Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1911-10-27


a planter living mile and a half
from Rhea, said he was telephoned to
keep watch on Rhea until the posse
: rode over to the LennoX place Sunday
morning as if visiting him and dis
eussed matters pf general interest
with him until the posse arrived. On
cross exam nation Mr. Massey said
that Rhea's reputation for peace and
quiet in Desha county had been bad.
Bert Holmes testified that he was a
saloonist at Dumas, that Archard
was in his place after the arrival of
the noon tran on the Saturday of the
> killing and that Archard was sober.
Steve &c. Smith, used in rebuttal, said
he was in Dr. lsom's office from the
time he was carried there until he
was placed on the operating table.
While on a couch he talked with Ar
chard and the latter told him that he
; was attacked by a mob, led by Rhea;
that he thought him perfectly rational
and Archard, whom he had known ror
three years, readily recognized him.
When the attorneys asked that the
defendant be sworn as witness in
the case, the crowd in the court room
leaned forward to hear what the ac-
cused man had to say in his behalf
Rhea spoke clearly and distinctly and
seemed little disturbed because of the
He said on the day of the tragedy he
had gone to Dumas on business an.
returned to the plantation at about
dark that night. While at Dumas he
met Archard, who introduced himself,
and who told him he had a warrant
for Sanders. Rhea told the officer
ready to return late that afternoon he
would carry him out and gladly as
s st him in arresting the negro; that
he later learned the officer had gone
and admitted that he telephone Dick
inson to get Sanders word to stay in
hiding until he returned He admit
ted that he asked the magistrate at
Dumas some questions relative to his
r ght TO prevent hands from being
taken from his place, but denied that
he had told John Ellis or Bridwell
that he had about made up his mind
to take his shotgun and hold Sanders !
Rhea said that when he arrived home
that night he found Archard waiting
with Sanders and that he told Sanders
he would do nothing further for him
when the officer. prisoner and his
bondsman left. Rhea said he then
went to his house, where Matte Stew
onson, Rosa ThGmas Nettie Riley
and Pinney Davis, all negroes, We're.
He said he did not leave the house
any more that night; that sometime
later the Thomas and Riley women
aud Davis left. Rhea said he did not
know that any mules were taken from
his lot that nigh tnor that anybody
had gone 10 interfere with the Off
Ger: that he did not see any of his
negroes, after their return from the
scene of the tragedy that night and
his lot that night nor that anybody
bal u }.
afternoon, when he was placed under
arrest.
On cross examination Rhea admit
ted, that during his short stay on the
Lennox place he had driven Ed Da-
Wis from it, had struck another negro
with jug and had taken a shot at /,
third for interfering with his business.
Rhea was emphatic in all of his de-
malls.
The final arguments VII be tmade
oday, following instructions 40 be
given to the jury this morning when
court convenes. All witnet Uses have
testified. with one exception 1t is ex-
pected that Col. Murphy Fol. Taylor
and former Governor Phi dali will
speak for the defense and TIL Messrs.
solrells, Nixon and Hunt wi all be
beard in the presentation of the \state's
-ase.