The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1913-12-15
trial Of SENATOR
HOBBS BEGINS
TOMORROW
GENERAL EXODUS FROM CAPITAL
OF PRINCIPALS AND WIT
NEssEs IN CASE.
DEFENSE Still In THE DARK
Prosecution Has Not Given Out Ink,
ling Of What II Expects to Prove
Thus Far Burns Detectives Have Not
Been Served With Summons.
DEFENSE STILL in The DARK

Jackson, Miss, Dec. 15.-There was
. general exodus this afternoon of the
principals and witnesses in the case
of State Senator Hobbs, charged with
bribe-taking, under joint indictment
with Lieut.. Gov. Biblo, which will be
called for trial in the circuit court OF
Warren county at Vicksburg Tuesday
morning
Senator Hobbs and Lieut. Gov. Bilbo
left on the 2:3O o'clock train for the
Hill City, and will hold a final confer
ence with their attorneys and advis-
ers tonight.
! A score or more of witnesses from
Jackson, including Gov. Brewer and
many state officials, leave for vicks-
burg early Tuesday morning. Several
witnesses from other parts of the
state, summoned by the defense, reach
ed here this afternoon.
The historic Hill City promises to
be the centre of all public interest In
Mississippi during the next two weeks.
and probably longer. That the trials
of the two officials will be fraught
with much bitterness can hardly be
questioned.
, Up to this hour the prosecution has
not given out even an inkling of what
: it intends to prove against Senator
Hobbs. and, since it's secrets have been
so we'll guarded, there is not much
probability that anything important
will leak out until the witnesses are
actually placed on the stand.
The defense is rather puzzled over
the fact that the names of none of the
Burns detectives employed by Gov.
Brewer appear on the list of witnesses.
They have hitherto been under the
I impression that the prosecution will
rely mainly on the evidence of detec-
tives. and were planning an attack
on the credibility of evidence of this
character.
Detectives Not subpoenaed.
= II any of the Burns men from the
n southern office of that agency in New
Orleans are to be used on the stand
they have not been subpoenaed. How
ever. this does not necessarily mean
. that they will not be used. In fact. It
is more than likely that the list Of
witnesses made public is only partial,
and that the prosecution will wait un-
til the last minute before turning in
the names OF several Of its most inn
portant witnesses.
1t became known this morning that
" the defense is laying the groundwork
to impeach stephen Castleman, Of
Belzoni, the man whom, It Is alleged
. . gave the bribe money to Senator
- Hobbs for division with Lieut.. Gov
Bilbo. The court records in Washing
con county have been searched, an,
:, copies made OF a number of indict
~ ments brought against Castleman.
- Anticipating this maneuver, tn
- prosecution will bring large numbe
Of witnesses from Washington count
to testify to Castleman's reputation TO
o. truth and veracity, and good standin
in the community where he resides.
The defense has been unable t
learn what the state intends to prov
by two preachers who have been sun
moned. Rev. H. H Webb, of Hattie
burg. and Rev. z. T. Moberly, of Ok
'oA Iona, but 1t is rumored that their te
timony will have an important bea
sou ing on the case.
ro Secretary Of State ]. w. Powe
who has been summoned for the pros
cution will merely testify that Il
records Of his office show that G.
Hobbs is state senator from Linco
. county and that Theo. G. Bilbo is Il
present Lieutenant Governor of Il
= state, thus establishing the corp
delcoti.
= Hobbs Trial May Last Two Week.
= While the trial Of Lieut.. Gov. Bill
; has been fixed for next Thursds
8 = there is not even remote probabili
Q = that it will be called at that time.
= fact, 1t is doubtful whether the ~
; = (Continusa = rAes Foer.)