Rev. Oren Van Loon, Disappeared 11 Days, Turned Up with K.K.K. Brand, July 13, 1924

Detroit Pastor Was Held for 11 Days. . . Rev. Oren Van Loon Is in a Hospital Unable to Tell of His Experiences. . . Branded by Ku Klux. . . Minister Is Unable to Recall Anything That Has Happened Since He Disappeared 11 Days Ago—Preacher’s Wife Declares Her Husband Never Expressed Hostility Toward the Klan—Police Admit They Are Up Against a Wall in Attempting to Solve Mystery

By the Associated Press

Battle Creek, Mich., July 12—Rev. Oren Van Loon, Methodist pastor of the Community church at Berkley, a Detroit suburb, lies in a hospital here tonight, still dazed from experiences suffered during the 11 days he has been missing from his home and still unaware of the K.K.K. branded in letters two inches high between his shoulder blades.

He talked at intervals during the day with his wife, whom he recognized, but was unable to recall anything that has happened since he left home, a small black bag in his hand, to board an interurban car for Flint, Mich. The bag, its contents undisturbed, was found beside him where he had collapsed on a street corner yesterday afternoon.

Mrs. Van Loon said tonight that her husband had not expressed hostility to the Ku Klux Klan, and she was unable to explain why the three K’s had been seared into his back. Rev. Van Loon said at one time he had offered the use of his church as a gathering place for the organization. It was said, however, by friends of the Berkley pastor that he had on occasions denounced the burning of fiery crosses.

Police admitted having made no progress in their attempt to trace the pastor’s whereabouts since the say of his disappearance, nor were they able to account for the three K’s on his back. The K’s were block letters seared in the flesh, apparently with a special branding iron in one piece. A permanent scar will be left, in the opinion of Dr. S.A.F. Kingsley, who attended Rev. Van Loon.

From the front page of the Durham Morning Herald, Sunday, July 13, 1924