The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1914-01-09
PRESS COMMENTS.
What the Mississippi Press Is Saying
on the Recent Hobbs Trial.

tie Lou Plunkett, the state librarian,
for simply telling the truth under oath
As she was compelled to do. This is
what they threatened to do if she testi-
fed and she testified. Columbus Dis
patch
Never did Mississippi have a severer
lloN struck it than does this verdict.
n nuts a premium on dishonesty, de-
thrones reason, decency and morality,
and puts the badge of honor upon the
,ub6c men who are who are self-con-
fessed brbe-seekers and takers. 1t
stamps with disapproval all effort upon
fine part of those who seek to have only
honest. clean men manage the affairs
of our state, and says to the criminally
bent. be not afraid of the courts. 1t
makes of our courts and our statutes
AGAINST the committal of crimes, a
mockery and farce, and opens wide
the doors to fragrant trampling under
foot all forms of law and justice.
To the mind of this paper, words and
language are inadequate to express
what will be the disastrous results of
this verdict, and with shame-facedness
decency must from now on hang its
head while those who hold the happi-
ness. prosperity and development of
loved commonwealth above price, feel
helpless. while the ghouls hold high car
nival in their efforts to gain control of
our temples of justice and administra-
tive halls.
Poor old Mississippi. -Yazoo City Her
aid.
Poor old Mississippi! She is walking
with uusandaled feet upon the burning
sands and sharp fiints of adversely. -
News Scimitar.
The jury in the case of the state VS..
Senator G.. A. Hobbs, tried at Vicks-
burg for accepting bribes in connection
with the proposed creation of new
county. returned verdict of not gull
ty. The finding of the jury was sur
prise to a great many people who fol-
lowed the case closely through the
newspapers. 1t appears that the pub
Ne expected mistrial to result, and
did not expect the jury to be of one
mind in the matter. There is but one
conclusion to be drawn from the YER
diet and that is that the jury entirely
disregarded the testimony of Steve Cas-
tleman. the evidence of the detecta-
phone records, the testimony of Gov.
Brewer. Sheriff Middleton, of Kinds
county. aud Miss Plunkett, state libra.
rian. The assertion of Hobbs that he
was playing detective and attempting
to trap bribe giver, gave him an ave
nue. of escape. .-Hernando Times-Re
porter
We never once supposed that twelve
men in Mississippi could be gotten to
gether who would agree on verdict IL
the Hobbs bribery trial, after the issue
had been shaped as it was by the de
fense.
But we did not think that with thu
evidence before it the jury would brint
IN a verdict of not guilty.
If ever a case was made out agains
bribe taker, and bribe solicitor
Gov. Brewer made out one against thu
now thoroly advertised senator from
Lincoln.
The direct evidence Of witnesses wa
unimpeached. 1t was confirmed eve
by the defendant himself, who admit
ted that he sought bribe. 1t was sup
ported by every circumstance and ever
fact. Put in spite of the record writ
ten in the case. so thoroughly was tn
trial made political, and SO adroitly di
the defense shift the issue, that tn
Jury only remained out over night o
its verdict because they wanted to lodg
at the expense of the county.
And the state campaign, from tn
trial is on.
Played on by ambitious demagog
torn by factonal strife, the future doe
not seem to hold much hope for
change of political conditions in OF
neighbor to the east. Baton Roue
(La) Times.
The Jury gave Hobbs the benefit
the doubt and acquitted him OF Il
crir,e of bribery. 1t is hard to prov
bribery against sharp operator, pa
ticularly WI en- defended by an extrao
dinary array Of legal talent, backed
a powerful lobby of sympathisers.
Aberdeen Examiner.
Meridian Star: But inasmuch as pc
tics has been dragged in, or thrown
to speak more accurately. we deem
proper to warn the factions again
carrying the case before the people
IT'S present form.
There is no mistaking the fact tn
the sentiment of the people iowa
factions in Mississippi politics has he
undergoing a change the past year; t
people are becoming tired of ribs
talk and of reckless language used
one man or set of men toward a
other.
Before the end comes, it is not at
impossible that leaders of factions m
find that the people have tired of thu
harangues and will determine to c'
them aside, without regard to Wit
they lined up politically.
1t isn't all safe to say that this, II
or the other man will be the next g
ernor, or the next senator from M
sissippi at this writing, because of
Hobbs, or any other case.
Gufport Herald: Here is the pr
piece of egotism of the century. II
Bilbo reply to Judge PowelPs sea
ing arraignment of him:
Powell knows that when am u
srnor of Mississippi. will cut of
graft. will answer his SPECIFIC cha
es later. am too busy now diRgl