St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1911-05-27
GIBBS -B|LB0
FIST FIGHT
Senator Gibbs Strikes Sena-
tor Bilbo With Cane.
Senator Bilbo Defends Him.
self With His Fists.
The Men Separated Before
Being Much Hurt.
Fight Result of Remarks by
Bilbo in Speech.

Yazoo City, Miss, May 20.-With
a cane presented him twenty-three
years ago by Jackson citizens for
nent State Senator w. D. Gibbs, who
4; candidate for lieutenant govern
or, to-day resented the charge that
he was a renegade Confederate,
which he claims Senator Theodore G.
Bilbo has been making in speeches
throughout the state. Senator Gibbs
met Senator Bilbo in front of the
Sentinel Office this morning, and
without parley proceeded to belabor
his alleged accuser with the cane.
After two blows had been struck
the cane broke and the men went
at each other with their fists, but
were separated by bystanders before
either had done the other any more
damage. According to statement
issued by Senator Gibbs after the
fight Senator Bilbo refused to shoot
it out on the grounds that his as
sailant was too old a man.
Senator Gibbs says he had warned
Senator Bilbo that he would resent
the charges on sight. He insists that
there was no politics concerned with
the affair; that Is was purely per-
sqnal matter,
After the fight friends of Senator
Gibbs collected purse of $50 with
which to purchase him another cane.
w. G. SMITHS STATEMENT.
The following signed statement
was given out by w. G.. Smith,
witness to the affair:
west on Jefferson street, and were
about half way between Sentinel Of
flee and the garage, when we met
Mr.. Gibbs. He was walking on the
outside, next to the street. Senator
-Bilbo was on my left, and l was
walking on the inside, next to the
wall. We were paying no attention
to Gibbs, and as we got even with
him, and were about to pass, Gibbs
struck Bilbo a blow with his stick.
Gibbs did not say a word to Bilbo
before or at the time the blow was
struck, and the latter had no warn
ing that he was to be attacked, and
lit was surprise to both of us.
Bilbo saw the movement of Gibbs
arm in time to throw up his left
hand to ward off the blow, and caught
the force of it on his left hand,
breacking the stick. Bilbo struck
| back one blow with his left hand,
landing On Mr.. Gibbs breast. Bilbo's
hat fell off into the gutter. Bilbo
stepped down into the gutter to get
his hat, and as he stepped back on
picked up the butt end of the stick
striking Bilbo again.
"Bilbo then told Gibbs that he was
too old man to strike, and would
not for that reason fight him. Gibbs
told Bilbo that the reason he struck
him was because Bilbo had charged
! on the stump that he (Gibbs) wa!
a renegade Confederate. Gibbs sale
that he had said that he would breal
his stick over Bilbo's head, and HI
had done it; that he intended to at
tack him during the Dulaney trial
but refrained from doing so becaus
it might interfere with the trial
''Bilbo replied that he had mad
the statement on information tha
be had heard for many years, an,
hat he had nothing to take back
that now that the matter had com
up in this way, he intended to in
. yestigate Gibbs war record. an
would give the results of his investi
cation to the people.
about this time Policeman Lyme
and Marshal Parks came UP and pu
them under rarest.
"Bilbo was not hurt, and left at
O'Clock for Belzohi, in Washingto
/. Gounty, where he spoke this after
) noon to a large crowd"