The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-04
HEARING IN DETAIL
Governor Swanson nnd Mr. Smart Both
ON StAnd. 10y

on stAnd.
Senator Echolss called the committee
to order at S:Uo p. NJ. In the senat
chamber. and v. g. Stephenson. for
insr clerk s,itll of Scott county. was tn,
i MaaI witness ness ,s hsan,ned by Senator
mad charge OF the poll books In tht
Il Rhea- Slelnp election, HIS deputy was
G. NJ Minnie. broth er-in-law OF w
and did not know who did. He and
Sir1 Mime put the books In vault
in the office. and both left about nc
nee. He knew Of no other. person hav-
ing one. Witness did not think l1o
ever saw W. S. Hamilton. Trough he
heard he was in Gate City on that
occasion.
Cross.examincd by Mr.. Irvi.e, wit
ness said Minnie was q Democrat who
stood well, and he had no reason to
T believe he had anything to do with
4 altering the returns.
Governor Tcstiics.
Governor Swanson was next sworn,
I and he testified at some length.
You received good MANY letters
eoneerning the ap I IN ne. OF Judge 3!
Bu aHs w sou ~ usNsu eapsal'i
Il bsg to state that did not WAS
the quick reply. 81 madeHup my mind
early to name Judge Rhen fer this
place. and SO announced It in tho
press"
Here the Governor handed Captain
Il Bullitt q batch of papers when tLe
on the subject his secretaries mac BEEN
able to find. Tho Governor objected
to making the letters public unless the
| cured, though he said his fies were
open 70 counsel and members OF the
!. General Assembly.
did not several leading Democrats.
and personal friends OF yours call and
protest against tho appointments" WAS
'"rhey did not" was the reply.
Didn't Senator ST. Clair and Mr.. A,
"A. Campbell protest?"
Ills Opinion OF Hhc,i.
"They did not Mr. Campbell asked
s me to appoint Judge Futon, now dead,
and l don't recall that Senator 81.
Clair ever talked with me on the sub
II felt that should go to Southwest
Virginia for this appointment, acted
on my own judgment and knowledge Of
men, rather than in response to petit
years, and knew his high integrity and
honor. served with him In Congress
and was Impressed with his ability
and high fharaeter, ana say now "n tnat
my administration rest upon this ap-
pointmentn
This statement provoked loud ap-
plause, and the committee threatened
to clear the galleries IL 1t was re-
peated.
Nothing to Keep Back.
"Any man who is active and success
full in politics will have enemies the
Governor continued. "and am satis-
fed from what know of the man that
there is nothing In Judge Rhea's record
to unfit him for this high Office"
The Governor declared that Henry
Clay and Andrew Jackson had been
called INSCRIPTIONS politicians. and
that II a man was to be. convicted Of
such charge it should be upon well
established proof and not upon mere
idle rumors.
In leaving the stand the Governor
assured tho attorneys and the com
mlttee that the records Of his office
were open to them, and that he had
nothing to keep back.
That Telegram.
Henry c. Stuart, whom Judge Rhea
has been nominated TO succeed testi-
fed as to kilograms and letters con-
corning the Russell county election in
the Rnea- Slemp contest.
tain Bullitt, and after many objec-
tionS BY coanse tqr JUGS Judgs Rhea ne
was TO- the effect that he had seen. a
copy Of what purported to be a tele-
gram from. Judge Rhea, dated Bristol.
his store at elk Garden to Mr.. c. Clark
at Honaker.
AS far as Mr.. Stuart could recall the
message as copied over the 'Dhpne by
his clerk was as follows:
Meet party at Lebanon Tomorrow.
= who leaves here to-day"
"Did the message IN question have
any reference 10 Buchanan county,"
asked Captain Built.
.'As we'll as can recall the Ian
Euage 1t said. Get hold of guehanan
returns and hold Tor withho d. them.
Important that ! sha!l have cer,lfi-
cate"
"Do you know whether the Ruch-
span returns were held UP or uot?'
81 do not.
Reads Letter
.pid that telegram cause you to
take any action?" Il
ut was the basis for some action
4 took
what was that action2"
In answer to this question Mr., Stuart
read copy OF typewritten letter sent
by himself TO re. I. Wilson, Demo
z