The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-01
General Thurman IS Vigorous
in DenunCidtiOn.
HE CALLS HIM COWARDLY
The Ex-Congressman Says that He
Will vouch for What He Has Said
and viii Reply In the
Proper Way.
Especial to The rimes-Dlgpatch.)

topcGldI W Ac clilucS-IlSPdNSAi'
WINCHESTER, VA. July S1.--General
Charles Thurman, OF Clarke county, who
is being sued for divorce by his wife and
whose domestic troubles have been aired
at length by friends and the press, to-
day issued circular to "The Readers OF
the Clarke Courier OF Berryville. in
which he violently attacks ex-Congress-
man William F. Rhea. The letter has
created a great sensation. and it Is feared
that It may lead to trouble The epthets
applied to Judge Rhea are most insult
Ing.
General Thurman says In part: "Wil-
liam F. Rhea, who has managed TO get
a large share OF free advertising as at
torney for Mrs. Thurman in her suit for
divorce, seems unwilling that the case
shall be decided In court. and has pub
lished numerous articles in the papers
of Virginia, containing his malicious and
false representations Of the facts OF the
case AS he may not be known to many
of you, wish to present him as ne IS
known In the section OF the State IN
which he lives Among his acquaint-
ances he Is known as a. disreputable pet"
titoggcr. He tried to be politician, but
the Democrats OF his district permitted
him to be badly defeated by his Republi-
can opponent III u ulSlIlCL lithSiu6 q tt'i oS
Democratic majority. A brave man
would hardly have written the articles
r.at appeared in this weeks Courier.
but having done so. he would have stood
his ground, not have sneaked away at
midnight out OF reach of tho one he had
insulted.
What Judge Rhea Says.
The following special from the Bristol
correspondent OF The Times-Dispatch
gives what Judge Rhea has to say In
reply to General Thurman's attack:
ut was II o'clock tonight before Judge
William f. Rhea could be found to in
ouire his position with reference to the
attack made upon him by General Thur
man. He then telephoned Tho Times
Dispatch correspondent the following:
The only reply I can make at present is
I that the articule in the Clarke Courier
was published at noon on Wednesday.
the goth instant, and that I remained in
Bcrryvlle until 8 o'clock the following
morning when left for home
Gas to the truth of the statements In
the article that appeared in the Clarke
Courier, will fully vouch fos them. ex-
cept that there was an error as to one
word In 1t. and that was where 1t was
stated that Thurman refused to surren
der and of Mrs. Thurman's articles OF
clothing. The word "many" should have
been used instead Of the word 'any," and
to-day had written the editor OF tho
Clarke Courier. asking him to mako this
correction in the next issue of his paper.
cat present have no answer to make
| to what Thurman says about me- but
will answer 1t in the proper way and at
| the proper time"
Judge Rhea talked In q mild and un-
! shaken tone, MS though the attack OF
Thurman would cause him no serious
! worry.
| tThe interview OF Judge Rhea was in
reply to publications that had been mado
| in defense Of General Thurman, and was
accompanied by af1ldavits from Drs.
| Rlackford and Walker. of the Western
State Hospital, to the effect that Mrs.
Thurman WAS not insane when she was
received at the hospital.-Editor Times
Disptach)