The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-29
DEFEND JUDGE RHEA
Friends Aid Him Before the
Virginia Legislature.
ELECTION FRAUDS ARE DENIED
Bristol Man Seeks Place OE state
Corporation Commission and the
Question of His Fitness VIII Re
Fought Out on the Floor of the
HOuse-NIatter Up Again To-day.

Special TO The Washington Herald.
Richmond Va. Jan. 2S-Judge VIII
lam F. Rhea. Of Bristol, faced those
who would thwart his nomination as a
member Of the State corporation commits
sion before the joint committee on CON
irmation Of the two houses of the leg
islatuTe in open session in the senate
chamber this afternoon. but on account
Of the fact that the opposition attorney
got into a dispute as 10 the extent OF
evidence which should be held for or
against the accused. no witnesses were
heard. and. after having voted down a
motion for continuance, the committee
went into executive session adtourning
afterward until tomorrow morning.
Judge Rhea was surrounded by his
friends, Judge Arthur A Phelegar, OF
Christiansbufg; r. Tate Irvine. Big
Stone Gap, and B. Franklin Buchanan,
Of Marion. who had voluntarily consented
TO act as his counsel during the proceed
ings without compensation. Senator Noel
first stating his charges. continued in
saying that he did not know that Judge
Rhea had employed counsel. and that for
this reason he was totally unprepared 10
go into the ease
Many Witnesses Absent.
He further stated that two-thirds Of his
witnesses were absent. and that IN justice
10 the people of Virginia he thought Il
but proper that a continuance be granted
until tomorrow. He said. too, that J. F..
Bullitt of Big Stone Gap. had consented
70 listen to all witnesses. and had prom
ised, if he thought the evidence sufficient.
10 conduct the prosecution. Only three
members Of the committee voted for the
continuance, and it seemed that the evil
dsnce would be gone into this afternoon.
when Judge Phlegar, in stating the case
said that the charges against Judge Rhea
had nothing TO do with the election frauds
alleged TO have taken place in Southwest
Virginia, unless it would be shown that
the accused was personally guilty Of such
frauds
He asked that the committee not go
into the frauds, as they did not bear upon
the case at issue, and since the said
frauds had been thoroughly investigated
by a committee in Congress, when Judge
Rhea was acquitted by hostile jury.
Wants Full Investigation.
Senator Noel, in response, said that he
did not think that Judge Phlegar should
be allowed to outline the method Of his
defense. and stated that I'm justice 70
everybody concerned he wished tho mat
ter investigated 10 the very bottom. It
was at this point that Bullitt. counsel Of
the prosecution, first took the floor. He
stated that he did not desire to take any
part in the investigation until no had
talked with the witnesses. as the charges
ne had heard talked of We're merely mat
ters Of hesrsay. He said openly that he
knew nothing Of the bribery charges. and
that IL was asking an impossibiliity for
the committee TO say that he should name
and fix the specific connection which
Judge Rhea had with the several charges.
This committee is a quasi judicial
body. he said, and I think when the
question comes up 1t viii be time to fix
limitations. This case viii be largely a
matter Of circumstantial evidence"
In response, Irvine said: We issue a
general denial that Judge Rhea knew any,
thing Of the several charges"
The committee considered among Them
selves for a few minutes in regard 10 the
question Of limiting the evidence. and a
moment later adjourned until tomorrow.
IN the meantime sitting in executive ses-
sion.