Ku Klux Klan Challenged

News Articles

Fort Collins Courier, February 25, 1922

KU KLUX KLAN CHALLENGED

By Associated Press

DENVER. Feb. 25.—District Attorney Phillip S, Van Cise today called upon officers of the local branch of the Ku Klux Klan to explain a letter purporting to be fromthat organization threatening the life of Ward Gash, negro, unless he left the city. Gash, a janitor fled to Ogden, Utah, a few hours after receiving the letter several weeks ago.

The janitor, which the district attorney characterized as "the first unlawful act of the Ku Klux Klan" in Denver, is written upon th official stationary of the Klan and bears the order's seal.

"I shall not tolerate any such action upon the part of any organization," said Mr. Van Cise. "I will guarantee the utmost effort of my office to protect any person who has been thus threatened and will take every action to stamp out such practices."

The district attrney invited the officers of the Klan to meet with him at his office. The letter received by Gash declared that he was "charged with intimate relations with a white woman," and "the use of abusive language to and in the presence of white women."

The district attorney declined to make public the names of the officers of he organization whose appearance was requested.

Fort Collins Courier, March 10, 1922

KLAN TO BE PROBED BY DENVER GRAND JURY AND ATTY. VAN CISE

By Associated Press

DENVER, March 9.—A sweeping investigation of the activities of the Denver branch of the Ku Klux Klan will be started tomorrow afternoon by the Denver county grand jury according to an announcement tonight by Philip S. Van Cise, district attorney. The announcement was made simultaneously with a statement by Carl S. Milliken, secretary of state, that a petition for articles of Incorporation for the Klan will be held up pending a probe into the organization purposes by Attorney General Keyes.

Telluride Daily Journal, March 28, 1922

SAYS KU KLUX KLAN IS SERIOUS MENACE

DENVER.—The Ku Klux Klan movement is a serious menace and should be stamped out in a hurry, according to District Attorney Van Cise who said developments toward that end were expected soon here.