The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-04-10
STATEMENT MADE
 BY SENATOR B|LBO
Mississippian Declares That He
 Is Prosecuted
MEMBERS ARE DUBIOUS
Many of BiIbo's Colleagues Are Waver- ing in Their Attitude Toward Him But Others Mniptnin
 Their Belief

Jackson, Miss, April 9.-(Special.) )-Sen- ator BIlbo, who claims that while playing the role of detective he accepted a bribe of $645 from Hon. l.. c. Dulaney, the Issaquena county planter. to change his vote from yardaman to Percy, issued a signed statement this afternoon declar- ing that he is being prosecuted by the corporation and money powers; that an effort is being made to damage his char acter and he wants the people of Mis- sissippi to suspend judgment until the evidence is all in.
 In the fact of this statement several members of the senate who have hither- to been supporting Bilbo and placing faith in his charges, frankly declare that they have lost confidence in him and now re- gard him as unworthy of belief.
 During the past "A hours evidence of a very damaging character connecting Bilbo with several shady transactions was in troduced before the senate and the char acter and standing of the witness was such that it Is being given very large measure of credence.
 Senators Harper and Bailey, two of Bilbo's strongest supporters. admitted this afternon that the evidence produced in behalf of Dulaney, and seeking to show that Bilbo has been endangered in soul by very shady business and legis- they do not see how 1t can be contra dicted.
 Worst Yet to Come
 Senators Lertwich and Anderson coun- sel for the senate, declare that the worst Is yet to come; that they will have wit nesses here next week to prove other dis honest and dishonorable acts of Senator Bilbo that will sweep away the last vis- tige of confidence in him.
 The senate investigation will not be concluded before Wednesday or Thursday morning About 40 witnesses are yet to testify, and dozen of this number have been notified by the sergeant-at-arms to be on hand Monday morning when the hearing will be resumed.
 If Bilbo Is expelled from membership 1t will require two-thirds vote of the house present. Only 30 members were present on roll call this afternoon, but practically the entire membership is ex- pected to return by Monday morning.
 Counsel for Dulaney in the criminal charge pending against him in the Hinds county circuit court this afternoon won victory in the first round, securing a continuance of motion for change of venue until next Thursday, in spite of the strenuous protest of District Attorney McNeil, who endeavored to force the de- fense to show It's hand.
 In event change of venue Is granted 1t will be to Yazoo or Warren county. The change Is asked on account of intense partisanship and high political feeling In Jackson.
 Contradictions Made
 Dulaney's friends predict that by next Thursday morning Bilbo will be expelled from the senate and the district attorney will voluntarily offer a motion to Quash the indictment
 There seems to be growing disposition among members of the senate to ignore partisan feeling and factional politics and settle Bilbo's case strictly on its merits.
 Afternoon session: The only witness heard at the Saturday afternoon session was J. J. Wheat. city marshal of Poplar lille, Senator Bilbo's home town He tes- tiled that he has been personally &C., nuainted with Bilbo for 15 years and that hir general reputation for truth and ve- racity Is pretty bad
 "In matter I was deeply interested in, passing what I say on his reputation, would not believe him on oath" said MT Wheat. T cannot say I would trust him where his honor is concerned"
 Witness said that he had not spoken to Bilbo for four months, and frankly acknowledged that he does not like him, that they are not on friendly terms and considers him an enemy.
 ' ''IIoxeysr, mx fssllax toward him hss