Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-06-18
RHfA'S FATE IN GOVERNORS HANDS Takes Petition For Commu- tation of Death Sentence
 Under Advisement. HUNT FIGHTS PETITION Many Relatives of Archard and Rhea
 Both Present at the
 Hearing.
HUNT FIGHTS PETITION

 day session in which he listened to arguments on both sides of the case Gov Donaghey late this afternoon took the application of w. s. Rhea under sentence for murder in the first degree, for communication to life imprisonment, under advisement He will render an opinion about the last of the week.
 The Rhea case is the most import ant murder hearing to come before Gov. Donaghey this year. It is being stubbornly contested, there being strong legal talent on each side.
 Former Governor X. o. Pindall ar gued in behalf of the petition all Monday morning, and Havis Nixon, prosecuting attorney, followed in the afternoon for the state. Attorney Sid Hunt of Pine Bluff, also for the state followed and Col. Geo. George w. Mur- phy closed with a most eloquent plea for the life of Rhea, giving a very clear review of the case, and pointing out the many reasons why executive clemency should he extended. The hearing was largely attended by friends of Vital Archard, the murder ed man, from Farrell, Hensley, Red field, and other places. The mother of the murderedb man, accompanied by number of relatives, sat on one side of the room during the argu- ments, while a number of relatives of Rhea, sat upon the other. There was much weeping among the sisters and other women relatives of Rhea during the recital of the evidence.
 Rhea, plantation foreman on the Lennox place, near Dumas, was con- victed at Pine Bluff for the murder of Vital Archard, deputy constable and deputy sheriff of Saline county. Ar chard went to the Ien1iox place and arrested Grant Sanders, a negro want ed in his county on charge of as- sault with intent to kill. The arrest was made at the instance of the ne- gros bondsman, who was afraid he was not going to appear when his case was called for trial.
 The prosecution claimed that Rhea angered at the action of the officer, instructed several negroes on the plantation to follow Archard, who was walking 12 miles with his pris- oner to Dumas, and take the negro away from him. It is claimed that Rhea accompanied the negroes and when the officer was Overtaken, that a fight ensued in which Rhea and Jim Hubbard, negro, shot the officer down. Archard died the day follow ing on an operating table, and in his dying statement, accused Rhea of the crime. Rhea has always maintained his innocence, and claimed that he knew nothing of the case until the day following.
 Five negroes were arrested at the time, charged with being accomplices in the crime, Matt Tucker, Joe Berry, Major Davis and Robert Johnson. Jim Hubbard, who was accused of assist ed the following day. Sanders who was the following day. Sanders. who was one of the leading witnesses against Rhea, recently died in the jail at Ark ansas City of tuberculosis There was a rumor that the defense, in the hearing Monday would produce a dy- ing statement from Sanders, in which he testified that he had not told the truth on the witness stand, and that Rhea was not at the place of the kill ing. No such affidavit was produced however, the defense filing state ments made by other negroes confin- cd in the Arkansas City jail. in which they testify that they had heard the negroes charged with complicity in the Archard murder, talking over the case, and overheard them state that  Rbea was absent at the time of tk. killing, but tl.ey had to testify that he was there in order to protec. them. S.. Ives.
 The s:aIe 1i'Gu witt Eot. DbnaghaS < q dying .;tas,ment made bv Sander: il which l.c reiterated thc testimony he gave nj the witness stand ana witch WIS $, damaging 70 lhr case of Rhea. This statement was wilne ssrd by the jailar.
 Rhea wls :u .merly J residen' of Little ROCK and for severn. years vas employed by the Little Rock street |railway company. Many of his friends ffromsl lthis scity! attended the hearing. khe,. IS row n the senitentiary Hs is young man, being but 30 years of age. and considered one of the best