The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1922-02-08
RUSSELL DEFENDANT
IN 100000 SUIT
Governor Brands Story as False
and Alleges BIackmaiI
Conspiracy.

~
legislative inquiry into the charges
drought in a suit filed in the United
States Court here today by Miss
Frances c. Birkhead against Cover
nor Lee M. Russell was rife in. jack
son tonight.
A tense situation has been created
by the suit and various impromptu
conferences are being held by groups
of legislators. BY the time the Leg
islature convenes Tuesday morning
the attitude Of the Legislators toward
the suit is expected to be. determin-
ed.
The governor tonight issued a for
NAL statement denouncing his for
mer stenographer's suit as a 'vil-
famous piece of blackmail."
s'Politics!" declare the political in
Inmates of the chief executive.
Let the courts decide" say 9TH
Rers.
Miss Birkhead in her suit asks
damages of 100000 from the gov
,ernor and charges that he wrecked
her life by wronging her in July,
1918, and then ruined her hsalth by
causing her to undergo an operation.
STATEMENT ATTACHED.
The suit was filed by Attorneys T.
r Foster of Vicksburg and Camp
bell of Yazoo City. who arrived in
Jackson early today, and after con-
ferring while presented the papers
to the clerk Of the United States
Court. Attached to the petition was
statement purporting to be Miss
Birkhead's story of her relationship
with Governor Russell, which she
alleges began in July, 1918, during
his incumbency at lieutenant COVER
nor.
Miss Birkhead's story has been the
cause of gossip in Jackson for some
time. When the Legislature conven-
ed January 8 it was reported per-
sistently that she was planning to
file suit Immediately, but this talk
died down, following another report
that the proposed suit had been a.
bandoned. Friends of the governor
were apprised of the gossip and de-
clared the governor would be pre-
pared to meet any charges. Some
of them said the governor had be-
friended the girl. On the other
hand it was reported that friends of
the governor had attempted to OBJ
tain written evidence which Miss
BiIkhead is said to have alleged she
possessed which would prove her
charges.
IN his statement addressed to The
People of Mississippi, Governor
Russell says in part:-
eOf all the infamous pieces of
blackmail and conspiracy ever con-
ceiged, in this or any other state,
tn5s IS. the limit. Those who have
known me throughout my entire life
public and private, fully understand
that there is not one jot or little of
truth in anything of the sort. Even
the worst enemy that / have in the
world would not dare to make the
shocking allegations that are stated
in these charges. might say this
much, when I first saw this woman
in the year 1918 she was going from
house to house and from citizen to
citizen in case similar to this and
was then charging distinguished
citizen with the same charge with
which she charges me.
'She carried her case before the
officials of the institution of which
this distinguished gentleman had
charge and these officials heard her
charges and refused to believe a
word of what she said, believing her
to be mentally Irresponsible
"She finally came to me and plead
ed with me to aid her in ousting this
man from his place and ousting the
officials who had turned q deaf ear
to her elf-advertised story. In all of
these actions she acted the part of
a person almost bereft of all reason.
Upon my refusal to aid her In pun
ishing the objects of her hate, she
then began well-founded conspira-
cy with my political enemies, (for 1
was then starting my campaign for
governor), to bring about my down /
fall. Since that time she has been
plotting and planning my downfall.
She has repeatedly demanded money
of me by letter and by word of
mouth. OF course, spurned her de-
5mands. She has tried numerous law
yers throughout Mississippi, endea-
yoring to persuade them to bring
suit against me.
This creature, aided and abetted
and inspired by my enemies, has
gone to some of the highest officers
sof the state to counsel with her in
attempting to murder me, my wife,
the young ladies in my office, and a
large number of other persons whom
she knew would be in her way in
procuring sum of money at my
hands. All these refused to aid her
in, her murderous schemes. OF course,
/ want the people Of this state to
know that when this whole situation
is Understood 1t will prove to be one
of the most cowardly conspiraeies to
assassinate and disgrace me ever
concocted in the mind Of a villain.
Il stand ready to meet this vii
famous issue, my good wife at my
side. we stand ready to meet each
and every allegation and denounce it
all and all who are responsible for
it. We want the fullest and freest
investigation by any and all parties.
We stand ready to meet the test in
the courts and elsewhere. We simply
ask the people to withhold their
judgment until this matter is fairly
and impartially determined"
TWO COUNTS TO PETITION.
Miss Birkhead's petition is a docu-
ment Of about 500 words and con-
tains two counts. The lrst count
sets forth that she is an unmarried
Woman and resident of Louisiana