The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-08

In all the history Of the Virginia
Capitol there has probably been deliv.
cred within It's walls no more terrific
arratgnment OF any person, great or
small. than was contained In the speech
of Captain Bullitt attacking the record
OF Judge Rhea, of Bristol. whose at.
ness to serve upon the State Corpora-
ton Commission Is to be decided by
the General Assembly's Joint Commit.
tee on Conhrma ton.
All the real heat OF the investiga- Il
ton appeared to have been reserved
for the argument of tte case, and it
cume out last night In the final
speeches OF Hon. R. Tate Irvine and
Captain Bullitt. in advocating their
respective sides. Denouncing alleged
Democratic election methods in the II
Ninth District. Captain Bullitt, who has s,-a z
practically conducted the prosecution!t3
finally made solemn and earnest pros.
test against Judge Rhea's appointments
to a position on the State Corporationk
Commission. to which he declared hafg
was wholly unfit. Mr.. 1rvine's defensa-
was strong and ably presented: Caps
tain Bullltt's arraignment of the nomi-
nee was intense and bitter.
After hearing several additional WITT
nesses In the afternoon. and all the d
argument at a later session, the COM
mittee adjourned until Tuesday night
at o'clock. to awaitsthe return Of Mr..
Ianney, one OF the members who was
called homo by sickness in his family,
and also to have the typewr!tten evil
dence at hand before considering the
matter finally. There are rumors OF
the probability of two reports by the
committee, but the members will, OF
course. not talk, and this Is mere
matter of speculation.
Sessions Yesterday.
The committee reconvened at 3
o'clock yesterday afternoon. and sew
Among these We're Captain II. c. Joslyn.
OF Lee; L. L. Bays Of Russell. and i
George u. Davis. Of Bristol. now a.
lumber merchant. but formerly Judge
Rhea's private secretary when the
latterwas in ongress. Two or three
recalled, but there was nothing OF #
striking Importance In any OF the tes-
timony on the final day Of the hear
ing. 3
All interest centred in the argument
of the case, and 1t was handled by as
both sides with marked eloquence and
ability. 4sss
Senator Noel opened for the prose-
cution in speech in which he revtew-S
ed his charges briefly, and to some 6ex-s
tent discussed the evidence He closed
Just before the afternoon session adj
journed. and when the committee res
convened at O'Clock Mr. Irvine spoke n
for one hour and forty-ttVe minutes for
the defense. Mr.. Irvine was earnest
and eloquent In his discussion of the
evidence and In Ills defense Of Judge
Rhea, and apparently made a. strong
Impression upon TIE committee and
the great crowds on the floor and IN
the galleries. VI
His main contentious were that the
charges were made for political effeot:
that they had not been proven. and
that IL they had. Judge Rhea would FL
not ask for contirmation. He paid an
eloquent tribute to the character az a
Judge tRhea in closing, and expressed
had been sustained by the evidence
against either his private or public
life.
The closing speech OF Captain Rul-
litt. as stated. was one OF the fercest
and most biting heard In the Capttols
In many DAYS He did not spare Judge
Rhea. or w. u, Smith, or M. G. Clark
or i. II. $Ashworth. and denounced I'm
vigorous language the alleged election
methods lna3the Ninth District. The
perorationof CAPTAIN Bnlltt, In which
he paid a handsome tribute to tls III
Virginia judiciary In this and other
Rhea's35 alleged character be not Dut sS 81