Evening star., 1935-01-27

to concentrate National Guardsmen
in the State capital, following yes
terday's seizure of the court house by
citizens enraged at what they said
were plans of State police to arrest
scores Of their number.
Long charged, and attempted to
substantiate with testimony, that a
group OF public officials and citizens
had plotted to kill him. had arranged
with man to give them information
about the Senator's movements. and
had given him weapons. ammuni-
ton and gas bombs to carry out the
alleged conspiracy.
He named as the conspirators-
and also as the witnesses who could
not be found"-District Attorney John
Fred Odom Of East Baton Rouge
Parish, his assistant, Fred S. Le-
blanc; Sheriff Henry Sherburne of
Iberville Parish, Deputy Sheriff Fred
C. Parker of East Baton Rouge. Fred
O'Rourke. Square Deal Association
committeeman, whom Long described
as the chief agent of the Standard
OIL; Sheriff Sidney Dubroca Of West
Baton Rouge and Dallas Gross, Baton
Rouge citizen.
Named as Conspirator.
Powers Higginbotham. Baton Rouge
commissioner of streets and parks.
also was named by Long as one of the
conspirators. He was reported as one
of the missing witnesses" but later
q oNrNaorAA a. fha haariFnn and
subjected to a gruelling examination
by the Senator.
Long presented as his chief witness
man who said he was Sidney Songy.
He recited details of the supposed plot
and said he was the man weapons
and gas bombs were given to and that
he had participated in a conference
of the alleged conspirators at which
the details assertedly were discussed.
Sheriffs Sherburne and Dubroca
declared Songy's statements we're
lies"
Sherburne's statement. issued at
Plaquemine, follows:
There is not a word of truth in
what Sidney Songy said in Longs
hearing in Baton Rouge concerning
myself. Songy is a man without
character and few, II any, would be-
lieve his statement under OATH"
Calls Songy Falsifier.
Dubroca's statement follows:
Sidney Songy is deliberate falsi-
fer: there Is not a word of truth in
anything he said concerning me in
Longs investigation today"
The dictator endeavored to back up
Songy's testimony with evidence by
Brig. Gen. Louis F. Guerre, superin-
tendent of State police and National
Guard commander, and w. r. M.
Whitney, East Baton Rouge deputy
sheriff. that weapons found in Songys
car came from the offices of the East
Baton Rouge and Iberville sheriffs.
The proceeding was conducted in
the form of an inquiry requested by
Attorney General CASTOR Porterie on
allegation to Judge Womack that a
Crime or misdemeanor had been
committed in his Jurisdiction and that
no complaint or declaration thereof
had been made before any judge or
JuSLlce OF Cne peace.
The attorney general referred to
Longs claimed conspiracy. He said
he appeared as an. inquirer into the
facts Of the case so that further pro-
ceedings might be held later after the
taking Of dispositions.
Accused Of Poor Memory.
Higginbotham, whose status as q
member of the Baton Rouge Commis-
sion Council was abolished by Long
recently, but who retained the head
ship Of the Streets and Parks Depart
ment without voting privilege, was
the only alleged conspirator who tes-
titled. He did not admit anything,
and Long accused him of poor
memory.
The court was held in tense at
mosphere. Heavy force of State po-
lice guards protected Long in all his
movements, and carefully searched all
spectators for weapons.
The essence of the conspiracy"
testimony was:
That the group Of officials and citi-
zens named allegedly engaged Songy
to "tip them of" on whether Long
had machine guns IN his hotel suite.
That Songy was given weapons and
gas bombs and instructions to block
Longs automobile on the highway
with his machine until a group Of men
could rush up and kill the dictator. I"
That the weapons we're given to
him by Deputy Sheriff Fred c. Parker
and Fred O'Rourke.
That Songy. after being arrested
two nights ago, told Long all the de-