Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-03
In THE OLD DOMINION
RHEA HEARING THE SENSA-
TIoN-MANY AFTER MONEY.
Special Correspondence of The Star.

RICHMOND, Va, February 3, 1908.
The hearing of the charges against
Judge William F. Rhea of Bristol. former
state senator, former member of Congress.
former Judge of the city court of Bris-
toll and former member of the state cor
poration commission, has been the state
sensation for a week or more. That the
move is being made largely for political
effect is the belief Of the democrats. who
say that the charges were only made
at late day and then with no idea that
the majority in the general assembly
would for a moment delay his confirm
alton The democrats do not hesitate to
say that 1t was the hope Of the minority
that Judge Rhea would be confirmed and
that they would thus be able to go on
the stump and proclaim that when
charges were made the majority
would not dare to make an investiga-
ton This was practically the state
the senate few days ago when the mat
ter was being discussed on the resolu-
ton of Senator Noel to request the gov
ernor to transmit to the general assembly
all the correspondence in the case.
The senate refused to concur in the
demand. and the committee hearing the
case ordered that the general charges
should be made specific. This was done,
Joshua F. Bullitt Of Big Stone Gap. who
has repeatedly represented the republi-
cans IL. conteSted-election cases, appear
ing as counsel for the prosecution.
The Rhea Charges.
The charges now are that Rhea was
guilty of conniSing at and instigating
election frauds, altering returns and gen.
orally using his efforts to stifie the will
Of the people of his district; that while
a member of the state senate he managed
to have census taken of the population
of the city of Bristol, had fraudulent
returns made. had the city Incorporated
and a judge provided and that he had
himself elected to the judgeship, know
ing that the city of Bristol was not en-
titled to a judge. and that he accepted a
bride in connection with murder trial
had before him. resulting in the escape
of LIZ man accused of the crime.
Judge Rhea is being defended by three
lawyers-all of whom have volunteered
to represent him without any cost what
ever. They are Judge A. A. Phlegar.
formerly of the supreme court bench;
r. Tate Irvine of Big Stone Gap and
B. f. Buchanan of Marion, former
member of the state senate. Judge Rhea
sits with his counsel and confers with
them in the examination of witnesses.
The hearings served to bring great
crowds to the senate chamber and close
transpired. Judge Rhea. though he is
being attacked by many who have de-
clared their allegiance to The party with
which he is identified, appears to have
great many friends notwithstanding
the impression that 1.-The democrats of
his own district do not desire to see him
on the corporation bench" He is re-
ceiving many letters bearing on the case.
and there are reports that the p ersonal
character of at least one man who has
been mentioned in the prosecution will
be brought into review.
Wild Scramble for Money.
With the converting of the general as
sembly there has come to the city from
every section of the state delegations
who want money for various purposes.
The members of both houses are being
.mportuned and pleaded with to give to
this or to that institution more money
than 1t has gotten In the past. Not one
institution in the state that Is not here
for that purpose. The clamor Is great
and the representatives of the institutions
are persistent. That many of them will
be disappointed is more than likely. for
there Is a disposition to do something
for the state at large without SO much
regard for special interests.
To he gin with there is already deter