The Washington times., 1922-02-13
WHO SUES
MISS. GOVERNOR
REVEALS PAST
Declares Executive First Ruin
ed and Then Cast Her Aside.
Seeks 100000 Balm.

ed ana men CdSt f1er HSlue.
Seeks 100000 Balm.
As result of a 500, 900 dam
age s,tit, brought against hin. on
Frances C.. Brkhead, his former
ste,iO0rapher, Coz. Lee NJ. Russell,
Of Mississippi, is faced Nth the
prospect of not only fighting the
Urls serious charges IN open court,
out of being made the object Of a
Legislative inquiry looking TO pos
sible impeachment.
The suit, coming at this time, is
particularly embarrassing to the
governor in a political light, mas
much as he has just announced
himself definitely as a candidate
for the United States Senate.
NeVs of the action has, in con-
sequence, throaVn Jackson, the
State capital, into a turmoil.
Charges and counter-charges Of
political conspiracy are being hurI.
ed freely by legislators, political
leaders and prominent citizens.
Opposition legislators, fearful Of
the possibility of Governor Rus
selPs Sailing INTO the Senate as a
MARTYR" are refusing to initiate
impeachment proceedings, which
then san should be instituted by his
supporters. The latter, IN turn,
are sile,t.
The following denial of Miss
Birkheads charges has been IS
sued bv Governor Russell:
~ have frequently heard of
scheme to bring suit Of thus
character against me. The charge
is a damndble lie. II as an at
tempt by my enemies to bldcken
mn character. No larger IN the
State qUouLd dare to bring the
suit into court
Public opinion, however, has crys-
talIized about this single comment:
"Let the courts decide
Here is her story told TO cor
respondent Of The Washington
Times:
by GRACE LEA Army.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 13.-She
isn't a figure for tragedy-nor, yet
for melodrama of the lurid light
kind-this Frances Birkhead, who
is suing Lee Russell, governor OF
Mississippi, on charges that have
shocked the State.
Says Gov. Called Her Wreck.
She's white.faced. pale'lipped. dull
eyed-eyen the red hair that Is
pressed with no pretense of fem
mime arts and wiles against the
white forehead has lost its CLINT
the CLINT that. in the natural course
OF human events, might nave
caught a mans eye-and held II
She is no taller than five feet
one or two, at the most, Id say
an inconspicuous little figure in a
blue serge coat suit; black stock.
ings thicker than the majority OF
us are wearing this year; brown
oxfords wide-brimmed tafteta
and satin hat-brown, with dark
blue ribbon dropping over the brim
at one side.
And the face that is framed by
that brim is not wider than the
span OF a big mans hand-from ear
to ear and from the brow TO the
tip of the quite determined chin.
He said to me. Frances. you
used to be a beauty. but now you
look like a wreck" she tells you
frankly, measuring glance for
glance. and referring to one Of the
governor $ friends. a smile, scourged
by the ac.d of what she says are
the facts OF her case. touches the
corner OF the Colorless lips.
You may have seen lips like
them in tn" face OF a woman
brought back from drowning.
in your mind when you look at
her.
And ! said to him. Then that's
just another thing for me TO sue Lee
Russell on.
Her voice is even. low-gives
somehow the effect OF a piece Of
metal beaten thin by blows.
But why--and how-did you come
TO this? Did you care for him."
That, If you are a woman, is the
first question on your lips. She fights
away from il.
Cared SO Much"
81 never was the kind 10 say
loved a man-to tell other people"
But il you hold her 10 it, work
around by suggestion, remove the
barriers of condemnation-"Yes
DID," she says. and the line from the
brow TO chin grows taut as she looks
at you straight one minute, turns
her head away with that lift of the
chin movement the next.
81 cared for him. 1t began there
in the office, / suppose. II cared
so much I'd have died for him"
II thought l was going to die
that tine | went to Memphis" the
story reels on Ike the films you've
seen concerning every little sister,
or "the girl next door''-that sort
of thing.
Il wanted to be with him one more
Christmas. 1t was the day after that
I went off. And l was sure / was
going to die. But by some Provi-
dence"-the word spr .ngs at her and
catches her by the throat-"Provi.
dence." she says again, more slowly
not OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES a better in
Election, rather, twisting 1t at the
last to silence.
The wind that is rising and