The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-03
2O N ve spaper Men Decline to Answer Senate Summons
MATTER QUICKLY DROPPED
Manner in Which News of Secret Pro- cecdings Leaks Out Is Not PaIatabIe to the Senatorial
 Investigators

Mississippi legislature did practically nothing today. It was local and private day and interest centered in the sena- torial investigation of the Bilbo charges of bribery. The senate held long exec1- tive session during which a proposition was made to call all the Jackson news raper men before the senate bar to ex- plain where they are getting their in- formation of the executive proceedings. The motion was adopted and subpoenas were served on several of the press gang. However, during the afternoon the reso- lufion was withdrawn and the Pencil Pushers,' all of whom had resolved among themselves not to tell where they found the leaks" were spared a night in jail for contempt
 Rev s. B. Culpepper. the Baptist presi- dent of Clark Memorial college at New ton, gives out letter here tonight in the bribery charges, and in which he states that he did not see MT. Dulaney or any other person pay MT. Bilbo any money, but that on two occasions during his stay in Jackson MT. Bilbo did show him a roll of bills amounting to two hun dred and ninety-fve dollars. telling him it had been paid to him to vote for Percy for senator. MT. Culpepper declares this Is his first and last statement about the matter.
 In the meantime Senators Breeland and Simmons contemplate making statement to the effect that MT. Culpepper Is ir every way worthy +bf beief. They arc irustdes of the Clfrk college and know the man intimately
 1 Intetest in the affair Continues unAbatet and fio person here would be surprised 1 if setfotas trouble develops before the in vestigation and the court trial of former Senator Dulaney terminates. Nothing else Is thought of or talked about in Jackson. At the evening session two or three character witnesses for Sena- tor Bilbo were on the stand, as were also prominent citizens of Jackson who | took active part in the Vardanan cam | paign for the senate. Among them ex- Circuit Judge Potter and S. J. Taylor. both of whom are said to have been pres ent when Bibo divulged the secret of his having accepted the s650 bribe. I It is understood that every effort is being made to locate Mrs. Neal, the woman who Bllbo declares negotiated the deal between himself and Duaney. The investigation contipues Monday. Developments In the Case
 Jackson. Miss. April 2.--(Special)-S urday's developments in the investiga tion by the state senate of the Bilbo Dulaney bribery sensation were as fol lows:
 Examination of half dozen witnesses fxN. n larville. who testified that he is a maI of good moral character and high stand ing In that community.
 Testimony of two witnesses. s. J. Fay Tor, Jackson merchant, and B. r. Ward Jr.. editor of the Farmers Union Advo vate. who stated that they were presen at the conference of Vardaman supporter at which Senator Bilbo proposed to ac as detective and trap MT. Dulaney int, offering a bribe.
 Issuance of subpoenas instanter to Ioca newspaper reporters and correspondent. to appear before the senate and testify a. to the sources of information through which they have been obtaining proceed ings of the secret sessions and cancella. ton of summons when the newspaper men sent word that they would decline to testify.
 As compared with Fridays session, al
 
 ground work for the introduction of tes. timony relative to Senator Bilbo's mora character the day was rather dull and featureless.
 Even the evidence of s. J. Taylor and B. F. Ward, Jr., who were frequently re- ferred to in Senator Bilbo's direct testi- mony as members of his detective organ ization." was not up to expectations. con- taining nothing of sensational char acter.
 Both witnesses admitted that they were present in the office of Commissions, Blakeslee of the department of agricul- ture and commerce when the first con- ference was held and Senator Bilbo un. folded his plan to inveigle Mr. Dulaney into offering him a bribe to change his vote from Vardaman to Percy. Both de. clared however, that they had no knowl. edge that the plot had been successful and that Bilbo had actually obtained the money from Dulaney. until he told them that he was going before the grand jur, to testify to this effect. MT. Ward said Chat he thought ex-Governor Vardaman was present at this conference. but he was not absolutely sure about it. He could only say that. to the best of his knowledge and belief Vardaman was among those present. On this, point Sen ator Bilbo had previously testified that he could not remember whether Varda- man was present. In a published state- ment Vardaman has declared that the en- tire matter was a surprise to him. and he had no previous knowledge whatever on the subject.
 Members of the senate tonight without exception decline to make comment or express any opinion on the progress their colleague Is making substantiating his charges. saying that they intend to wait until all evidence Is in before forming conclusions. although there Is much crit icism of the senate for conducting the investigation behind closed doors, there is no likelihood that the plan of proce- dure will be changed. The finish will take place in executive session.
 Senator Bilbo left tonight for his home at Poplarville. obtaining leave of absence until Tuesday to look after legal busi- ness. Senators Leftwich and Anderson, counsel for the senate. will be absent until Tuesday attending a federal court session.