Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-03-06

NBNh July HSSiotOuo 10 apparent. Appel
late courts have set aside verdicts for
the reason that jurors had access to
newspapers and were therefore liable
to be influenced, albeit unconsciously.
The courts recognize that when sur
rounded by a hostile and outspoken
public sentiment an accused person can
not be given that fair and impartial
trial guaranteed by our bill of rights.
and frequently grants change of venue.
Juries in criminal cases are denied
access to newspapers lest they be in
fiuenced or intimidated by public senti-
ment, and verdicts have been set aside
because of communications to Jurors or
of access by them to biased press re-
ports or arguments. In the case at bar
citizen is appearing to answer grave
charges filed by members of the oppos-
ing political party, such charges affect
ing not merely his intellectual fitness,
but his character and his moral equip
ment sfor the duties of responsible
official position. Ostensibly all that
any one demands is justice, not perse-
cution nor injustice, intentional or
unintentional.
We submit that in it's effects the
publication by the Journal of the
speech of Mr.. Bullitt is to prejudice
public sentiment and by its reflex in
fluence and coercive power to bias
and sway the minds of the men sitting
as judges or jurors in the case.
Whether it was so intended or not. we
do not undertake to say.
RHEA'S CONFIRMATION LOGICAL AND
RIGHT.
Petersburg Index-Appeal.l
The vote of nearly two to one by
which the nomination of Judge Rhea as
member of the State Corporation
Commission was confirmed, last Thurs
day night, by the General Assembly
was the logical and rightful outcome of
the testimony submitted to the commit
tee that investigated the charges against
him. Even the members who voted
against the confirmation were unable
to show that the charges of political
immortality preferred by Senator Noel
had been sustained, and their opposition.
consequently, was based on vague
rumor and current report organized and
circulated by the personal and political
enemies of Judge Rhea. We do no.
know Judge Rhea personally and are
not aware that we have ever seen him.
therefore, the views of this paper are
not influenced by any considerations of
personal partiality or fractional favor.
We are entirely disinterested, EXCEPT in
the cause of right and justice, when
we say that Judge Rhea has not had a
square deal in this affair, and that the
action of the minority in ignoring the
sworn testimony before the committee.
ana putting on record the votes of 46
Senators and Delegates in condemna-
ton of his fitness for the office to
which Governor Swanson had nominated
him, was indefensible, outrageous and
disgraceful. The gravest of the
charges against Judge Rhea had
already been investigated by a Repub-
hcan congressional committee and dis
missed as groundless, and a reputable
legislative committee by an overwhelm-
ing vote of nine to one had reached the
same conclusion. But in the face of
these facts, forty-six members of a
Virginia legislature did not hesitate to
put themselves on record for all time as
accepting crossroads rumors and par-
tisan malice in preference to the sworn
testimony taken by a regularly consti-
tuted legislative committee. 1t is adj
mitted on all sides that the evidence
tailed to sustain the charges. Even
the newspapers that clamored for the
rejection of the nomination conceded
this early in the investigation, and Sem
ator Noel himself, realizing the weak
ness of the testimony before the
committee, sought to interrupt and
delay the vote at the last moment.
when the General Assembly's time was
limited and precious, by the claim of
later discovered, evidenced And IN
make the case all the more astounding
and atrocious, Speaker Byrd is accused
of applying the gag law because he had
the courage to do his duty, and would
not waste the time of the session bv tenn
porizing with the dilatory and obstruct-
i've tactics of the minority. Even Gov
ernor Swanson, one of the purest and
highest men in the public life of this
country, does not escape censure for
nominating man of whose character
and ability he had ample knowledge bv
intimate official and personal associa-
ton, and who has since passed through
one of the bitterest and most vindicitive
on record unscathed and
Altogether. it is one of the most re-
markable episodes in the political his
tory of Virginia, and the ma jority of 2
Democratic General Assembly deserves
commentator for standing bv the
record of the testimony and the report
or Its committee. Judge Rhea's con-
tirmation was logical and right. He
has the ability and the courage neces-
sary to the important duties that will
devolve on him, and as a member of
the State Corporation Commission we
have not doubt that he will Justify
the confidence and expectations of
Governor Swanson and the Democratic
in the General Assembly.
BOAT NOTES.
Capt. o. w. Hudson, of police steamer
Accomac, is home at Kinsale for this
week, Capt. A. b. Hudeins sunnlvino