The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-26

/ methods and who testified that copies
or all kilograms sent our were kept
telegram was sent; that, IL It had been
sent, he was Obliged to have known
" that since the testimony Of Mr..
the election which had not been de-
stroyed were kept and that he could
only find two kilograms, both Of which
were produced before the committee
and both OF which were signed WIN.
f. Rhea." Judge Rhea stated after
considering the matter that he had had
possible that Mr.. Stone had sent soma
kilograms, but in his conversation no
mention was made of Buchanan, and
that no improper suggestion ever pass
Stone to himself 1t seems, therefore,
that this telegram must have been
sent by some one Without the knowvl-
have been sent by one of his friends,
and 1t might have been sent by son,s
political enemy who desired to create
testimony against him and In favor OF
without deciding whether this ia
true or not. your committee Is OF opin-
ion that Judge Rhea never sent the
telsgraT to N. G Clark. ., Ct Hona ,,sH.
seen on the telephone pad In his store.
Character of Judge Rhen.
One of the specifications in the first
charges made against Judge Rhea by
Senator Noel wa, that he e wa an fnr
Judge Rhea excepted to this charge.
because 1t was too indefinite. Your
committee ruled out the charge, but
troduced affecting the truth and in
tegrity of Judge Rhea, the committee
being of opinion that the. prosecution
was entitled to show anything touch
every good man ought to have, and
which If 81 man does possess he cannot
be bad. Tho door was thus thrown
evidence from the Ninth District, and
from other portions OF the State. but
especially from that district, in which
Judge Rhea had waged at least three
paigns. and In which. from his very
nature, he must have made many de-
termined enemies as well as many de-
was introduced by the prosecution
character Of Judge .Rhea as man
Of truth and Integrity; and, when
Preston W. Campbell. OF Abingdon; r.
! NJ. Poage, of Abingdon; DR.. George
=. Wiley. Of Bristol: General James
dr da' of Bristol isa and Hon j. G. Bsars.
of Bristol. when the first witness was
j put on the stand and testified to Judge
Rhea's good character. counsel for the
they expected to introduce any proof
upon this point, and they declared that
they did not, and admitted that every
other one OF the witnesses summons
ed to testify as to character would
make the same statement that MI.
Preston W. Campbell had made-this.
in the opinion of the committee, was
prosecution that they could not intro
duce any evidence which would show.
or tend to show. that there was any
integrity of Judge Rhea. In addi-
ton to this evidence. the Governor
iof this commonwealth was summon
ed as a witness by the prosecution and
asked to produce all letters and pa
pers, bearing upin the appointment, OF
Judge Rhea as State Corporation Com
missioner.
Governor Produced Papers.
The Governor appeared with every
paper on his file and stated that while
he could not permit them TO be pub
lished because 1t would be against pub
lie policy and would prevent the Elk
eeutivc from receiving information In
other cases. yet that every paper in his
office, bearing in any way upon the
iappointment OF Judge Rhea, was open
to inspection of counsel for the prose
cution and tho defense. the Committee
on Confirmation anu every member OF
me Gedera Assembly Of virginia He
with Judge Rhea IN the Congress of
the United States for two terms; that
he had known him for many years;
that he was man of ability and char
acter. and that he appointed him be-
cause, of his legislative and judicial
experience and ability. and was will
Ing to risk the success of his admin
istration upon the manner in which
Judge Rhea should discharge the dr-
ties of his office as State Corporation
Commissioner. This testimony to the
character of Judge Rhea as a man OF
truth and integrity must sustain his
evidence In every case of conflict and
must add weight and force to every
thing to which he has testified in this
case.
Your committee has not gone as
fully into this testimony as it might
have done. but 1t was thought best to
give its findings In as short a compass
be before every member of the Joint
Assembly, who can examine 1t for him
SELF
Your committee finds that the
charges preferred against William Il.
Rhcn by j. c. Noel ere not sustained
by the evidence submitted to this COM
mittee, and that the evidence submit
ted Is not such az in our opinion dis
qualities William II. Rhcn from serving
ns member of the State Corporation
Commission.
All of which is most respectfully sub
mitted
TIIos. S. WEST,
EDWARD ECHoLs.
MERRITT T. COOKE,
VIM. Fl MANN.
GEO. 7. RISON.
INO. G. LESNER,