The leader., 1900-11-28
ATTEMPT At BRIBERY.
An Indiana Contractor Tried IL
ON Mississippi's Governor, but
Struck the Wrong Man.

Jackson Treated to n Big Sem
sation Last Saturday.
jackson. was treated to a genuine
sensation last Saturday by. the arrest
of would-be briber of the Governor
of Mississippi. The offender was J. f.
Gibson, a citizen of Logansport, Ind,
who had been iutfee city several days
for the purpose of submitting a bid
FOR the new StstezJodseyeontraet,a ADD
on Saturday ,forenooA While in the
Governors office, hes 6bfYsy offered
Gov. LONGING money consideration,
if he, as member Of the Capifd Com.
mission, would aid him tGibsonl in Sc
curing the contract.
AS soon as Gibson left the, Cover
nor's office, the Governor te5ephoned
the chief of police of Jackson, who
soon effected his arrest. Gov Longi-
no then went before Justice Fitzger-
aid and swore out an affidavit against
Gibson and he was soon arraigned on
the charge of bribery. Attorney Gen
eral McClurg appeared for the State.
The Clarion Ledger, which gives a
full report of the incident, says that
when arraigned, the prisoner entered
plea of not guilty and requested time
to secure an attorney to defend him,
which was granted. He then left the
courtroom in the custody of Sheriff
Harding to search for lawyer.
The prisoner returned to the court
room at 1:43 o'clock with Hon. c. H.
Alexander, whom he had engaged to
defend him. He appeared more com
posed than on his former appearance
and stood the scrutiny of the specta-
tors with calm indifference.
Mr.. Alexander stated that as the ac-
cused was long way from home, to-
tai stranger, and without preparations
for defense, he would ask that the hear
ing be waived and prisoner admitted to
bond in a sum fixed by the court.
Attorney General McClurg objected
to "a postponement stating that the
court should at least hear the Cover
nor's statement so as more definitely
to ascertain the Nervousness of the of
Tense as guide in fixing the bond
A parley ensued between the attor-
neys and Judge Fitzgerald ruled that
he preferred to atleast have hearing
of the evidence for the State so as to
give him some indication as to the
enormity of the otfense.
THE GOVERNORS TESTIMONY.
Governor Longino was then placed
on the stand and the oath admins
tered. He stated that several days
ago Mr.. Gibson and another man
whose name he had forgotten, but
pointed him out in the courtroom,
came into his office and were intro
duced 10 him by Mr.. Louis Fitzhugh,
secretary of the capitol commission.
A conversation followed, during which
Gibson stated to the Governor that a
combination had been formed in Chi
| CdSO W CCtptuIt tuo DldUt HDuSe COh-
tract, and that Mr.. Link, the architect,
was in this combination. Governor
Longino told him that he had no in
formation of such combination, but
would be glad to know the. details of
the scheme. Gibson replied that it
was formed by the stone men. Cover
nor Eongino repeated that if Mr..
Gibson wodld give positive informa-
ton concerning the combination he
would see to it that it was defeated;
that he wanted the facts. Gibson re-
piled that he would rather lose the job
than TO give away the scheme; that
large jobs like State house were new
er honestly let and he was here to
fight this scheme and'get the contract
himself.
The governor stated that his visitor
then left the office. Gibson tried to
see him on the following day but failed,
and on the next day the governor was
in Meridian. This morning Gibson en-
tered the office and took a seat in the
ante-room while the governor was en-
gagged with some visitors. A few min
utes later he walked into the office and
asked the governor if he was convinced
that combination was being formed
to capture the contract. The governor
replied that he was not, and Gibson
then asked if he had seen builder
who was here from st. Louis, as a
combine had been fixed in that city to
get the contract. The governor asked
him if he didn't state at the former in
terview that the combination was in
Chicago, and Gibson replied that the
Chicago combination was for the stone
only. The governor again asked for
for facts and Gibson said that he
knew it to be true that Hill d O'Meara
wenid get the contract, and that he
had been told so by Max Jennings, a
representative of the firm.
The governor stated that Gibson
then talked for some length, stating
that he was down here to get the con-
tract and was going to use money to
get it, The governor led him on, ask
ing how he would proceed about it,
telling him that the commits sion was
! looking for the cheapest responsible
| bidder, aud that contractors would
have to take their chances. He asked
| Gibson to define what he meant by
combinations and Gibson asked him if
he had heard anything of the Rubush
combination at Meridian. The Gov
ernor replied that he had not; that he
had seen Mr. Rubush in Meridian dur
ing his visit, but nothing was said
about it, Gibson then said something
about a combination being formed at
Memr his.