Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-12-12
BILBO AND HOBBS
ACCUSED OF BRIBERY
WARREN COUNTY SHERIFF AT
JACKSON WITH WARRANTS.
EVENTS IN STATE CAPITAL
DOings Of the Various Departments Of
the Government CT the Common
wealth Reported for Ben.
eft Of Our Readers.

-JhCkSOH.
Theo, G. Bilbo, Acknowledgements Of
Mississippi, and Senator G. A. Hobbs of
Lincoln county were indicted by the
grand jury OF Warren county at Vicks-
burg on charges of soliciting brides in
connection with the passage Of a bill
by the legislature creating a new county
in the delta, with Belzoni as the county
seat. 1t became known that Senator
Hobbs had been closeted with Gov. Brew
or, and it is reported that the Lincoln
county senator has made a full confess
sion to the governor. According to the
reports in circulation, Senator Hobbs
broke down and confessed the role he
played and implicated Lieut-Gov. Bilbo
in the whole transaction.
Gov. Brewer would neither affirm nor
deny the report about the confession Of
Senator Hobbs. 1t is said that Senator
Hobbs was closeted with the governor
and Private Secretary Buck for two
tours, or more. The governor, when
asked the direct question if Senator
Hobbs had confessed, replied that what
Senator Hobbs said to him would be
treated as confidential for the present,
and that he had nothing to say about it.
Senator Hobbs was arrested by Sher-
If Middleton Of Kinds county. The war
rant for Senator Hobbs arrest was
brought to Jackson by Sheriff Nyland
OF Warren county and turned over to
Sheriff Middleton for execution. Sen
ator Hobbs will probably go to Vicks-
burg for arraignment.
Asked if he had any statement 20
made, Senator Hobbs replied that he had
nothing to say.
"You have no doubt heard the reports
circulated on the streets that you have
made a full confession to Gov. Brewer ?
Do you wish to say anything about
these reports?' was asked.
"All | have to say" replied Senator
Hobbs, SIS that | have not made any
confession to Gov. Brewer or anybody
ELSE and have nothing to confess beyond
that | do not care to make any state
ment at present"
A telegram was sent to the sheriff of
Pearl River county at Poplarville by
Sheriff Nyland of Warren county to ar
rest Lieut-Gov. Bilbo and take him to
VfcAsbarg.
The Indictment is the outgrowth of
the scandal about the attempted use of
money to secure the passage of a bill
by the legislature creating a new county
in the delta section of the state out of
portions of Washington, Yazoo, LeFlore,
Sunflower, Holmes. Sharkey and Issa-
quena counties, with Belzoni as the coun-
ty seat. A bill was introduced at the
last session of the legislature to create
the new county, but it failed to pass.
There were rumors current about the
use of money in the new county fight
at the last legislative session, but the
rumo!s and reports could not be traced
10 any authentic source.
After the legislature adjourned in
1912, reports gained circulation that an
attempt would be made to Elk" the
next session of the legislature by the
liberal use of a slu5h fund. Gov. Brewer
heard of the reports and employed the
Burns Detective Agency to trap mem
bers of the legislature whom rumor con-
nected with a desire to get some Of the
alleged slush fund. The governor has
never publicly admitted that he employ
ed the Burns agency to trap the legisla-
tors, but the report that he directed the
detectives in their work has never been
denied. According to stories afloat here,
It is said that the governor had reason
to believe that Senator Hobbs had
sought some of the money and that
Lieut.-Gov Bilbo was implicated with
the Lincoln county senator. Arrange
ments were made with Stephen Castle
man, a prominent citizen of Belzoni, to
"bait" the trap for Messrs. Bilbo and
Hobbs by offering them $4,000. The
negotiations for the payment Of the
money, it is asserted, were conducted at
Belzoni, Washington county; Vicksburg,
Warren county, and in Jackson, Kinds
county. Senator Hobbs, it is said, made
several trips to Belzoni and held confer
ences with Mr.. Castleman about the pay
ment of the alleged bride. Later the
conferences, it is said, were transferred
to the National Park Hotel in Vicks-
burg, where Burns detectives had de-
tectaphones concealed in a room and list
ened to the conversation between Messrs.
Castleman and Hobbs. 1t is said that
at this conference Senator Hobbs agreed
to accept the 1000 and further agreed
to pledge Lieut. Gov. Bilbo to support
the new county bill and guarantee its
passage by the senate.
Smith Petition Waits.
The widely signed petition for the par
don of G. c. Smith, former penitentiary
trustee. who was indicted. tried and con-