Evening star., 1928-04-09
YSOUSTED KLAN
UN|TSOWED TAXES
Dragon Declares PennSN-
vania Branches Lost Char
ters Through Delinquency.
Rv the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PITTSBURGH, April 9.-The charters
of local lodges Of the knights Ku Klux
Khan were revoked because OF failure
to pay per capita taxes. 1t was testified
in Federal court here today at the hear
ing OF counter suits arising from the
operations of the order In Pennsylvania.
Under cross-examination by Attorney
Van A. Barrickman. counsel and one
Of five ''banished" Klansmen. who seek
to have receiver appointed for the
Khan and an accounting of all moneys
collected In this State; DR.. W. c. Shaw,
Harrisburg. grand dragon Of the Penn
sylvania Klan and former Methodist
minister Of Erie. testified the Latrobe
and william Penn charters we're can
celled for non-payment OF the per
capita tax
DR.. Shaw said the memberships of
the ex-Klansmen were terminated when
they refused to obey the orders of
Hiram w. Evans, imperial wizard. He
testified Evans was vested with the
power to dismiss members without pre-
vious notice and that tribunals were
set up to try recaIcitrant Klansmen.
He said ousted members were given 90
DAYS In which to appeal from the de-
ciSion Of the tribunals.
Denies Initiation.
c. Fl. Lewis, secretary of the Latrobe
Klan, said the robes and other para
phernalia of that lodge now are stored
In the Odd Fellows Hall there.
Rev. John f. Strayer OF McKeesport.
Pa. former member of the Pennsyl-
vania Legislature, another OF the ban
ished" Klansmen. denied that the La
trobe Lodge had initiated members
since its charter was revoked. The
Klan I'm its suit asks that the ex-
members be restrained from interfer-
ing with its activities and conducting
limitations.
An answer 10 the petition of the
Klan TO suppress the deposition Of David
C.. Stephenson. former Indiana Klan
leader and now lifer at Michigan City,
Ind. which was obtained by the former
members 10 support their case. was filed
before the hearing got under way
Although Judge w H. 8. Thomson
who is trying the case, gave no indica-
ton when he would rule on the mat
ter, court attaches said decision prob
ably would be handed down after the
plaintiffs, the Klan, finished their case
In addition to Rev. Mr.. Strayer. the
Klan suit is directed against the Rev
John r. Strayer Of Latrobe, Pa; DR.
Charles r. Hunter OF North Bessemer
william c. Davis of Manor. Charles r
Oyer of Williamsburg and Van A. Bar"
rickman, Pittsburgh.
Barrickman is instigator OF the count
er suit and Is counsel for himself ane
hts associates The Klan Is repre-
sented by M. j. Hosack Pittsburgh. and
| j. H. Connaughton. Washington. d. G
A deposition was filed here Saturday
by Representatives Of w. j. Simmons
founder and former head OF the Klan
| Simmons was subp0enaed by the Bar
| rickman group,
r.. Y. CLARK, former imperial secre
tary, also will be a witness against the
| KIan.
| Among others called are w. M
| Linking, UniOntown, author OF seyera
| books exposing the Kian, and s.. Nc
| Donald, Williamsburg, who will be asket
| 10 produce records Of the Klan, which
| IL III alleged. high officials Of the orde
attempted 10 get transferred from Penn
| sylyania into another State.
Hosaek has stated that the Klan viii
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