Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-02-21

1878 .s.lsss-,ss.-q 49, 49,
thereby to advance Mr.. Mills inter
ests.
Mr.. Bailey said he formed a close
Friendship with Mr.. Francis and new
or passed through St. Louis without
stopping to see him.
In reply TO the charge that he
Bailey had been In deal with a
brother OF Governor Francis and
other parties, Joseph Sibley among
them. in the Gibbs ranch transac-
ton, Senator Bailey said that he
had first known Mr.. Sibley In 1892.
and that he was then. as he is now,
a. clean and honorable man.
Senator Bailey said he had no in
! tention at first OF purchasing the
ranch. but that Mr.. Gibbs had told
| him about the land and said he
wanted to sell quarter each to
! Gov. Bob" Taylor, of Tennessee.
/ senator Charles A. Culberson, OF
Texas. and to himself (Bailey) and
Keep quarter. He told Mr.. Gibbs
that only Senator Culberson was
! financially able TO purchase the land
but at Mr. nibbs, solicitation he went
to look at The land He said he
| hen thor lt he might sell the land
for Nj aa who was anxious to
dispose of 90 or might get assistance
IN buying it himself
Senator Bailey said he secured an
option on the property and later
closed the option. with the under
standing that the deal would not be
consumated until after his campaign
or Senator had closed.
Later Governor Francis transfer
ed his Pecos county lands to Mr..
3ibbs and the Bibbs property was
transferred TO Governor Francis,
Tho had furnished the greater part
IF the purchase price by putting
n these landss. There remains due
o Mr.. Gibbs about $500, OF which
ne paid $4,000 obtained from the
Red River National Bank, OF Gaines
lie and the balance was paid to
Mr.. Gibbs out OF the sale OF the
rops
There was also a debt OF 500. 900
N the cattle, and later he negotiat-
d. with the help OF Governor
Francis. loan of $4,000 from a
81. Louis bank, with which he paid
debts of 10000 and $4,000 owed
o Texas banks
Senator Bailey also stated how he
'ad settled the indebtedness for the
iibbs ranch and cattle by reading
art of his testimony at the investi-
-ation in 1906. He also explained
Tow he had paid the st. Louis debt
~ the sale of cattle.
Senator Bailey explained that af-
er it had been charged that he had
'eceived the Pecos county lands as
fee from the Waters-Pierce Oil
Company he had determined to re-
jieye Governor Francis OF possible
further embarrassment, so he per-
uaded Mr.. Gibbs to deed these lands
Jack to Francis. He said Francis
leither made nor lost by the deal
Senator Bailey said he cleared
bout $4,000 and would have made
more could he have held the land
but, not having the money, and the
political differences arising. he pre-
feCred to sell.
Senator Bailey said Governor
Francis never discussed any legisla-
lion with him or sought his aid for
any measure except the Worlds Fair
appropriation. lie had never known
of any legislation i'm which Francis
was interested, directly or Indirectly.
except as good citizen or Demo-
crat. Ho said Francis had never
mentioned II @. Pierce to him ex-
oept throu a letter OF introduc-
ton
lie said Francis and a man named
Cobbs had asked mis- support for the
Worlds Fair appropriation, and he
told them they were wasting breath.
as he was unalterably opposed to
. 1ppropriating public money for any
/ such purpose. He said he thought
he had been paired when the propo-
sition for the s5,O0O,OOO approprla-
lion came mp.