The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1910-04-01


| Miss in his room at the Lemon Hotel
this city, in order that the minister
might be on hand when the alleset
bribe was given. He said:
In the early sessions Of the senator
ial caucus became convinced that
money was being spent layishly to de.
feat Mr.. Vardaman. As the session
continued and the deadlock showed nc
signs of breaking, on my own initiative
summoned supplemental caucus,
composed Of soma OF the most prom
inent men of the Vardaman followers
In the state. Among them were Judge
Wiley Potter, Ben Ward, editor of the
| Union Advocate of Jackson, and T. B.
Barr, business man Of this city.
As briefly as possible | outlined the
plan that had already laid out in my
own mind. wanted to prove TO the
people Of the state Of Mississippi what
was happening at the state house.
The caucus agreed with me that the
plan was feasible, and | called upon
the Rev, S. B. Culpepper, the president
of Clark Memorial College, of Newicn,
Miss, to aid me in the work. He is
man whose word could not be disbe-
lieved, and whose interest in public
honesty knew well. He agreed TO
help me, and for tour days and night
kept him hidden in my room at the
Hotel Lemon.
Just prior to that Il had made my
opening advances to Dulanev. They
were at first met rather shyly, as | was
we'll known Vardaman man, and Du:
laney seemed to think it strange that !
was willing to desert. AT last, how
ever he agreed to my terms, AMI I
made an appointment with him at the
Hotel Lemon. He fai'el to meet me,
but vas moi disappointed, for later
suggested that we meet at the Edwards
House, Itried to get a >Feoal al ths
Edwards House, but was unable to
lind one vacant did, however, meet
Dulaney there and in room which,
believe, he had procured. the first in
stallment Of the money was given 10
me. 1t was Si5c==leaaa / tell YOU
the denominations OF the bills, but that
will come out later:
1t was some little time, bsfafe tbs
remainder of the Seas was harA.ai to
ms It came in three separate install
ments, and in various ways which, un-
der my oath taken before the grand
Jury, | am now at liberty TO divulse.
That also will come out later.
In the mesntime had been trying
to arrange matters so that Mr., Cul-
pepper could be present at one of the
interviews witl Delaney. At psaaat
! Cannot say whether succeeded in
this, Lat I can say that have positive
proof of everything that | have stated.
Indeed, | may say that"
Hare the speaker hroAs Of short,
and sssnea to hesitate before aidins:
Time AMI the senate mist reveal
that"
He did not say what he meant, Con-
tinuins his story he said:
Following the securing of my proof,
| laid what had obtained before sew
eral Of the most prominent of Mr.. Var
daman's advisors in the state. Mr..
Poindexter, of Noxubse county and
Judge Wiley Potter. then on the bench
of the district court, and others need
less to mention They agreed with
me that it would BE- exceedinslY slYunwise
to make pubic my findings before the
close of the senatorial fight. The fac
tional lines, you understand were so
closely drawn The bitterness of feeling
was SO intense an1 the danger Of per-
sonal encounters considered so grave
that We concluded it best to wait until
the hot heads had cooled down some
what and there was no open issue at
stake before exploding our mine. |
have been censured fer this. but | ask
the people Of ths stote of Mississippi to
suspend judgement until the facts have
been brought to light in the investiga-
ton now unier way. They may resi-
assured that nothing will be left hids
den.
As the money came to my hands !
turned it over 10 Mr.. Culpspper, who
in farm gave it 10 the sheriff, from
whom if went to the grand Jury where
understand it is now held as an ex-