The Yazoo sentinel. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1878-1916, 1915-07-22
RUSSELL MAKES STATEMENT
ABOUT BREWERS THREAT
Says That the Governor Had Guilty
knowledge Of Stealing Of
Legislative Bill.
A senatobia special to Saturdays

A Senatobia special to Saturday
Commercial Appeal says:
Gov. Earl Brewer and Hon. Lee NJ
Russell met today at Tyro for the first
time since the incident at Wesson
Miss, where II is alleged that Gov
Brewer threatened to cut RusselPi
throat from ear 10 ear II certain state
ments we're made concerning the Sc.
questration of legislative bill.
There were present at Tyro about
1900 people. There was no joint de
bate. Gov. Brewer began at 1O
o'clock and spoke until ~. The gov.
ernor was In fine form and fayed +
G. Bilbo and those whom he alleged
we're trying TO ride into Office with
him, denouncing Bilbo as thief,
CRATER and an all-round crook. Gov.
Brewer said that he was sorry that It
had become necessary for him to take
such steps as he did at Wesson to
protect the integrity Of the high office
Of Governor of Mississippi, but that he
would allow no man to openly charge
him with stealing without his resent
ing il personally.
The governor gave his version Of
the affair as follows:
81 was on the platform with two
other gentlemen when Russell was
speaking, when Russell said, Il did not
charge at Mize that Bunyan Carter
had stolen a certain legislative bill,
but | will say now who did steal that
bill-the man who stole that bill is
now on this PLATFORM, and turned
around and faced me.
II then got up and walked over 70
Russell and told him that | would
allow no man to charge me with steal
ing without resenting it, and if he said
that stole this bill would cut his
threat from ear to ear"
The governor says that Mr.. Russell
did not again refer to the matter.
Mr.. Russell in his speech at Tyro
today said that Brewers version of
the matter was correct as far as it
went, but that after Brewer had made
the threat that he (Russell said II
hereby charge that you, Gov. Earl
Brewer, did have then and now have
a guilty knowledge of the stealing of
that bill, and that you have not re-
vealed that knowledge to any court or
grand jury" At one time during the
course of Gov. Brewers speech it be-
came necessary for the chairman to ap
peal to the citizens present to de-
sist in interrupting with cries for
Bilbo.
Excitement was high, but after the
appeal Of the chairman for order no
further interruptions were made, and
both speakers were listened to atten-
lively.
Mr.. Russell arrived during the
course of Gov. Brewers speech and
vas given 1-2 hours in the afternoon
% reply. He devoted most of eae
line to a criticism of Gov. Brewers
administration.
Gov. Brewer, in discussing the af-
air at Wesson, said that after he had
efused to debate with Russell that
RUSSELL had followed him all over the
State and had, in his absence, after
he Governor would leave to fill other
appointments, heap upon him the vii
st of abuse, making this abuse per-
onal, and that it was because Of this
ction Of Russell that he could stand
he personal attacks on his character
o longer and was forced to stop it
Y this method. Mr.. Russell reiterat
today from the platform that Gov.
rewer did have guilty knowledge Of
lie stealing Of the legislative bill in
lestion. The governor did not stay
hear Russell's speech. leaving at
e noon hour for Independence, where
delivered a speech at o'clock this
'ternoon.