Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-30
SlEl GROWS SPECIFIC AT INQUIRY
Judge Rhea Faces Accusation of Be.
ing Considered an "unserupulous
Politiciar-counseI Insists Charges
Are still Too eencral-"unwrttcn
Po'itiean"-counscI Insists carses
Law to be Made Law.
lspccial 10 The paIly pressl

Especial To The Daily Press)
RICHMOND. VA. Jan. 22-Senator
Noel pres euted the following hastily
hastily prepared charges against
Judge Rhca today. in compliance with
. resolution framed by the committee
sitting in secret:
Richmond. Va. Ian. -. Ms.
TO the Joint Committee on Connrma-
ton:
"Gentlcmcn--Pur 10 The rcso
utica OF the committee requiring that
| shall make more specific the charr.
IS which have preferred against W.
,, Rhca in obicctnE 20 the conGrma.
lion of his nomination 10 The state
corporation commission, respeclfllv
state that I object to such confirmation
On The following grounds:
Il. In the year 1859 or 1890 a move.
ment IVES inaiignrated to establish a
corporation Court fer the town Of
Bristol. Va. Judge Thea was at the
head OF this movement. Under the
law. such Z. court could not be estab.
lishel unless there was as many Of
1000 -inhHf'.nnts In the town Prnvi.;.
ION was made for taxing the census
of Bristol. Judge Rhea had charge
Of the taking OF said csnsus. The
said census was fraudulently taken.
and resulted in tho report there
We're more tnnn 5000 inhabitants in
Bristol. and n Corporation Court was
established for Bristol, and w. F.
Rhca was elected Judge thereof
Il charge that there were not more
than 2.aG9 inhabitants. as was shown
h,- sbn rrf
and that Judge Rhea well knew nj that
time that the census first above refer.
red % was taken that there We're not
ANYTHING like as many rs five thous.
and Inhabitants IN BRISTOL and was n
party 10 the fraudulent taking thereof.
Or Mt leas; knew that the same had
been taken fraudnlertly. but he. never
theless. accepted The benefit thereof.
and accepted the iudgeship OF the sal!
cour'. which was established pursuant
10 said fraudulent census.
80. charge that on the trial Of ,le
case of the Commonwealth VS. Jordan
Judge Rhea delivered a very rcmarka
BILE decision. which resulted in setting
said Jordan free: tina; the said decis-
ion created a storm irdignalicn and
criticism. and many ncople nj the t,mc
believed and charged that said decis
Ion had been procured by bribery.
do not pretend 10 --ow. and do nc.
contend. that these charges were jus
titiable. but insist that Judge altHuf
whom such charges have, been made.
is uriit for a position on the state
corporation commission.
3. charge that in tile races for
Congress between Judge Rhca and
General James A. Walker. in 1875 and
1900. tho Democratic party in tho
Ninth District Of Virginia was guilty
of numerous election frauds which in
creased the vote of Judge Rhea ard
decreased the vote Of General Wal
kcr; that Judge Rhea aided. ahctted
and eneouraccd some Of these frauds
and knew of many othe~r: that he nc
cepted the benefit OF said frauds and
accepted Ills scat in Congress in both
The said elections. VOL knowing that
General Walker had been really elect
ed; and | further charge that the
| frauds referred to wsrc of such n
nature as To show that anyone who
participated in them. or knowingly ac-
cepted thc benefits thereof. Is unG, for
the high petition Ia which Judge
Rhca aspircs. and further charge
that whether this be true or not. IL is
The opinion and belief OF numerous,
persons throughout The Ninth District
| that tho matters above referred TO do
render him unfit for said position. and
this alone should lie sufficient to pre-.
vent his confirmation
H. charge further, that in the
race for Congress between Judge
Ithca ard Colonel c. Slemn, in 1902.
the unofficial reports which. on the
night OF the election aud the day
after The election. were received at tho
headquarters of both political parties.
showed that Colonel Slemp had been
elected by n small maior,ty-to.wit:
about 400; that thcreupon n concerted
movement was inauguratcd " Judge
| Rlea and some OF his followers tn
change this result; that in Scott
county the certificates OF the Judges
ct election We're mutilated and forged
l