Report says Gene Stipe claimed to have gun, knife in walking stick

IDABEL, Okla. (AP) -- An office manager at an abstract company in Idabel says former state Senator Gene Stipe told her he has a walking stick with a gun and a knife in it.<br/><br/>Jeannette Lambert says

Thursday, September 15th 2005, 5:01 pm

By: News On 6

IDABEL, Okla. (AP) -- An office manager at an abstract company in Idabel says former state Senator Gene Stipe told her he has a walking stick with a gun and a knife in it.

Jeannette Lambert says in a police report the comment was made Tuesday after Stipe and two other men walked into Southern Abstract and Title Company.

Lambert says in the report that the comment left her feeling scared and threatened, but Police Chief Jim Coffman says he sees no reason for an investigation based on the alleged comment.

An attorney for Stipe calls the allegation "absolutely false."

Stipe and business partner Steve Phipps are suing each other over control of the abstract company. Lambert says Stipe sat at her computer and read information about the company while a second man took photographs of the office.

Stipe served in the state Legislature for 53 years before resigning in 2003 and later pleading guilty to federal conspiracy and perjury charges. He was charged with illegally funneling money into the 1998 congressional campaign of Walt Roberts.