St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1914-01-03
had informed him Hobbs wa. going

uad LltSuIuGrslOOQ Fer. Gue Iteaiis
Hobbs was about to leave Jackson.
!. Beginning by informing the jury
and the world in general that she
was the best friend the accused SEN
ator had, and that she would rat'4-
er die than have to tell 1t ALL" Miss
Plunkett plunged into thrilling
narrative of Mississippi politics of
the past year or two.
She knew Senator Hobbs was in
six" although he had not told
her just what it was. She want
ed to patch it up in order to do
her friend a good turn, and spare
Mississippi another SCANDAL. Pres
sure had been brought to bear up
On her to keep out of, the trial.
Some one who was in the court
room when she was testifying, she
said. had warned her to keen her
mouth shut.
Last Sunday. the day after the
trial begun, she declared that
Senator Hobbs had come to her
home in Jackson, and pleaded and
then threatened, displaying a pis.
tOl. But her hand was forced and,
reluctantly, she was ''blurting it
all out"
The name of Miss Matte Plunkett
was called just before p. m. A
middle-aged woman, medium height,
| of the build usually described as
Muscular. with sharp, clear-cut face
and quick-moving falcon eyes behind
her rimless spectacles, took the wit
| ness stand. She was not apparent
~ disturbed by anything she might
have conjured up as an ordeal, as
the average woman does in similar
situations. She was mistress Of the
situation and nobody knew 1t better
than she did.
Swears Hobbs Asked
Her to ''See'' Brewer.
do you know Senator Hobbs?"
she was asked.
"Yes," came the quick reply, with
a fieeting glance toward the senator
on her right.
Tell the jury if you made any
engagement with Governor Brewer
to meet Senator Hobbs THANKSGIVING
day, last"
II asked the governor" Miss
Plunkett began. 'If he'd seen him.
The governor had been sick and
could not see Hobbs. The senator
did not press me that day to arrange
an interview. but later l saw the |
governor and he still was i'll. II
blurted out, Hobbs wants to talk to !
you The governor began to say:
II he thinks Bilbo-' the gov
ernor said. No, 1t isn't that 1 told
him. They have kicked him out
down there at the tissue Office"
He wants to see you.'
Hobbs had told me they kicked
him out. He said It was some Me-
dian influence" added Miss Punk
ett
What article was it they wanted
to publish that you told the govern.
or about?"
"The one Robertson "a Jackson
newspaper correspondent wanted to
publish about tha Castleman mat
ter"
Hobbs ''Threatened
20 Tell the TRUTH
What effect, Miss Plunkett, did
:! o'hr say the arsic,.a would have?"
That 1t you'd throw the blame
or Kim. /
"'vh.:t Gid Enbbs say them
That he would come ',lt in We
Fcaylne ard tell the truth, thrert-
e1:ing them"
Threatening to tell the TRUTH" /,
YES"
Did you make any engagements
with Brewer?"
Eyes, told Hobbs the governor
would see him. answered Miss Plum
kett. 81 had told the governor
wished he would see Hobbs before he
sets away-not run away. I meant
ust out of town. The governor mis-
understood. You know how easy
hese things happen. Hobbs was
u6t going to leave jackson. l also
old Governor Brewer Hobbs was
Ifraid the Office was wired The ,
governor said there are no wires
lere. and he talked in q most kindly
way about 1t, and said to bring him
lp."
Threatened Me II s.
Went On Stand.''
did they meet?"
Eyes. It was near dark, and t
hey talked long time. was de-
lighted because thought had
atched up political truce. did
ct know then about the Indictment. d
would not believe it any way" IL
Had Hobbs ever told you about
he new county measure, and his and
connection with it,"
YES" n
What did he tell you?"
well, 1t would take all evening /.
, tell 1t. never knew about any {
loney. any way" p
Ibid he tell you he was acting as t
detective ?" p
HE might have been but he never q
I'D me-" t,
Didn't he tell you he was caught 4
,d-handed?" y
Got Me-" Hobbs
uOted BY WOmall. t,
II believe he said that they got q
m" N
What efforts were made to keep tt
~ froza giving ties timony about the
interview with Hobbs?" ii
Some one in the courtroom right
" did not want me to testify. n
I'd at the time the Governor saw "
obbs they didn't want Bilbo to v,
aow about It," tt
Miss Plunkett then proceeded with "
lengthy statement of Hobbs alleg- H
condolences. They involved cor W
ss'ons of his supposed desperate 81
rats, statewide politics and fight Of
the death. The senator displayed In
S pistol on several occasions. the