The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-03-15
PROBE WE'LL
!. UNDER WAY
Governor Russell Net 80 Ap-
pear

JACKSON. MISS. HlaFt'li ''o\-
Lee VI. Russell does nol plan TO APP
pear in person before the legislative
committee investigating charges
made TO the Mississippi legislature
that - pernicious" fire insurance
lobby was being maintained here.
and allegations that a suit Tor dam
ages, recently filed against the gov
elnor by Miss Frances Rirkhcad. a
former stenographer. was fostered
by. certain fire insurance interests.
Governor Russell so informed sthe
committee in. II communication de-
livered to the chairman shortly be-
fore the committee recessed after
hearing three other witnesses dur
ing the initial day of the inquiry.
In a previous communication the
governor, reiteratinG the charges
made in his message TO the ies;sla-
lure. suggested that the commit
tee summon Stokes Y. Robertson,
state revenue agent. from WHOM.
the governor stated. he received
llUEIl a1l re -iuAol tli Nliit u
the allegations. We're based.
=. Mr.. Robertson testified as the
first witness. He explained that
what he had learned was largely
from other persons and gave the
names. of witnesses to be summon
ed. -. So.
!, Mr.. Robertson was without infor-
nation as to any connection Of iu-
surance interests with the suit filed
by, Miss Birkhead. which charged
the governor with seduction. He
told the committee that he knew
nothing. of the merits or dement's of
the. suit.
Mr. Robertson told Of repor,s
reaching him that the Mississippi
n'ire. Insurance company. a state
organization. formed after tie
withdrawal of a number Of foreign
companies subsequent to the fling
of antitrust suits against them in
December. 1920, had been coerced
into approving certain iesisla' ion
now pending before the legislature.
This, however. was denied by
George a. Wilson Of Greenwood.
president Of the Mississippi organ
iZation, who testified that. the sue
gestion that his company approve
the legilation came up in connec-
>tion with a meeting Of a state or
ganiZation of insurance agents and
that his concern regarded as meri-
terious the measure as having to do
with the formation OF a state rating
bureau.
F. p. Becker of Brookhaven. sec
retary of the state agents associa-
ton. testified along the same lines
as Mr.. Wilson. He also denied q
statement made, by Governor Rus
sell that the meeting here at which
the bill was discussed several weeks
ago was in secret.
So far as the suit Of Miss Birll-
head against the governor was con-
cerned. Mr.. Becker said, he had
no knowledge and declared en-
phatically that his. organization did
not aid the young woman in the in
stitu1ion Of the suit.
He also declared that, so far as
he knew. there had been no lob
bying.
The opening Of the hearing to-
day followed several days Of pre-
hninary conferences and post
'ponement.
Five members of the Mississippi
Association of Insurance Agents, r.
c.: Wilkerson, John HennesSy. p. l..
Hennessy, and I. G.. Flowers Of
and B.. J.. Roberts OF
Canton. Miss. and ". D. Mountger
OF NateheZ. a director of the Mis-
sissippi Fire Insurance association,
testified at the night session. All
denied indetail allegations made by
the governor rs to alleged lobbying
activities or that coercive measures
were used by the agents organiZa-
5tion to compel the Mississippi Fire
Insurance association to approve
pending before the state
Mr.. Wilkerson enlivened proceed
ings when member Of the COM
mittee read a statement made by
the governor in his message rs. to
the alleged coercive measures.
IF the governor made such a
statement 10 me personally. Ia say
he was a liar, but To YOU. gentle
men. III simply say it is false"
Wilserson told the. committee.