Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-01-30
Rhea's case strenqthencd.

"(Signcd) }. G. NOEL
Rhea's Case strengthened.
Throughout all of today. and To.
night the joint committee OF the two
Houses 81 tho legislature Oh copiirmn.
Mons, listened = tic wlnnsliugs vi
lawyers for and AGAINST the conilrlnh
lion or Judge William T. l,hea. OF
Bristol as u member Of the state
corporation commission. While noih-
ing OF . tangible or definite nature
took pl0co during the extended hear,
ing, 1t Is said tonight that .,enator
Noeis failure TO fix definite charges,
and his tendency to deal With gener-
altilCs has greatly strengthened
judge Rhea's case Tho open man
ner in which his attorneys yielded to
ilc full investigation of charges, are
decidedly In his favor
ATTORNEY Built for The prosecution,
TO tho surprise OF all who have watch
ed the case from It's beginning, again
asked for continuance at the con
cltsion of toduy's hearing In order
that he might further consult with
his witnesses, and determine the lncnr
nor In which he viii conduct his case.
Attorneys Tor the defense raised no
objection 10 the continuance, rs Bull
ltt promised to push the Investigation
as rapidly as possible. beginning to-
morrow afternoon at 3 o'clock.
Judge Phclgar who. until tonight
has been Judge Rhca's leading coun-
SOL retired. stating that he had cn-
arguments to fulfill. He win not np.
pear In tho case again. Tho commit
tees ruling that the defense must con-
fine itself 10 specific oharges has rul-
cd ont several OF the most severe
charges which might otherwise have
consumed q great deal Of time OF the
investigating committee, CHIEF among
which ia that in winch Judge Rhea
was accused OF having AIDED and abet
ted certain eleAaon frauds in The
Ninth district.
Frequently during the healIg 10
day thu invest iga.ion was checked
while the committee retired to consid
or and settle some question which had
sprung up between the eopposmg at
tornys, and once or twfco the -
yers themselves retirsd to consult
privately among themselves. The
time In favor of Judge Rhea's attor.
neys, they always arguing that Bull
rtts charges did not SPECIFY acts
committed by Judge Rhea, Six Of
the Witnesses summoned from South
west Virpniit wcns discharged tonight.
and will leave nj once for home, never
having spoken word in open invest;-
gauon-
In recommending the discharge of
the wltnesass, all of whom We're sum /,
moned for tho prosecution. Senator /
Noel explained that they were brought
to Richmond TO testify as 10 the all
legged frauds, and that 1t would be uss,
less TO keep them longer rs the com
mtttce had ruled that no evidence
would he heard along these lines. Tho
committee urged upon the attorneys
the necessity OF bringing the investi-
aiion TO n speedy conclusion.
II the bill proposirg TO tax forcisnl
corporations, which was offered In the
House yesterday tw Speaker Byrd. Is
passed the annual revenues of the
commonwealth will he icreased by AZ
least 100000 probably MUCK more
In order to Insure success IN hisl
ngh; Speaker Byrd has associaaed
pelegate Charles A Johnston. of,
Clristlaushlrg with ilimyelr as CO.
patron OF rhs lasaSurc. Che two are
detarnduei 80 make Iha bill go'
ihroogh
Taking OF the matter today. Speak
er pyrd said.
Section 10 OF the tax bill imposes
n franchise tax on all domestic cor
polutions-,tfat Us TO say ,corpora-
tons created by the laws of virginia.