
get fully dressed n door crashed IN
and the mob entered.
The leader whom Braddock recogniZ
ed as Captain Skipwith said:
I'VE want you for making whisky"
AT that point Mrs. Braddock in a
nervous and fainting condition. enter
cd the room and begged the mob not
to modest her husband The mob and
the leader were adamant, insisting
that Braddock must go with them.
Fearful of his fate, Braddock begged
Captain Skipwith to turn him over to
Sheriff Carpenter if they had charge
to make against him. Braddock also
begged Skipwith to assure his wife
that no harm would come to him The
assurance was finally given and Bran
dock was told that he would not be
whipped or injured, but would he
turned over to the authorities.
He was placed in car and driven
10 the home of the Sheriff: Despite
the fact that none of the mob were
officers empowered to arrest Braddock
the Sheriff did not question their act
but took the prisoner in charge and
also locked up four Negroes the MOB
had picked up.
The next morning he was released
He was not indicted. No charge was
ever made against him. He was set
free and returned to his home to find
his wife seriously ill and his children
badly frightened.
Mrs. Braddock has not recovered
The stopping of a motor car near her
home or the appearance of stranger
throws great fear into her. Repeated
ly SHE has begged her husband to sell
the home they have struggled to build
and to move to another section.
Il am anxious to leave this parish for
good" Braddock declared 81 no long
er feel safe here. am nervous oil
night. my wife is afraid, my children
are frightened
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27
louisiana KHAN INVESTIGATION REVEALS SHOCKING CONDITIONS WHICH GNW THE WAlS Of I

Bastrop, La, Jan. 10.-Mrs. Thomas
F. Richards. widow of one of the vic
Tins of the Mer Rouge tortures and
murders. today at the open hearing
testified that her husband was kidnap-
ped by hooded klansmen for the first
time on August Is last. when he was
torn away from his year old daugn
ter. made a clear statement to his cap
tors that he was innocent of any con,
nection with part in the aIiesed at
tempt to kill DR.. b. M. Mckoin. anu
was freed and assured by the klans-
men. one Of them Captain ]. X. Skip
with, Exalted Cyclops that he would
not he molested.
He was permitted to go home accord
ing to the widow, and the klansmen,
showing no fear, took off their black
masks in front of their victim. Within
the same week Richard was again XII
mapped and this time. along with his
friend and clrum, Watt Daniel was tor
'tured and murdered.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27
WHIPPING THREATS.

The first witness mt the morning SEES
en- was w. b. Stuckey of Mer Rouge,
former State Senator and q lawyer
lis examination proceeded as follows
Q-Are you u member of the khan
Mo. sir. I've always been opposed
tC it, free and outspoken IN my opposi
ton.
O.-Have you talked to Captain
SEipwith about these affairs? A.-No
Captain Skipwith has not spoken to
me for year.
Q.-Have you ever heard Skipwith
sly anything? Ayes. There was g
conference thu. followed the kidnap.
ling and the day after, while talking
to John Freeland, heard Smith Stew
enson call out to Captain Skipwith,
captain / heard you settled the Mer
Rouge trouble" Eyes," said Skipwith.
"On what basis?" Stevenson asked. I
tcld them" SAID the Captain, that
every NAH In Morehouse who didn't
Keep ais mouth shut and quit talking
a00ut the khan would get whipped un
I'll they couldn't sit down for some
time"
Q.-When was this remark made? A
the kidnapping of Daniel and
Richards.
Q.-After the attempted assassinu.
ton OF DR.. McKoin? A.-After the al
legged attempt.
Q-Why do you doubt McKoin was
shot at Al believe he shot at his
own car to create the impression he
did.
do you mean to say you think
Mcholn deliberately shot at his own
automobile to bring the klansmen to
rs aid? Al do, it is universally be-
iieVed that he shot at his own automo
bic.
o.-Have you ever looked at McKoin
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27
DISPATCHES APFPEEAsE AMERICAN COLOR
PREJUDICE by Denying THAT FRENCH
RUAR PUNITIVE FORCE IS LED BY BLACK!
CLAIM ANN MlOR0CCANS AND ALGERIANS BELONG tn
OTHER THAN DARK RACES-DANGER OF i -
CLASH rs IMMINENT IN EUROPE ~ -

washington, Jan. 19.-The French
embassy informed the State Depart
ment today that with the new troops
ordered forward today to occupy Book
UNI the French troops occupying the
Ruhr would number $4,000 men, all
white. The communication which was
made public by M. Jusserand, read as
follows:
"On January IL French troops 1.-TWO
infantry divisions and one cavalry d.
vision) numbering $4,000, together
with g detachment OF Belgian troops
1000 strong. carried out an operation
in order to protect the committee or
engineers and technical men sent to
Essen.
''This operation has given way to no
incidents and was confined to q zone
limited by Walsum, Horst, Kupford-
red Werden. Troops did not interfere
with tine big centre.
Now, the German Government hav-
ing issued orders to cease all coal de-
liveries, and, moreover, the area pres
emily occupied being unable alone to
furnish the Allies with the prescribe
coal deliveries, without running alto
gether the local industries, it has been
decided to take as soon as January IS
further steps to insure control over
the Bochum district.
"This operation, limited by the line
Verdi, west of Witten, Dattelin and
Gladbeck, will be carried on by five di
visions, including the troops which
have taken part in the first occupat-
ions. total OF about $4,000 men all
exclusively white"
Tonight M. Jusserand received a
cablegram from Premier Poincarc,
which stated that not only had the
Premier determined to use no Negro
troops in the Ruhr, but that he hal
likewise barred the use OF colonial
troops from Morocco and Algeria.
While some of the $4,000 French
troops in the Ruhr belong to the regu.
lar army, the majority are youngsters
of the classes Of 1919 1920 and 1921
The decision to use no colored troops
was expressly to prevent the spraed.
ing of hostile propaganda.
1t Is said here that the French ex-
spect little difficulty in the operation
of the Ruhr mines. The miners, they
believe will continue at work for the
simple reason that they must work 20
eat. Most of them exist from hand to
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27

mouth and many of them are Poles.
who take little interest in the poIit;.
cal aspects Of the crisis.
French officials are prepared for a
considerable diminution in output
however the tendency toward decreas
ed efficiency having been marked du,-
Ing the past year. The principal handi.
cap to the French it is stated. is the
shortage Of skilled labor. The supply
or unskflled labor is rather plentiful.
If the French were finally compel.
ed to take over the mines and operate
them with French personnel, 1t would
be long time before production couid
De brought to FORMAL.
"A denial Was authorized by the
state Department this afternoon CT u
report that an appeal might be made
to the French people over the heads
OF the Poincare Government with re-
spect to the separations situation. So
Far as this Government was concerned.
1t was stated it does not dream of 60
ing over the heads Of the French Gov.
eminent in any appeal to the French
people or otherwise
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27

car since 1t was shot? Ayes.
q. Did the examination convince
you that McKoin was not in the car
when the shots were fired? A. Yes.
Q.-Did Mckoin have plenty OF enc
mics around Mer Rouge? A.-Plenty
or them, and before the ku klux khan
was ever heard cf
Q.-What made these enemies? A.
His ideas o. conduct, his notion OF
ruling the morals Of the people. II was
general community feeling.
Q.-You thought it was possible he
vas shot at? Any first impression
was that he WIS shot mt I knew fifty
people who were his enemies.
Q.-But afterward you concluded
there had been no attempt on his
lie! Ayes sir. it was the common
belief that he shot his own car out in
the woods somewhere.
Q.-Why do you suppose these
anonymous and threatening letters
were written to McKoin? I reckon Thar
he wrote them to himself.
Q.-What do you know about pistol
SHOTS being heard? Al heard John
Jones OF Mer Rouge say he heari
shots.
o.~oeo cuPPOScu " nave Oeen
fired at McKoin's motor car? A.-Ye,.
Q:-Do you know the enemies Wat.
Daniel and Richards may have had?
A.-None that knew of.
Q.-Do you know Hugh Clark? a.
Yes sir.
Q-Ever hear him make any state
ment about the alleged shooting al
Dr. Mckoin? Ayes, heard him saw
ne could name six men in Mer Rouge.
out Of whom the two could be found
VINO flred on DR.. McKoin.
Inc witness. in recounting Captain
Sk1pwith's conversation with Steven
son. said the khan leaders, language
was too vicious and vulgar to be re.
peated in open court He wrote it on n
note which he handed to Judge Odo,,;.
lie spoke highly of Watt Daniel ami
ihomas Richards. saying he had
known them for years. He asserted
that Daniel did not drink liuuor AMI
that he had never seen him intoxicat.
ed or even take drink.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27
SAW SEIZURE.

According to Neelis's tstimony the
Sheriff was sitting in plain view Of the
garage when the hooded klansmen cor
ried their victim away and never
raised hand to interfere The Sher-
iff himself, sitting at the right side If
the Judges bench and within q few
feet of the witness was unmoved.
Neelis testified that the towns of
Bastrop and Mer Rouge lad been ia a
state of terror for months
and that Bastrop was constantly avail:
ing an assault from rival factions ir
Mer Rouge, while Mer Rouge was al
all times fearful OF an assault OH the
part Of Bastrop klansmen. He declared
that it was not safe to be on the high
ways especially with a woman COM
panion.
The State, with it's three important
witnesses, Mrs. Richards, Miss Hamil-
ton and Neelis-gOt the names Of the
suspected klanSmen into the records
today. 1t also was shown that the khan
evidently incensed at the alleged at
tempted killing Of DR.. McKoin, took
the law into it's own hands in most
thorough fashion after DR.. McKoin ma i
reported that shots had been fired
through his automobile. The khan,
witnesses made clear, was striving by
the boldest of methods to ascertain
the names of the persons In the a]leg-
ed assassination conspiracy. Daniels
and Richards were selected as the vic
Tins
Richards, according to his widow,
returned home after the first kidnap-
ping. confident that he had squared
himself with the klansmen and Ire was
prepared to keep his end of the bar
gain, she said. He told his wife Of the
unmasking of the klansmen, about six
of them, after he had made his suppoS-
ed peace with them, but according tn
her testimony, Skipwitb was the only
one of the group tnat he knew.
Neelis testified that while riding to
Mer Rouge in Ford truck on August
18, he and his colored helper were
held up outside Of Bastrop by seven
hooded. men He expressed the belief
that they were waiting for Richards.
They permitted him to continue on
his journey but later he was held up
by two unmasked men, whom he do.
scribed as JEFF Burnett, now under ar.
rest and charged with the muroer
with DR.. McKoin, OF Daniel and Rich
ards, and abuse Rogers. They, he de.
clared. took him back to the point
where the other masked klansmen
were gathered, and they told him to
go back to Bastrop. Burnett and Rog.
ers, he testified put on their black
hoods after they joined the other
group.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27
GRAVE CONCERN OVER
FRENCH ADVANCE

Washington Jan. 19.-There is every
reason to believe that officials here are
watching the course Of French operat
lois in tho RGlrr with gravest concern
and that official advices contain moth
ing that would furnish a more hopeful
outlook than is given in press reports.
The employment of $4,000 French
troops in the occupation was viewed
in some quarters as increasing the pos
sibilities Of open resistance by some
German civilians. The effect of any
such clash, it is realized would be to
menace seriously the peace Of Europe.
Not only did the new movement
arc use the concern Of American Gov
ernment authorities. but among men,
bers Of the diplomatic corps there was
anxious speculation as to the result
of forcible drafts upon the output of
the great factories in the Bochum re-
gfon. This new factor was regarded as
very important as heretofore requisi-
lions by the French have been confin-
ed to coal, for which they have under
taken to reimburse private owners.
Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-01-27
McKOIN LED GANG.

Addie May Hamilton. a II year old
school girl Of Mer Rouge, living with
her parents and her two brothers was
another witness. She revealed how she
was kidnapped from her home by q
black-hooded band which forced its
way into her house at 1890 o'clock Mt
night after door had been closed on
them. Miss Hamilton, sobbing at times
told how klansmen led by DR.. B. NJ.
McKOin banished her from the State
.under the threat of tar and feathers If
she failed to catch a train to which
they carried her. She asserted that her
mother was struck by McKoin then
Mayor of Mer Rouge. She said that
the hooded gang ignored the piteous
appeals of her mother, who on Bonded
knees, begged them not to take her
daughter from her. The hooded in
vaders threatened to tar and feather
the mother il she attempted to inter
fere. the girl testified.
The girl said that she was loaded
into an automobile driven Ivy DR. Nc
Koin and was forced to sit between
him and Pink" Kirkpatrick who
stretched his legs over her lap. Sire
was given 81 by DR.. McKoin barely
enough to pay her fare to Little Rock
Ark. the city to which she was order
ed 10 go.
Harry Neelis, manager of Bastrop
garage and Il former resident of New
Orleans. testified that he saw Thomas
F.. Richards, who was his employee,
kidnapped by klansmen the first time;
that he reported the kidnapping 30
Sheriff J. T.. (Fred) Carpenter, whom
he found OH the Court House steps 81
short time afterward, and that the
Sheriff told him that cit is best not -
talk about these things, if you want to
get along here"