The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-04
Especial to The Messenger. J

greensboro, n. c.. January I'm
view Of the fact that it was known here
this morning that Solicitor Brooks
Glenn to swear out warrant for
libel against Congressman E. Spencer
Blackburn, should he put in an ap-
pearance here. there was much inter-
est felt when Mr. Blackburn made his
presence known by strolling down
Main street about noon. He had az
rived from Washington on a belated
early morning train stopping at the
McAdoo hotel Solicitor Brooks and
E. ]. Justice who had also been retain
ed by the governor to conduct the pros
ecutiOn,, promptly informed Mr.. Back
burn of their instruction, when ne in
turn surprised these attorneys by de-
claring emphatically he had never
made, signed Or authorized the publ
cation OF any statement rejecting on
Governor Glenn, and that whenever
any such document could be found, the
solicitor was welcome to proceed
against him criminally or otherwise.
ibis surprising turn Of the situation
wTs\ immediately communicated by
phone to Governor Glenn at Raleigh,
resulting later in a request by Solic-
itOrs Brooks, of Blackburn, thai he
furnish a signed statement, as. 10 his
sponsibility for the alleged libeIous
publication, This the congressman
did, it reading as follows:
- The statement in last Sunday morn
ing's papers concerning the notice Of
my contest upon Mr.. Hackett, and he
reflection upon Governor Glenn is
without my authorization. My notice
to him, signed by myself, will be suf-
ficient for public scrutiny. Thus far
any signature appearing in the papers
purporting to be mine is q forgery IN
the notice OF my contest which [ have
ISSUED there will be found no sugSeS-
tions of corruption on the part OF
Governor Glenn. The notice will speak
for ITSELF
Upon receipt of this there was 10
further step taken during the after
noon in the direction of having any
warrant served, matters being held
in allegiance, awaiting the result ot
communication which Governor Glenn
wa having with Washington parties.
tM. Blackburn came here, after haV-
inc had appointments to come several
times in the past ten days to make
some financial arrangements concern
ing the publication of his weekly news
paper, the Tar Heel, its affairs being
reported in bad shape. While here
today he was served with summons II
two civil suits, one of which was by
the prODrietOrS of the BenbOw hotel,
where he formerly boarded, for the al
legged non-payment of nearly two hum
dred dollars long past due. for board.
A significant feature OF the situation
is the fact that Brooks and justice,
the attorneys who are representing the
governor in the threatened prOSecn-
ton of the congressman, were MS at
torneys in the recent indlcemensS
against him in the federal court here
for alleged violation OF law III prac-
ticing before the departments at
Washine eton, while a member OF con-
sress. and together with eX-JudS7 W.
P. Bynum. secured his acqulttal. Jud5e
Bynum himself, in published inter
view yesterday, repudlated sIatehient
sent from Washington that he was
RIaelohurn's counsel in his contest
against Con ngressman-elect Hackett
for a seat from the Eighth congress
sional district, asserting that on tee
other hand, he had agreed to represent
Hackett. Judge Bynum is one or the
hest republican attorneys in the. sta.e.
and has been Blackburn's lead'hs
counsel in all his litigations heretofore
(Special to The Messenger
Raleigh, N c., January 2.-Goyernor
Glenn found positively today that Con-
gpessman Blackburn was IN Greens
boro and notified state Solicitor Broohs
to have him arrested for criminal lpei
and to secure counsel to assist In the
prosecution. Solicitor Brooks lmme-
diately went out to look for Blackburn,
meb him on the street, Blackburn COM