The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-04-12
BRIBERY CASE IS
ALMOST ENDED
Prosecution Submits Final
Witnesses Against BlbO
PRICE GETS THE LAUGH
senator walter Price Is a Very Large
Man and He Is Joked About Being
Asked TO Get Into a Ward
robe and Hide

CATION on in the senate practlcally
closed it's case this afternoon. Senator
Anderson announced, however, that
two witnesses were expected to ar
rive tomorrow and that If they had
any knowledge OF the affair they would
testify.
The defense, through Senator McDon-
aid, declared that Senator Bilbo's wit
nesses had been notified to come at
once and would reach Jackson tomor-
row at noon.
| There were only four witnesses
heard in the afternoon session. Two
of these testified to the good repu-
tation of l.. C. Dulaney. These were
lC. M. Williamson, Jackson lawyer,
and Mai. r. w. Miilsap, a millionaire
banker. Senator Walter Price told how
former Governor Vardaman came to
him during the caucus and said he
feared money was being used against
him.
Later J. @. Poindexter, Vardaman
manager, proposed to Senator Price
that he get in wardrobe in the
Edwards house and see the bribe given
to Bilbo. This caused laugh among
the members. Mr.. Price weighs near
" 300 pounds.
Prices View of Trouble
ST told him I'd get in no wardrobe
for anybody" said Mr.. Price. II told
him 1 had no confidence in Bilbo and
thought the whole affair was mares
nest. I told him further, as I told
Vardaman, whom 1 was supporting.
that if one bit OF evidence Of crook
edness was furnished to me I would
demand senatorial investigation be-
fore the caucus for United States sem
stor was completed"
DR.. H. f. Garrison of Seminary tes-
tilted to Bilbo's good reputation for
truthfulnes and veracity and declared
Bilbo told him OF the beioery and O.
his intention to expose the ,bribers.
When DR.. Garrison was excused the
senate adjourned until tomorrow morn
| Ing
With a prayer by Senator Owen,
pleading that 1.-The most high put into
our hearts to be generous and just
| in the things we are investigating"
and with the largest attendance for
several weeks, the senate met in the
morning to resume its probing into
the bribery scandal. Both factions kept
their whips busy Sunday and 80 of
the As solons were in attendance this
morning, Among the absentees at first
roll call was Senator Bilbo, the man
who claims he was paid $646 for his
vote for United States senator.
| A number of witnesses were in the
city for both sides, but as they had
not reached the capitol at opening
time the senate began to grind out
legislation. Senator Bilbo arrived at
10:3O, but it was after IL before the
testimony began.
| Senator Banks Explains
Before the first witness was called
Senator Banks arose to a question of
personal privilege and said:
| Senator Tucker, my good friend is
under the impression that l called him
liar the other day. l want to say
i that before 1 said anything the sen .
ator had announced that he asked the
question at the request of an outside
party. My remarks that the man who
said anyone paid Congressman Byrd's
expenses was liar, false as hell, ap-
piled to that man and not to Sena-
tor Tucker and that still stands"
| Senator Banks bowed to Senator
Tucker Senator Tucker bowed to Sena-
| tor Banks and all the senators ap-
plauded. w. t. Scott, former sheriff and
tax collector of Poplarville, testified that
| Senator Bilbo came to him when he ran
| for the senate, asid he was delinquent
| In his personal taxes and asked Scott to
| change the records in his office SO that
1t could not be shown that he was de-
| linouent and thus make him ineligible for
| the senate.
"I told him. said Scott. that the re-
quest was absurd that even were l dis
posed to do SO, the records in the chan
| cellor's office would show him delin-
ouent Then he said that the records in
the chancellor's office had been de-
stroyed."
BiIbO's Reputation
| Scott said he considered Bilbo's reputa-
| ton for business transactions was
| shady" On cross-examination he said
he would believe Bilbo on oath, and did
| not believe the senator believed he was
asking Scott to do anything wrong. On
redirect questioning he said Rllbo was
| a lawyer and should know that the fall
styling of the records was felony.
Several other witnesses corroborated
the testimony OF previous witnesses on
minor points.
Proprietor IL. +. Dye, OF Ln6 Hotel
ROYAL, swore he expelled Mrs. ]. c. Neil
from his hotel for questionable conduct
Senator George II. Banks told him.
when he heard that Senator Bilbo had
claimed that he (Bilbo) had secreted
Rev Culpepper in his room for four days
to witness the bribe transaction that he
| (Banks) had sent for Culpepper. The
latter Banks said, denied the state
ment The minister admitted having
been in Bilbo's rom, but knew nothing of
tho bribery trap. Culpepper did see Bilbo
with a roll of bills, which the senator
fourished and laughing ly said This
is some of that corrupt money you hear
about
Representative Mike O'Byrne told of
hearing of Senator Bilbo's disclosure and
of meeting the senator the same even
ing.
1T asked Bilbo if the rumor that he
had turned over the money to the grand
Jury was true.
"It is he said, and 1 had a reputa-
BILE preacher in my room four days and
turned the money over to him. l asked
him who the preacher was and he said
Rev. Culpepper.'
WnIthal County bill
| Senator M G. McGee said that he in
troduced a bill creating a new county
to be known as Walthall county. 1t ar
fected the districts Of both McGee and
Bilbo. He supposed Bilbo favored the
bill until Representative Fielder told him