By: Samantha Boatman
KNOE EXCLUSIVE
RAYVILLE, La. (KNOE 8 News)--A man implicated in a newspaper report shares his side of the story involving a civil rights death in 1964.
KNOE went to Leonard Spencer's home first. His front door got an unexpected knock at 7 a.m., when we showed up with cameras rolling. His wife told us he was at work.
With our cameras and a Canadian documentary crew's camera rolling, we brought news of the Concordia Sentinel's accusations to Spencer at his job in Rayville.
At a Rayville machine shop, Spencer's boss was willing to let us speak with him about the Concordia Sentinel article naming him as an alleged accomplice in the fire that killed a black Ferriday shoe shop owner in 1964.
Spencer agreed to answer our questions, using the opportunity to insist he did not murder Frank Morris.
"I didn't have nothing to do with it. Nobody getting killed, you understand what I'm saying," says Spencer.
His son, ex-wife and ex-brother-in-law told the newspaper that Spencer admitted numerous times he was an accomplice in setting that deadly fire.
"I don't know anything about it but ya'll are going to know about it and hear about it when I get through with them," says Spencer.
Spencer admitted to KNOE's Samantha Boatman that he was affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan and attended some of those meetings back in the 1960's. He says his uncle was in it and that's what sparked his interest. He told Samantha he was never involved in anything violent."
The other man named in connection with the fire was O.C Poissot, who went by the nickname "Coonie."
Poisset also was in the Klan, and, according to Spencer's ex-wife, admitted the two men not only set the fire, but also "lit that s-o-b up." Spencer repeatedly denied knowing "Coonie" Poissot.
"I never heard of him in my life," says Spencer.
Spencer was interviewed about the Morris murder just last summer, when he sat down with Sentinel Editor Stanley Nelson.
Incredibly, Spencer told Samantha that today was the first time he's ever heard the name "Frank Morris."
"When you told me a while ago, that was the first time I heard that name. Remember that?," says Spencer.
Spencer does admit he's been questioned by the FBI as recently as last month.
"The only one the FBI has been talking about is that Coonie guy, I've never heard of this other guy till now. They can move in all the want, but they ain't moving in on me, because I don't know nothing," says Spencer/
The FBI has told Stanley Nelson it is actively pursuing the case. Agents asked the newspaper to hold his article for several weeks, saying it would hinder the Morris investigation. Nelson agreed, and finally released it today. The FBI says only that it won't comment on an ongoing investigation.
However, KNOE spoke with the Concordia Parish District Attorney.
Brad Burget tells KNOE that his office has been asked to assist with the FBI, and that once the Feds complete their investigation, they will share their findings with him. If a formal suspect is named, it would be up to the d-a to prosecute.
