Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1911-10-25

1t is expected that all of the negro
prisoners will be used as witnesses
Wednesday by the state.
The opening statement for the state
was made by District Attorney T. Ha-
Wis Nixon, while former Governor n.
o. Pindall presented the preliminary
statement for the defense.
Nixon's Opening Statement.
MI Nixon said that while a great
many witnesses had been brought to
testify in the case, that in all prob
ability many of them would not have
to be used, a great many being pres
ent to meet any contingency that
might arise from the proof offered
by TIC defendant in the case; that be-
fore the case would be finally submit
ted 10 them they would be instructed
by the court to the effect that if Rhea
! Was present at the time Archard WAS
killed he would be guilty as charged in
the indictment and that therefore while
! the testimony might be long drawn
out, the question Of whether or not
Rhea was with the mob oi negroes
i that took the life of Archard would
be the only question they would have
| to decide; that upon that question
the state would offer the dying de-
elaration Ct the slain officer, who said
ate: informed that he would die, that
5, Rhea was present with the mob that
took his life.
MI Nixon said that the only white
witness the defense would have to Off
SCI this evidence would be the testi-
nony Of the defendant himself In
corroborati1n, lie said, of the officers
dying statement the State would in
trCduce every negro that was a MEM
be4' OF the mob, who would testify
that Rhea organized and led the mob
and was present at the time the Off
Ger Nas shot down. In addition there
! Sanders prisoner whom TIE officer
had in charge and who is in no way
! connected With the tragedy, a disin
tees ed witness and witness, who,
! ii he would color his testifony at all,
ought to be n favor of Rhea for the
reason that it was he who was rescu-
ed by Rhea and ais mob from tae off
Ger; that this man would STATE posi-
lively that Rhea was present and fir
eel the first shot In addition 10 this
testlmcn. 10 c.zato will be able to
show, said the prosecutor, by sever
al other n2gl es. employees on the
LennoX place under Rhea, that they
were present aud beard Rhe:; tell the
negroes to get the mules, arm them
selves and to 20 and 1escua Sanders
from the officer. That to offset all
of this testimony the defense could
only offer four CIR five trusted negroes
:, OH the place 80 were remaining
10y al to Rhea and would undertake to
say that Rhea had nothing to do with
the mobbing of Archard, but each of
whom, Gu cross examination, would
have to admit if they testified here
as they did at former trial, when
this same matter was heard in court
at Little Rock, that it was at Rhea' S
suggestion that the mob formed, that
it was he who direced that the mules
be delivered to them and that it was
re who procured the guns with which
to arm them Mr.. Nixon said that Mr.
Rhea would deny any knowledge cf
the officers misfortune until the time
that he was placed under arrest the
next afternoon, and yet the state
would be able to show by witnesses,
white ones, and as good men as live
in any county on the face of the earth,
that early the follc wing morning and
several hours before Rhea was pub
licly charged with any connection with
the offense, that he had said that Ar
chard would never take another ne
gro from his place.
The District attorney challenged the
defense to show where any citizen of
Dumas, Desha county Or elsewhere,
that had endeav red to help the State
to ascertain what the true facts in
connection in this killing were, had
ever attempted to obtain from any
witness at any time anything except
the plain, straight, cold truth. While
on, the otherhand, he asserted, that in
all probability more than once during
the hearing would testimony get into
the case showing where witnesses had
attempted t. be tempered with and Of
fered brides in various forms to
change their testimony and suppress
the truth.
Mr. Nixon said that he took it that
if the jury believed Rhea present they