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Saturday, August 19, 2023

Texas Rangers Investigate Kidnappings, Floggings, Aug. 19, 1923

Rangers Investigating Series of Kidnappings. . . Texas Governor Orders Rangers to Port Arthur—Two Men Were Flogged. . . Man Seriously Hurt. . . Young Farmer of Wichita Falls in Bad Condition as Result of Having Been Beaten by Wet Rope

Austin, Texas, Aug. 18—Texas rangers tonight were scattered over the state investigating a series of kidnappings and floggings committed during the past few nights.

Reports of floggings have reached the state executive offices from Texarkana in northwestern Texas to Armarillo in the Panhandle 500 miles away; at Wichita Falls in the north central portion, and Port Arthur on the gulf.

Acting Governor T.W. Davidson today ordered a detachment of rangers to Port Arthur, where two men were kidnapped last night, flogged and released. Mr. Davidson said he probably would order rangers to Wichita Falls, near where Lonnie Davis, a farmer, was lashed with a wet rope by five masked men Wednesday night. Ranger Captain Frank Hamer today reported from Amarillo the arrest of Sheriff Less Whitaker of Potter county on charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and of having been an accomplice in the assault with a prohibited weapon.

Rangers were ordered to Amarillo in connection with the flogging of E.E. McDonald Wednesday night.

Reports from Texarkana have reached here of the alleged whipping of Miss Ollie Tucker, 24 years old.

Excitement following the floggings at Amarillo, Wichita Falls and Port Arthur apparently had died town tonight, according to reports. No official report had been made of the alleged flogging of the Tucker girl as court records in Bowie county showed Leonard Johnson had paid a fine for the alleged act. Johnson was shot and wounded Thursday by M.M. Tucker, the girl’s brother, and Johnson’s brother, Clarence, killed.

No further disturbances are reported this evening and information reached the governor’s office that Clay and Carl Dunn of Port Arthur, originally reported killed, were found at their homes suffering from effects of floggings. Rangers are investigating the case.

Wichita Falls, Texas, Aug. 18—Lonnie Davis, a young farmer, is in a serious condition at the general hospital here as the result of having been beaten with a wet rope by five masked men late Wednesday night. His skin was born in a number of places and his body blackened by welts and lacerations. His father and brother have appealed to acting Governor Davidson for a state investigation.

According to Davis’ story he had just returned from an automobile ride with Hamp Love, city marshal of Iowa Park, and was waiting outside a garage for the officer to put up his motor car when the five masked men drove up, placed a sack over his head and drove rapidly out of town.

Davis said a few miles out on a lonely road they ordered him out of the automobile, forced him to remove his clothing, laid him on the ground and pelted him with the west rope. He did not recognize any of his assailants.

Davis was brought back to the city and turned loose.

From the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, Aug. 19, 1923

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