Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1911-10-22
THE RHEA CASE
COMES MONDAY
MORE THAN 100 WITNESS TO TIES.
THY IN CASE THAT IS At
TRACING STATES ATTENTION
MANY LEGAL FLIGHTS
Defendant Charged With Murder of
Constable Archard Near Dumas
On May IL.

criminal case that gives promise
OF being the most stubbornly fought
ill the history of Jefferson County.
will be called for trial in the Jeffer-
E, son circuit court on Monday morn
/ ing before Judge A. b. Grace. w.
;. Rhea. former student of the
State University, member of promi-
nent Little Rock family, and who up
to few months ago was employed
! by the Little Rock Street Railway
Company, will be placed on trial for
his life. Rhea is charged with MUIR
der in the first degree, under an in
dictment returned by the Desha Coun-
ty Grand Jury at Arkansas City a
few weeks ago. His alleged victim
was Vital Archard, constable of Far
reli, Ark, who was shot and killed
by mob near Dumas, Desha county,
on the morning of May 13, 1911, at
negro named Sanders, whom he was
taking back to Farrell to be tried on
a minor charge Rhea is accused in
the indictment of being the leader of
the mob which was composed of ne
groes.
The case was brought to Jeffer-
ol>n Of Of
the request of Rhea's attorneys, who
charged that the sentiment was so
strong in that county against their
client that it would haze been impos-
sible to secure fair and impartial
trial there.
In addition to the great interest
ing trial, many legal difficulties have
been aired III the court in Pulaski.
Jefferson. Saline. and Desha counties.
involving Rhea, giving the case un-
usual publicity and it is generally be-
leved that Arkansans are familiar
with the details surrounding it.
After Rhea' arrest he was brought
to the jefferson county Jail in this
city for safe keeping, the excite
ment cunning so high in Desha Coun-
tA that Judge Grace, fearing violence
to the prisoner, ordered him brought
here. Then began series of legal
battles which have involved former
fottx nf yC
who with Attorney w. B. Sorrell has
| been employed to assist District At
torney n. Havis Nixon in the pro-
secution.
Soon after Rhea was removed to
jefferson county for safe keeping by
order of Judge Grace his attorneys.
at that time former Gov. X. O. Pin
dali, Hon Samuel Taylor, of this city.
and Judge w. D. Jones, former pro-
kacuting attorney of this District, ap-
piled to Judge J. e. Martineau, the
chancellor at Little Rock, for writ
of habeas corpus seeking to release
their client on bail. The petition
was granted and the case heard early
in July. At that time several ne
groes who confessed that they were
members Of the mob that ASA ssinated
the officer and who have since been
indicted in the Desha circuit court
for murder, were taken to Little Rock
and gave testimony that Rhea was
present and the organizer and lead
er of the mob. Other damaging
testimony, including the declaration
OF the dying officer. was given that
Rhaa was the leader of the mob. At
the conclusion of this hearing Judge
Martineau denied the petition and re-
manded Rhea to the Jefferson coun-
ty jail without bail, where he has
since been confined, except when
taken to Arkansas City to be present
in court at the time his petition for
change of venue was presented.
). J. Hunt, one of the attorneys for
the State, who contracted with H. /
/ l.. Sternberg, Of this city. to take the |
testimony at the hearing before Judge
Martinsau, for he and his associate |
counsel was requested by attorneys
for the defense to furnish them a 1
copy of same. which he refused to do
An order from Judge Martineau d.
recting him to file copy of the evil
dence in his Court followed. This
order was resisted by counsel for the
State and when finally ordered by
Judge Martineau to file copy of this
testimony as part of the record in
tie case, Mr.. Hunt acting upon advice