Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-05
Mississippi Senator Seeks to
Exonerate Self on Ground
That He Was Employed in
The Role of Detective
TELLS SENATE STORY
OF ALLEGED BRIDE
Witness Claimed That He Was
to Have Received Total
Amount of $1,000 for His
Vote for Percy
(Bv Associated Press. J


JACKSON, Miss, April 1.-State Sena-
| tor Bilbo, who charges that he was given
bride to vote for Percy in the recent
| senatorial deadlock, appeared in the sem
ate for cross-examination. The sessions
are executive and every precaution is be-
| ing taken to prevent publicity of the
/ testimony
Rev. S. B. Culpepper, president Of
Clark college, Newton, Miss, will prob
ably appear before the senate at tonight's
session. DR.. Culpepper is exceedingly
reticent to discuss any phase of the case.
1t developed today that DIR. Culpepper's
brother is related to Senator Bilbo by
marriage and that Bilbo is trustee Of
the college at Newton.
Ex-Governor Vardaman returned
Thursday from lecture tour of the
northern part of the state. He is APP
parently taking no active part in the
proceedings, although he was in confer
ence at his residence last night with
some of his political advisers.
| VARDAMAN SILENT.
The former governor is maintaining his
| declination not to discuss any phase of
the pending troubles. Thus far he has
not been summoned to appear before the
grand jury, members of that body hav-
/ ing decided not to summon any of the
| senatorial candidates, or hear testimony
| from them unless ii is voluntarily given
| IF any person knows facts regarding
the senatorial contest that ought to be
| in possession of this body, he is invited
to come forward and give them, with
| out waiting for a subpoena" said Fore
/ man ]. c. Cavett
| The grand jury has taken recess
until Tuesday. Just before Adjournment
the proposal to indict Senator Bilbo un-
der section 1912 of the code, which makes
the bribe-gfver and the bribe-taker
equally guilty, was again brought up.
but a majority of the members refused
| to vote for true bill.
| BILBO FACES CROSS-FIRE.
| State Senator Theodore Bilbo was put
| through a gruellng ss-examination in
I the senate today relative to his charges
/ of bribery. Senator Bilbo, in his direct
| evidence before the body, stated that
/ he had arranged through woman to
/ have his first meeting with Dulaney at a
| residence in a questionable part of the
| city.
| Are you in the habit of frequenting
such pIaces?" asked Senator Leftwich.
| The witness declared emphatically that
| he was not.
| Senator Bilbo was next asked if DR..
| CuIpepper and the women were TO ac-
company him to the house He replied
1 that the woman was to go with him. but
| he did not intend to take the preacher
| along.
| Don't misunderstood, gentlemen" re-
/ marked Senator Bilbo. II said that DIR.
| CuIpepper had prior knowledge that we
| were to go to the house, but 1t was not
planned that he was to accompany U.S.
Senator Leftwich then asked how ne
| expected Dr. Culpepper to witness the
| full transaction unless he was present.
The witness gave no answer.
Resuming the questioning, Senator Left
witch asked at what hour the trip to the
questionable house was to be made ana
| asked Senator BilDo whether they were
/ going in the day time.
| Ibid you intend to wear placard on
YOUR back announcing that you were In
| such a house on a bribery missionF de-
| manded the Questioner.
Senator Bilbo made no reply. He was
/ cool and collected throughoue anu
/ his temper we'll
| Exonerating himself from moral ano le-
| gal liability therefor on the ground that
| he was acting as detective for the var
daman forces, and to prove thar bribery
was being used in the recent senatorlai
contest. State Senator Theodore Biioo APP
peared before an executive session OF tns
senate last night and told now ne ra1
! accented a bride from Hon. l.. Z. Du-
Ianey a wealthy planter of Issaquena
| countv in the sum of s645 to change MS
| vote from former Governor Nardaman
to United States Senator Leroy Percy
| The recital lasted more than an hour.
and Senator BiIbo went into full details
of the alleged incident. His cross-ex-
animation will take place at another Sc
cret session of the senate this morn
| ing.
ATTORNEYS ARE EXCLUDED.
| RiIbo was placed on the stand after
| the adoption of a resolution changing
| the plan of procedure originally adopted
The attorneys employed by Bilbo, Du-
laney, etc, were excluded from the sem
ate chamber and a resolution adopted
providing that the senate select Two o.
| its members to act as attorneys ana Bill
DO be permitted to select two colleagues
to act in the same capacity. The sem
ate named Senator ". D. Anderson, or
/ TupeIo chairman of the Judiciary COM
mittee. and Senator George j. Leftwicn,
| Of Aberdeen, chairman of the temperance
| committee.
Bilbo. it is stated. told the senate that
| It was first suggested to him in January
| that he might sell his vote for a good
sum; that he arranged a meeting with
Dulaney through another person, but
this arrangement failed and he finally
opened negotiations direct. Then, Bilbo
| is declared to have testified. ii was
| agreed that he was to received $1,C0O in
several payments. He received s6b IN
all. he declared, the final payment oeiag
after the election of Senator Percy
TOLD VARDAMAN PLANS.
| His plans. he asserted, he related to
several friends of former Governor Yard
aman, including Judge w H. Potter.
Ben F. Ward. Jr., and T. 2. Barr, who
approved of his suggestion that a trap
/ be laid.
To corroborate his statement Bilbo
claimed that Rev. B. S. Culpepper, presi-
dent of Clark Memorial college, at New
! ton. occupied apartments with him at =
ron%iuuaa an nara