The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1923-07-26
Newton, Miss, July 2, 1928.

"To whom it may concern:
1--WE, the undersigned citizens OF
Newton, certify that Luther M. Burch
did at one time operate in this town
what is known as bucket shop for
inc purpose of trading in cotton fu'
lures, either for his own account or
others. Also that he did operate
skating rink. Signed: T. A. Baucum;
]. c. McClinton; E. T. Abney; G. A.
Bolton; c. w. Carr; w. B. Richard
son; ]. W. Goodson.'
Burch's Rejoin~.
In his rejoinder Mr.. 3urch declared
that he had worked for Joseph New
burger as telegraph operator; that
he was a poor man and young man
and that the place was affiliated with
the New York Exchange. Mr.. Burch
admitted that he did run skating
rink and added: II didn't mean any
harm by it,
Mr.. Burch read a letter addressed
to Governor Russell by Rush Knox
in which the aggressive district at
torney requested pardon for ne
gro sent to the pen for murder. In
the letter, which Burch made much
over, Mr. Knox declared that the
negro was indicted late in the term
and he made him plead guilty in or
der to get court adjourned, but had
since gotten the idea tnat he is not
guilty. q
Mr.. Knox, in a two-minute rebuilt
tall pointed out that a special ven
ire of 300 men would have been nee
essary to try this man; that the cost
to the county would have been great
and that he did therefore get the ne
gro to plead guilty. Later he said
over 800 citizens requested him to
icin in an effort to get a pardon
circumstances having developed
which showed the negro innocent.
Mr.. Knox then turned his attention
to the long drawn out criminal trials.
and said: "A few of these criminal
LAWYERS like Burch are the ones who
are bankrupting the counties with
these long trials, which are expensive
l;sxuries. Take the case of that Sy-
rian in Jackson, indicted for killing a
white girl. While Burch had right
to defend him, yet he almost broke
the counties where the case was tried
before he finally got his client into
the asylum when he ought to have
been hung. / say to you that as your
next attorney general. am going to
try to conserve the legal expenses
Of the state just as have been trying
to do for 10 years"
From the re-echOing applause or
the crowd and the constant comment
of those present. 1t il evident that
Mr. Knox scored victory over Burch
similar to that over his other OPP
moment. Clayton D. Potter, at Stark
vile. when he forced that gentleman
to admit that Ssank Robertson offered
to resign solely on condition mat
Governor Russell would appoint Pot
ter to succeed him and that this was
tho came Robertson whom Russell and
his cohorts had accued OF being the
willing tool of the trusts and COM
hines now retained, according to kus.
saII ~ a salary of $4,000 year.
R,rch today read the rest OF this
weeks speaking date to Mr.. Knox.
and asked him to accompany MIN.
hit. after listening to the places.
Knox sretorted: 'sThey are already
for me at those places" Mr.: burcn
stated on the picnic GROUNDS a'tel ~
sneakine, that HE slipped up on me-
.h,s fine and didn't have all my
ssnmunition,. TO which IN old farmer
reioined that whom fellow - 9sing
hunting, It's ; sood thing 70 - :
lsaded gun.
-AwAr9 NAV