The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-30
FIGHT To FINISH
IN STATE SENATE
Percy Faction to Insist on Rigid
Inquiry Into Senatorial
Contest.
IN PROGRESS
Secret Session to Hear Bribery
Charges Made by
Bilbo.

Jackson. Miss. March 2s.-Behinc
closed doors tonight the state Sesat,
commenced its investigation of thu
statement made by State Senato
Theodore G. Bilbo that lie accepted I;
bribe OF s645 from the hands OF L. C
Dulaney TO change his vote from for
mer Governor Vardaman 10 Leroy
Percy the successful candidate in the
recent senatorial contest. All doors
and corridors leading to the Senate
chamber We're guarded, and no state
ments relative to the proceedings Will
be made public until the investigation
is completed.
The forenoon executive session OF
the Senate was devoted almost wholly
to a discussion of the general trend
finally brought to a close by the adop-
tion OF resolution authorizing Sen
ator Bilbo and M Ioulaney to have
witnesses summoned
Immediately following the adoption
of this resolution, the Percy and
Vardaman factions furnished the Ser
geant-at-Arms of the Senate with lists
OF witnesses whom they desire sum
moned. The former, it is asserted
will attack the reliability of Senator
Bilbo. while a dozen or more witnesses
from the home of the Senator, Pop
larvile. are. in Jackson to testify, to
the high esteem in which he is held
His fight to retain his seat In the
Senate will be on the general grounds
that he was fully justified In accept
ing the brlbe; that he was acting In
the capacity of detective. and
actuated by thoroughly honest mo-
tives.
On the Indictment returned by the
grand jury yesterday charging bribery,
Mr.. Dulaney was arrested this morn
ing, and Immediately released under a
bond in the sum OF $4,000. He de-
clared that Bilbos statement Is a po-
ltcal "frame-up" and expresses con-
fidence that 1t will so be proven.
Tonight the formal declaration was
made by leading members of the
lPercy faction that they intend TO wage
fight to the finish. and will insist
on thorough probing Of each and
every feature OF the senatorial con-
test that may be brought into question;
that they Will put before the Hinds
county grand jury evidence tending tc
prove that former Governor Nardamar
used his executive contingent funds
extravagantly and unlawfully: thai
he failed to make a proper accounting
therefor, as required by law: that dur
Ing the Year 1906 he accepted and used
railroad pass, in violation OF law
and the pass In question, bearing his
signature on the back, they declare,
will be presented to the grand jury
within the next forty-eight hours
Washington p. c.. March 2o.--Sena-
tor Leroy Percy. of mississippi, when
informed tonight of the decision of
the Mississippi Legislature to investi-
gate the bribery charge in the re-
cent -ssnarorial contest. said that he
had received personal telegram. stat
ing the fact and that he welcomed the
inquiry.
III there is anv truth to the charge
said Senator Percy, that Senator Biblo
had been given a bribe. he should have
made 1t known to the LEGISLATURE prior
to the election. when 1t certainly would
have resulted in eliminating me from
the contest.
"T am absolutely without any knowl-
edge of the charges, except as have
read of them In the press dispatches.
1 deny emphatically that any money
was used by me In the senatorial cam
paign, or With my procurement con-
sent or kuowledge to influence any
member of the I4egislature, and am
certain no such expenditure ever was
made by0any friend of mbine Rilbo
was known as bitter partisan of
it:4avarnor Vardaman,"