The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-12-04
SUBPOENA TO BE ISSUED FOR T.
r. JAMES OF THE NEW coUN-
TYoF GEORGE.
TRYING TO IMPEACH THEO. BILBO
Circuit Court Session Of Kinds
County Most Important Held In
Quick" Rice Case To Come Up.
Special TO The Netos.

Special TO The Neios.
Jackson, Miss Dec. 4.-The crimi-
nal term of the Kinds county circuit
court convened this morning by Judge
W. A. Henry, and promises to be one
of the most memorable that has been
held in Jackson for many years, ow-
ing to the large number of important
cases docketed for hearing.
A grand jury and two petit juries
for the week were empanelled, after
which Judge Henry sounded the dock
et, and set q large number of cases for
hearing on various dates during the
next two weeks.
Much interest centers in the inves-
tgation Of the alleged legislative brib-
cry in connection with the passage of
the bill at the session of 1908. creating
the new county involved, in which
State Senator Theo G. Bilbo, recently
elected Lieut. Governor, is involved.
Judge Henry specifically referred to
the crime of bribery in his charge to
the grand jury, mentioned the i'm
munity clause enacted at the recent
. session of the Legislature whereby it
is believed that it will be possible to
get at the bottom of the alleged trans
action by obtaining evidence from a
witness who has heretofore been re-
lrctant, Mr.. T. R. James, a prominent
attorney at Lucedale. who. according
to the theory of the prosecution. gave
bribe of $500 to Bnbo to secure a
favorable report from the senate com
mittee on local and private legislation
to secure favorable report. on the
George county measure, Bilbo being
chairman of that committee.
County Attorney O. r. Taylor has
announced his purpose to have a SUBJ
poona issued for James. and it is un-
derstood that an effort will also be
made to get at the bottom of an al
legged bribery transaction in connec-
tion with the effort to create the new
county Of Walthall, in which, accord
ing to common rumor, Bilbo was also
involved, receiving a sum of money
from man named Ratliff. a citizen
Of Gloster
James has hitherto declined to tes-
tify, either before a grand Jury or in
open court, taking refuge behind the
constitutional clause that a witness
cannot be compelled to incriminate
himself. It now remains to be seen
whether he will come forward and tell
the whole story, and take the immuni-
ty bath provided by the new statute.
Another noted case slated for trial
is that Of w. J. Rice, recently brought
here on requisition papers from Ken
lucky, after he had succeeded in elud-
ing the Mississippi authorities for
four years. Rice is under Indictment
in connection with the failure of the
Central Bank of Mississippi wildcat
concern organized with capital
stock of 100000, less than s7n OOO Of
tbe amount being actually paid in.
with q chain of smaller banks estab-
lishod in various towns in the state,
the Drotontious scheme being to make
the Jackson institution clearing
house. Rice is charged with embez-
element, falsifying records. receiving
deposits after he knew the bank was
/ insolvent, and several other crimes.
The story of his financial career reads
/ very much like the "Get-Rich-Quick
Wallingford" tales, and ii is more than
likely that he will get a long prison
term, as the evidence is of the most
conclusive character. L is stated
that attorneys for Rice will fight for
a continuance, and one of the strong
points that will be raised is the pres
ent illness of Hon. William Heming
way. OF the Jackson bar, who had
been retained as counsel for Rice, and
who was seriously injured in the col
: lapse of a bleacher stand at last
, Thursdays football game.
: Two noted murder cases are on the
Continued on Page Three.)