Thomas Moore has done a lot of talking about his little brother Charles in the last two years.

But Wednesday, the words just didn’t come. No need really, Thomas had already done his part.

Work by Thomas, a documentary filmmaker and the U.S. Attorney, among others, came to a close Wednesday afternoon when an arrest was made in connection with the 1964 civil rights killing of Charles Moore and Henry Hezekiah Dee.

James Ford Seale of Roxie, was picked up by federal agents and transported to the Madison County Detention Center.

“I’m searching for words to try to describe that,” Thomas Moore said. “The only thing that I can say is that 19 months ago (we) started out to try to get the truth and we kept pushing and kept pushing and kept pushing.”

In July 2005, Moore began his crusade alongside Canadian Broadcasting Company filmmaker David Ridgen. They arranged a meeting with U.S. Attorney Dunn Lampton and got the ball rolling.

“Now we are here today,” Moore said Wednesday. “I’m thankful. Some of the demons can kind of get off my back.”

Seale, 71, faces charges of kidnapping.

Charles Moore and Dee, both 19, were apparently lured into the woods by Klansmen in May 1964. They were beaten and killed.

Their bodies were not found until two months later in the Old River south of Tallulah, La.

The federal authorities searching the area were looking for slain civil rights workers Andrew Goodman, James Cheney and Michael Schwerner.

Moore and Dee’s bodies were so badly mutilated that officers could not even identify the race or sex until several days later.

Seale and Charles Marcus Edwards were arrested in November 1964 in connection with the killings. A day later they were released on bond.

Edwards was not arrested Wednesday and sources close to the case have said he is cooperating with authorities.

Though the case was labeled “reopened” in 2005, it was one District Attorney Ronnie Harper never considered closed.

Harper has been in contact with the family over the years and worked on the case when he could, but lacked the time or resources needed without federal help.

“Any unsolved murder, whether it be two weeks or 40 years ago, it’s always good to see it solved,” Harper said. “For the families of both of them, I’m proud to see it.”

The arrest was a long time coming in the mind of longtime Franklin County resident and Moore friend Arthur Littleton, but it won’t be welcomed by all, he said.

“It kind of makes you feel like there is a little justice,” he said Wednesday. “People still won’t talk about (the deaths) around here. White people say they ought to let that thing just die.”

Littleton said he didn’t think the news of an arrest would ripple very deep through his community.

“I know it makes me feel good, but the average person around here, they don’t even remember that.”

Thomas Moore, Ridgen and Lampton were all headed to Washington D.C. Wednesday for a Thursday morning press conference on the arrest, Moore said.

Lampton could not be reached for comment.