The Tupelo journal., 1913-10-24
Texas Newspaper Man
Investigates SaIaciOus
Mississippi Story
IContinued from Third Page]

with all kinds of crookedness such as
seducing a nurse in the asylum, n
d~efrauding the state in the purchase
or sale of some cattle. Turley was in
dicted by the grand jury, the fact be-
ing brought out by ar investigating
committee of the legislature, and he
was tried, convicted and sentenc ed to
the penitentiary also.
Turley had previously been a friend
of the governors and the governors
enemies began at once the circulation
of reports that he was an appointee of
the governor, which was not the truth,
as he was selected by the trustees on
nomination of the superintendent. 1t
was charged by the governors enemies
that he had been guilty of all kinds of
corrupt methods in trying to save this
man Turley from the penitentiary; but
the facts disclosed show that imme-
diately upon Turkeys indictment the
governor had employed able counsel to
prosecute him and had gone out espe-
cially to take his scalp, and had sue
ceeded.
Acquainting myself with these facts
and many others too numerous to men,
ton, l started in to get the proof of
the story which affected the governors
private character. A young man by
the name of Saunders who worked
with ''The Issue, " the newspaper above
described, assured me that the officers
of his paper had made an investigation
and had the conclusive proof on the
governor in connection with the trip
to England and the fair maiden who
was alleged to have accompanied him.
| went to "The Issues" office and at
first they suspected me of being a
pirate, a crook and a detective, and
after looking me up and putting me
through all the degrees, up one side
and down the other. and being assured
by everyone who knew me that / hon
~estly wanted the truth so that l might
write the story, then set about it. l
was informed at "The Issue" office
that they really did not have the facts
themselves, but that Boyce & Company
of Memphis undoubtedly had them and
that Walter Blount of Water Valley
was a man to see Immediately, because
Walter Blount had a vast accumulation
of knowledge derogatory to the COVER
nor's character. They told me that a
mar by the name of Peacock, who had
formerly been connected with 'The
Issue" as ITS manager. could give-some
facts. l visited Mr.. Peacock and after
"a conference with him, found that he
knew nothing of the story except what
he had CLEANED from Walter Blount
and an engineer on the Illinois Central
by the name of Tom Knight, who Lived
at Water Valley. He also suggested
that l get credentials and call upon
Boyce & Company at Memphis. l also
had a conference with Mayor S. j.
Taylor of Jackson, Mississippi. who, l
believe is n of the dominent charact-
oers in 1.-THE Issue" Mr.. Taylor agreed
tn render me what assistance he could,
he knew nothing except what others
had told him. Taylor warned me
against having any conference with the
governor, and assured me that it would
not do for me to go about with the
governor: that he was full of tricks and
all kinds of subterfuges that would en-
trap me. and if it was absolutely nee
essary for me to see the governor, he
would send the chief of police of the
city to guard and protect me and act
as witness on the way. Mr.. Taylor
vent with me to the Office of Mr.. Barr
EFF of police, and introduced me to
IA, and gave him instructions in my
presence togo at any time on my re-
quest and act as my bodyguard
Just previous to this time it had been
made known to the governor that l
was in the city. and he sent me a let
ter by, mail and told me that he under
stood l was looking into a story that
purported to involve him and rendered
me open, frank a .~sistance, assuring me
that he had no objection to anything
being published pertaining to his public
sor private career that was the truth.
l left the city without seeing the gov
ernor, not that ! believed him to be
Qch a dangerous man-eater as pictured
10 me by Taylor, Peacock and Others,
or that | feared being swallowed by
him; but because / was becoming thor
~oughly convinced that instead of the
story being true, which they were in
.dustrously circulating about him, it
was a ~cold-blooded blackmail ingen-
iously prepared, and insidlously cir
.culated by such crooks and thieves as
weie afraid of this probe.