The Port Gibson reveille., 1913-12-11

-JdcksOHs
Lieut.. Gov. Theodore G.. Bilbo and SEN
ator G. A. Hobbs of Lincoln county, who
were Indicted by the Warren county
grand jury on charges of receiving and
soliciting bribes in connection with a
bill before the legislature creating new
county in the delta with Belzoni as the
county seat, appeared in the circuit court
at Vicksburg and furnished bond in the
sum of $4,000 each for their appearance
at the trial.
Lieut.. Gov. Bilbo arrived in Jackson
from his home at Poplarville. The heu-
tenant-governor took the first train for
Vicksburg after he learned of his indict-
ment. Sheriff Hyland of Warren coun-
Ey, who arrived in Jackson with war
rant for Senator Hobbs, also had war
rant for Lieut-Gov. Bilbo, not knowing
that Mr.. Bilbo had started for Vicks-
burg.
Immediately upon his arrival here
Lieut.. Gov. Bilbo sought some of his To-
cal friends and held hurried conference
with them before his departure for
Vicksburg He arranged for his bond
while here and carried the document with
him. S. J. Taylor, mayor of Jackson,
and SR E. Remington, prominent local
merchant, signed the bond as sureties.
Before leaving for Vicksburg Lieut.-GOy.
Bilbo gave out signed statement.
The indictment of Lieut.-Gov. Bilbo
/ TTon.I = 4bo hco ~
topic in jackson. Further sensational
disclosures are expected from both sides
and the developments in the case are be-
ing watchd with the keenest interest by
| all classes of citizens.
That D .litics would be injected into
the case was considered certain by those
who have been closely following recent
political events. This expectation has
been fully realized The sensational
statement given out by Lieut.-Gov. Bill
bo, in which he severely eriticises Gov.
Brewer, means political warfare without
any quarter being shown or asked by
either side. Gov. Brewer will no doubt
strike back in due time and the fighting
will become fast and furious. The gov
ernor declined to discuss the Indictment
of Messrs. Bilbo and Hobbs.
The indictments against Lieut-GoN.
Bilbo and Senator Hobbs contain two
counts. The first count charges them
with soliciting bribe of $4,000 from s.
CastIeman for the purpose of securing
the passage of a bill by the legislature
creating a new county with Belzoni as
the county seat. The second count
charges Messrs. Bilbo and Hobbs with
receiving and accepting the sum OF So
600 from S. Castlemah for the purpose
of influencing their action on the Bel
zoni county bill The two officials are
indicted jointly.
Gov. Brewer, it is said, has all Of the
reports of the detectives that were en-
ployed in the case locked up in safe
place in Jackson. The reports will DC
used at the trials. 1t is said here that
Dan s. Lehon, manager of the Burns de-
tective agency at New Orleans, will be
one of the star witnesses for the prose
cution when the cases are tried. Mr..
Lehon, it is said, held dictaphone on
Messrs. Bilbo and Hobbs, and has rec
ord of their conversations.
Committee to Act.
No steps were taken ythe legislative
committee to investigate the charges
against Lieut.-Gov. BiIbo, Senator Hobbs
and other officials who figure in the
case. Senator Anderson, chairman of the
committee, returned from his home at
Ripley. but, Representative Bramlette
failed to reach here. Desiring a full
membership of the committee when the
charges are taken up, consideration OF
the case was postponed until Mr.. Bram-
lette returns. Chairman Anderson said
that the committee would begin the in
yestigation of the charges in due course
and that when the legislative probe is
once started it would be systematic and
thorough. Every phase of the scandal
will be covered by the probers and all
of the facts presented to the legislature
and to the public. If the disclosures in
the investigation point to other officials,
the investigators will follow out 20 tne
/ end each line of evidence, no matter
where it leads or who will become IN
volved.
Senator Hobbs bond was signed by
Mai. D. c. Casey Of Sharkey county,
and by Lieut.-Gov. Bilbo.
BiIbo Makes Statement.
Lieut.-Gov. Theodore G. Bilbo gave out
the following sizzling statement;
'sTo the People Of Mississippi:
@Just having learned that an lndict,
ment was found against me in Vicks-
burg, Warren county, although know
nothing about the nature of the charges.
I feel that in justice to myself and
Smith Petition Waits.
The widely signed petition for the par