The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-07
MISSISS|PPIANS
 STIRRED BY SUIT
 AGAINST RUSSELL.
Young Woman, Charging &c., auction, Seeks to Recover $100,000 Damages
 From Governor
Bx Asseciated Preea

Jackson, Miss, February 6.-A $100,00O damage suit based upon al- legged seduction, filed by Miss Frances c. Birkhead, against Lee NJ. Russell, governor of Mississippi, in the United States district court here today, according to prominent offi- cials, "presages one of the bitterest and most sensational episodes in all the series of legal and political war for which this state has been noted. !"
 Miss BirlShead, who now resides In New Orleans, formerly stenogra- pher in Mir Russell's office here, while he was serving as lieutenant governor, charges that she was be- trayed by the present chief execu- tive of the state with avowals of love and promises of marriage, after he could get a divorce from his wife" Her petition names prom inent Mississipians in and out of po- litical life as being connected with her relations with GoVernor Russell
 Sues on Two Counts
 Tn her bill of particulars. which was filed by Attorney Thomas Eos ter, of Vicksburg. she asks for s5o,- 900 on each of two counts, The first, alleging seduction. recounts that she was persuaded to yield to his will," and that a~ a -ae.1+ s.t.s..ssetn o.. utation and character were ruined, and she was caused to lose her em- ployment. and her health was ruined. to her great damage in the sum of s50,oo0"
 In the second count, Miss Birkhead alleges that she underwent a crim- inal operation lat the instigation of Governor Russell. which totally ruined and wrecked her health, caus- ing her to suffer untold anguish and pain, that she is now an invalid and must remain SC the rest of her life. @ For this she asks s50,o00 more.
 For nearly four years there are said to have been in circulation in official channels in Mississippi stories concerning the relations of the two, which friends of the governor were said to have attributed to his po- litical enemies. Recently these rumors and gossip centered about the prob- ability of damage suit that would shake Mississippi from Tennessee to the gulf"
 BlackmaiI. Says Governor
 Governor Russell, when questioned about the suit today, refused to dis cuss further than to declare 1t to be "the most damnable blackmail con spiracy In the history of Mssissipp,.p He is said to have declared, previous to the filing of the suit, that he had frequently heard of "scheme to bring suit of this character against me" He attributes it all to a ma licious attempt of his enemies to blaelSen my character"
 In sworn statement, Miss BirlS- head gives full narration of the incidents occurring since June, 1918. when she went to work in the draft department of the adjutant generals office here until the present time The alleged seduction occurred in Mir. Russelrs private office in the state house in July. 1918, while she was employed as his stenographer. Her version, briefly stated. follows:
 Story of Alleged Affair
 She met the defendant while he
 
 and having been promised a position in his office, she accepted His att titude soon became more than friendly, and soon declarations of lov6 were forthcoming. He was going to marry her as soon as he could get a divorce from his wife, who was chiidless. and with whom he was not happy. Under these promises she yielded to his will" and there were clandestine meetings between the two for several months, in many of which subterfuges and private en- frances were resorted to to allay sus- picion and prevent the spread of gos- sip.
 In october. 1918. Miss Birkhead de- clares she grew fearful of becoming a mother, and besought the help and advice of the executive. who, accord ing to her statement. suggested to her self-treatment. and advised her to call on a physician only if it be- came imperative. These incidents are followed by recitals of visits to physicians in Memphis and New or leans
 According to Miss Birkhead, Mrs. Russell had frequently expressed dis appointment over her childless state. q told Governor Russell that this child could be placed in an institu- tion in some distant town or city, and he could bring it home and adopt it, and neither Mrs. Russell nor any one else need know who were the parents of the child the statement continues He insisted this idea was
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