The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1914-02-04
BREWER and FAGAN
BEFORE PRISON
PROBERS
GOVERNOR UNRUFFLEp WHILE
HE TELLS OF PROSECUTION
OF GRAFT CHARGES.
c. c. SMITH THREATENED HIM
Former Trustee Told Him If He Would
Drop Investigation of Cotton Sales
All Would Go WeII-"Get Thee Be-
hind Me, satan," He Replied.
c. c. SMITH THREATENED HIM

Jackson, Miss, Feb. 4-There were
just two witnesses before the joint
subcommittee on investigation of the
penitentiary affairs Tuesday. Cover
nor Brewer occupied the stand for
some three hours, and was at all times
smooth, suave and ready for every
query and every turn, prompt with his
replies and ready to produce docu-
mentary evidence in substantiation.
Last night the stand was occupied
by H. A. Pagan, expert accountant and
special agent, engaged by Governor
Brewer to dig up details in connection
with his general probe. Like Cover
nor Brewer, Mr.. Pagan was smooth as
silk, spoke in low, well.modulated,
even tones and was master of the sit,
uation at every turn.
Governor Brewer, in his afternoon
statement to the committee, sketched
! in detail the penitentiary investiga-
ton from the initial stage, shortly aft
er the legislative session of 1912, up
to the present time, denying at the
outset, in reply to question of Mr.
Nabors, that any of the money appro
priated for the penitentiary investiga
tion had been paid to anyone EN-.
ployed in the Bilbo-Hobbs case. Gov.
ernor Brewer stated that he had paid
this bill, amounting to about $1,30O
out of his own pocket.
Mr.. Nabors wanted to know why, ii
acting as governor in investigating
: the reports concerning Messrs. Hobbs
and Bilbo, he had not charged up the
incidental expense to the special fund
| The governor stated that he appre.
ciated the fact that these people
were strong politically. He said that
If the legislature wanted to reimburse
him it could do so. IF not" he ad
ded. lit is all right"
! The governor said that he believed
Boyce & Co. had profited to the
amount of about 100000, whereas
according to reasonable returns, and
even more, in dealing with state cot
ton, it should not have been more
than 100000. He told the committee
that on the night before the 1912 ses.
sion adjourned c. c. Smith, former
prison trustee, came to his office and
urged him to sign bill to add the
attorney general and commissioner of
agriculture to the board of trustees.
This he declined to do, stating his
belief that it would be bad policy.
He did not think it proper for the
attorney general to be placed in a
position, if occasion arose, of suing
himself.
Continuing, he stated, Mr.. Smith
threatened him, politically and other
wise, if he did not sign the bill
Governor Brewer said he had
learned that considerable whisky had
been bought by the trustees, and used
by them in lobbying for the bill.
Il told Mr.. Smith," said the COVER
nor, ito sail in and fight me If he
wanted to; that l considered my
course proper"
The governor then took up reports
and rumors that led him to make the
investigation, and of the appointment
of Ira Sample, and how he had sent
him to different parts of the state to
investigate reports of Irregularities.
Up to this time Mr.. Pagan had been
allowed to sit in the room, but his
presence being objected to he was
asked to retire, with the understand
ing he would return later in the in.
vestigation.
Later on after covering In detail
the story Of Lawrence Yerger's defal
fNopt;pnel ~ Do.o Er,s~