Klansman Fatally Shot

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30933, 14 December 1965, Page 21

Klansman Fatally Shot

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) GRANITE QUARRY (North Carolina), December 13. A Ku Klux Klan leader was fatally shot at his home last night. He was Grady Mars, aged 41, number two man in the North Carolina chapter of the United Klans of America. A Coroner said he was conducting an investigation to learn whether the death was suicide. Been Despondent Police said Mars’ wife told them her husband had been despondent since pleading the Fifth Amendment before the House Committee on UnAmerican Activities in Washington in October. Mars was grand klaliff—or vice-president—of the North Carolina klan. He lived near J. Robert Jones, the North Carolina Grand Dragon. Police said Mrs Mars and her daughter were in the house when the shooting occurred. They said Mrs Mars told them Mars, who had been

working on his car, entered the house and asked his wife if she could find some spare parts. She left the bedroom to search for the parts in the kitchen. A .38 calibre pistol was in the bedroom. She said she heard a shot, turned and saw her husband fall through the bedroom doorway into the hall. The pistol was beside him.