Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1922-12-07
Jury Selected Tuesday To Hear
the Complaint Of Frances c..
Birkhead Who is Suing Gov.
Lee NJ. Russell For 100000
Complainant on Stand Declares That He Never
Left Office Without Kissing Her Goodbye
and Showing, Other Evidences of At
fectiOn-McNeillS Springs Surprise.

| the time the suit was filed, but ratn-
er citizen of Louisiana.
The city of Oxford was electrified
Tuesday evening when it was learned
that the case would come speedily to
trial. 1t was feared that there would
be delays and dilatory tactics on both
sides. However, it was unmistakable
today that the litigants were intent
on going through with the case. The
town is alive with witnesses and with
friends of the principals and the law
yers. The lobby of the Colonial Hotel
is crowded day and night with men
who have come from every section of
the state to be present when the ex-
element starts. They stand around
and in little groups and gossip.
Some of them tell the lawyers how
to run the suit. Others would spare
the court the trouble of trying the
case by proclaiming the, 'real facts
in the case" The politicians are
here, both the hill folks and the peo-
pie from the delta.
Wednesdays Proceedings.
Smashing sensation after sensation
fell today when Frances Birkhead
told her story in federal court and
when Gov. Lee NJ. Russell called as
| adverse witness by opposing counsel.
faced the jury and denied the charges
upon which the woman's 100000 suit
for seduction is based.
The jury, selected in less than one
hour Tuesday, will decide whether
the mark of the falsifer shall rest
upon the brow of Frances Birkhead
or Lee NJ. Russell.
Their stories were as far apart as
the poles.
Gov. Russell's story came first, I'm
mediately after the jury was selected
and Judge K. R. Holmes ordered the
witnesses called, M. H. Mcneil, lead
ing counsel for Miss Birkhead, took
the breath of the court by announc
ing that he would first call Gov. Rus
sell to the stand. This he was able
to do because the case is civil and not
criminal.
The court was recessed from II
o'clock to 2, when Gov. Russell was
to take the stand.
He made a good witness. Not
once did he hesitate for word. Not
once did he show temper or anger. He
was on the stand less than one hour.
Miss Birkhead, Good Witness.
Miss Birkhead made good witness.
She was on on the stand for nearly
three hours, the last hour of which
was ross-examination at the hands
of j. w. Cassidy, leading counsel for
Gov. Russell. Her voice was scarcely
audible II feet away Only once did
| she cry, and that was when she read
| to the jury a letter purporting to be
! one which friends of Gov. Russell
tried to get her to sign exonerating
| the governor, in return for which she
was to receive 5000.
| She put her handkerchief to her
eyes and sobbed as indistinctly as
| she spoke. She quickly regained her
self-control.
Said Governor Kissed Her Goodbye.
"Governor Russell always kissed
me goodbye before leaving the office" ;"
Miss Birkhead said after halt.
Gov. Russell was not asked whether
he had seduced Miss Birkhead and
connived at criminal operation.
Hence he was not subjected to the
extreme test of his endurance on the
stand.
Miss Birkhead was not asked on
cross-examination whether she had
lived the. immoral and dissipated life
charged in the governors plea. Her
courage, screwed to the sticking
point, never faltered. Her cross-ex-
animation will be continued tomorrow
morning.
Worked as His Stenographer.
Gov. Russell flatly denied that ne
lhad brought Miss Birkhead into his
Ioffice during the primary campaign OF
1918 to revise his campaign list. He
declared that she worked for him as
a routine stenographer during Sep
tanber and October of that year, that
she did the work at her own place of
business as public stenographer in
Jackson, and at no time in his pres
encs. He denied that he ever told
herAthat he was miserable because he
did lot have any children.
! lid you not admit in the presence