The Newark journal., 1908-06-19
LEWIS RHOTON RESIGNS
III Health Given as Cause of His
Resignation as Prosecutor

AtSy Aoa TIE Slxtn 1uQlclaI district 10
Acting Governor X o. Pindall, the
resignation taking effect Immediately.
Shortly afterwa9d Governor Pindall
appointed Roy D. Campbell, a we'll
known Little Rock attorney, to sue
coed Mr.. Rohton and act as prose
cutting attorney until a successor is
elected and takes Office.
The news of Mr. Rhoton's resigna-
ton caused general sensation Sat
urday night when it became known
that the prosecuting attorney who
has made history in Arkansas" in
the prosecution of the celebrated
Doodle cases, and who has just been
renominated TO his office, had re.
signed. 1t was generally believed
| throughout Little Rock after the news
of his resignation had reached every
quarter, that Mr.. Rhoton intended 10
succeed T. NJ Mehaffy as attor-
ney for the Iron Mountain in Ar
kansas, who is to resign that position.
1T is rumored that you will take
WI. ~hthdiy place DIS dtlOlueY 1Oi
the Iron Mountain in Arkansas. Is
there a basis for such report?"
was asked Mr. Rhoton
There is no truth in the rumor,'' re-
piled Mr.. Rhoton. You can say that
do not intend to take Mr. Mehaffy's
place"
The possible action of the Sixth
| judicial district convention, should
| Vinson and his friends claim that the
| convention should declare Vinson the
nominee, was discussed Saturday
night. Politicians say that there is
no actual rule that Vinson in the pres
| ent case and under existing cireum-
| stances should be declared the nom
| inee, but they expressed the belief
| that Vinson would have the right to
ask the convention to take such action
aid that the convention might give
| such a request serious consideration.
In case the convention refuses to
declare Mr.. Vinson the nominee a
special primary election will be called.
Mr. Campbell is the only announced
candidate at the special primary cleo
ton, but it is believed that Mr.. Vim
son would be candidate. No other
names have been mentioned.
The record of Mr.. Rhoton as prose
cutting attorney attracted attention
| throughout the country as a result of
the sensational legislative Doodle
cases and his antitrust prosecutions.
Mr. Rhoton entered the prosecuting
attorneys Office as deputy October 81,
| 1904, and his career since has been
one of almost ceaseless activity. In
addition to the usual work connected
with the Office he has handled others
| of wide Importance and interest. Out
Of he entire lot of legislative Doodle
cases and cases connected with them
he has secured five convictions, namely,
| Chapline, Butt, Gross, Cumnoek and
Faucette; two hung juries in the case
of Covington and one in the case
against Butt. Representative DuIaney
and Senator CGvington were acquitted.
| Mr. Rhoton prosecuted and convicted
the international Harvester Company,
| the Smith Premier Typewriter Com
| pany, the Remington Company, the
Hartford Fire Insurance Company and
| "a other insurance companies, five
cotton oil companies, the Hammond
| Packing Company and other COM
| panies, of violation of the antitrust
| law The harvester company was fined
| $4,000, the Two typewriter companies
ebout ST 900 each. the Hartford Fire
Insurance Company $4,000, the oath
| other insurance companies amounts
ranging from 81 $50 to 5000, each of
| the cotton oil companies $3.50, and
! the Hammond Packing Company $10.-
600. Mr.. Rhoton also convicted the
Iron Mountain railroad of giving free
| transportation The railyoad was fined
/ $4,000 He also convicted the Rock
Island railroad of violation of the
| tull-crew act, passed by the last legis-
latme. requiring all trains of % or
more cars. operated on railroads of so
or more miles in length, to have three
hrakemen or more The case was re-
Gently appealed 10 the Arkansas Su-
preme Court and the /lding of the
lower court was affirmed The result
of Mr. Rhotons fight will result in
the estimated expenditure on the part
OF the leading railroads of Arkansas
of about 100000 per year.
Mr. Rhoton also prosecuted and con
victed on many charges of poolroom
gambling and racing. He also con-
victed the Home Water Company of
failure properly to assess its property.
He convicted an election Judge of ex-
cutting fraud at an election, changing
/ ballots.