The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-01
.RHEA ON STAND
DENIES CHARGES
Makes Calm and Deliber-
ate Statement as to His
Record in Southwest
--- "a
COUNSEL SPRANG
GREAT SURPRISE
People Were Leaving Room,
When Announcements That the
Principal Would Testify
Caused Small Sensation.
More About Scott
County Ballot.

SURPRISING OlHclals,sf attorneys ana
spectators In the Senate chamber last
might, Judge William r.. Rhea, OF Bris-
tol, before the General AssemblyB5
Joint Committee on Confirmation, took
the stand In hts own behalf when the
opposition asked for time in which to-
secure the attendance OF witnesses!
Judge Rhea did not complete his state-i
ment, as member OF the committees
desired to take a night train for home:
but he made a profound impression as
far as he went. and finally declared III
would take him but little more time
to conclude. .ii5 5si5
Senator Noel and Captain Bullitt had
examined former Senator Herbert G.
! Peters. Mr.. w. D. Smith. Colonel J. B.
| lRichmond, all of whom were recalled,
and former Senator r. Walter Dick
enson, as an original witness, when
they asked an adjournment and rules
and summonses for other witnesses
The committee had voted to adjourn
until o'clock Monday night, when
Mr.. Irvine,l Of counsel for Judge Rhea,
asked few moments for conferences.
Judge Rhea and hts attorneys retired
to the clerks office OF the Senate cham.
Der. and almost Immediately returned.
Mr.. Irvine announcing that Judge Rhea
had decided to take the stand and
close the case for the defense. The
Bristol man testified In a clear ana
deliberate manner for about an hour
when he left tho chair. BY that time
he had gone over nearly all the charges
lodged against him.
Hon. a. A Campbell OF wythe. who
was IN the case as one of Judge Rhea's
attorneys at the start, and who IN q
bcen detained at his home by sickness
for several days. arrived yesterday. ana
appeared with his associates last night.
Nothing Spectacular.
4 lnere was nothing spectacular or
particularly new in.last nights pro-
! ceedings, tho most interesting feature.
being Judge Rhea's direct and dcltbsr-
ate testimony, and Captain Buliitt.s
+ severe examination Of NE. W VI ~ 7
smith concerning his alleged connec-
4 ton with the famous Scott county
/, ballot. ~ ~ :, - 1'.s+ IS
Former Governor A, u. Montague had
been summoned by Senator Noel to ap-s
, pear. but he did not come, and when
the senator from Lee announced short
~ after 10 o'clock that he had 40
more available witnesses It was
thought that thore would be an im-
mediate adjournment. When Mr.. Irvine
J made his announcement concerning
Judge Rhea's intentions to take 4 he
stand at once. people who in droves
iad started to leave the chamber and
mained until the proceedings were
4 lover. F,s
The case will go over. and viii prob.
ably not be finally decided before
Tuesday or Wednesday. The general
impression res. is that Judge Rhea win %
armed by the joint Assembly. III.
/ Session of Committee.
After Senator Echols had raped tbs
committee to order former Senator II.
). g. Peters was called to the stand and
asked few questions by Captain Bul-
litt, but these were only by way OF
verifying some testimony formerly
Il Not SO with Mr.. w. D. Smith. who
was recalled. He was severely re-
examined with reference to the Scott
county ballot.
His dispositions In one Of the Walker
Rhea contests were read on this point.
and he admitted their correctness.
Captain Bullitt drew out OF the witt
ness that he had had something to do
with the preparation Of what the laws
! yer Insisted ever afterwards in calling
a little paper" for the guidance OF
the voters,
Witness was askedssif this little
paper" was not IDENTICAL with the Scott
county ballot. but he could not come
4 nearer, to saying this than that this
Scott county ballot looked more COM
plicated. Witness declared lie did net
4 discuss the Scott county ballot with
4 Judge Rhea. and could not recall that
j they discussed the "llttle piece ot
]. paper 5s
! He thought ballots prepared in some
Of the Counties might prove cur.> Sr-
! some, and therefore the little piece OF
{, paper had been sotterl out.
/. Broke Down ihH Door. "a
{, Mr.. Irvine. questioning the witness.
!, brought out tile information that he
!, ,,lhad not conferred with Judge Rhea
Z concerning this typewrtten .tpiece Ss1
!. paper" though they had talked about
y legal ballots for tho election.
Colonel Richmond Was recalled by "
Captain Built and briefly eNamine.l.f
Il Els testimony added little to what $le
& had said on the previous day.
: Former Senator r. Walter Dtckensnn.
s]sof Russell. testified that heit was & at
Lebanon after the 1902 election for
!, |Slemp: that Republicans told him i. !.
!. Fl. Ashworth, OF Bristol tpannocrarl.
, WAS there for Rhea. and locked 8up In
the clerks office with the canvasstns,
board. He opened the door and found
Ashworth with the board. no Il Republl-s
: cnp= being In the roo on,. S.
They, went later 70 anot ther room and
when he ,,,,,s wasrs fused adn!ttance he
4 Democratic tudE dEss.i and tn heYs8said the
II vote had been canva ssed 40, al n Re-
4 4Epuhl'can precircts thrown out.
Cross-examinad by. Mr., Irvine, Mr..
i 3|iDickens sonA ga Id. Z, he KIN @w thing to-
connect Judge Rhea with the transac-
Il |tion. 3yS8Il Al sss sSs slf. III 4 n 81
w S.. coS, az Gate CITY. was res
called . and bvts fly nuestinned by Sens
4 ator& Noel. rs. Hs4 t7eciarAd haa knew potfl.8
,nsi q what cantain Rnllitta called the
4 little piece OF PAPER Il
KIT rs No More Wltneases.S sSS33S8
II . AT this point Senator Noel said hs
]; had no more va lila bile illnesses and
NJ a sked that Captain ], g, Gent. Of Rusy;
\ sell. be summoned. and thar a rule ibssi
!, Issued for A. G Stephenson, of Scott.
II Mr.. Irvine now sprung the slrprtse
OF the session by saying i nd &C. r fsa
II wasSready TO so on and close his ea.esss
y IIs presented sas his hrat r'straAAs