Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-06-29
Condemned Man Tells How He Was Convicted Through
 Conspiracy of Negroes.
DONAGHEY IS FIRM
Great Interest Manifested in Young Man Case at Little R0ck---
 Want a Heprieyes

seems to be all on the side of w. $. | Rhea, the young white man sentenc- cG to hang July 12 for the murder of Vital .1.2ilard, a Saline county con- stable near Dumas May II, 1911, ln l4tllc Rock, though the opposite dp- paals to be the case in the part of the | state where the crime was committed |
 In Little Rock where the people are or innocence of Rhea at the present time, they being of the opinion that | Gov. i,onaghey should not permit him to nang until after the four negroes who are jointly charged with him have been tried, and upon whose evidence Rhea was convicted. So great is this belief that some very strong pres sure from unexpected sources have been brought to bear on Gov. Dona- ghey and a reprieve for at least 90 days is expected. That would delay tho execution and permit the negroes 10 be tried
 Rhea has stated that all he wants is to have the negroes brought to trial, resting assured that if this is done something will develop to show that he WAS not at the place when the crime was committed, and he will thus have his neck saved
 If l have to hang [ will go on the gallows and tell the people that l was not with the gang of negroes which murdered Archard, and time will prove what l say said Rhea Friday afternoon in the yard of the Arkan- sas penitentiary, Where he is allow ed almost as much freedom as though lie was without the prison walls.
 "l was convicted for killing man in whom l had no interest, and bore no grievance against, all on negro testimony. This testimony was given by negroes who were interested in the victim, and who were at the time at outs with me. 1t has been claImed that Archard came to the plantation of which l was manager to arrest Grant Sanders, negro farm hand and take him away, which so aroused me that l organized the gang oI negroes, followed Archard and murdered him in the road.
 "Now let us see what interest I had in this negro Sanders. l was plan i tation manager Sanders was a con- sumptive negro fiddler. wanted farm hands, not musicians, and told San ders some days before the murder that 1 did not want nim on the farm as he could not make crop and 1 did not have room for loafers. Would I be suspected of trying to prevent the taking away of negro I was trying myself to run off the place?
 Major Davis, another of the ne- groes who testified against me, and who is charged with the murder of Archard also, had a motive for the crime. He is big buck negro weigh ing 200 pounds, and many times I have seen him shove back his big hat and show scar on his shaved head, and say it was caused by a blow from Saline county officer who he intend ed to get some day. Archard was the officer Sanders and Major Davis were also from Saline county, and they were bad men.
 This Davis negro became mad at me because l made one of his rela- tives leave the plantation for shooting craps and then cutting up my negroes when they won from him. He told that he was going to get Archard and that he had way of getting out of it. Davis threatened other relatives, after the killing when they said that l was not there at the time the crime was committed. | .'No, l am not sufficient coward to attack and kill man like Archard was murdered, but 1 can die like a man if l had to, though innocent of the crime
 Former Governor Pindall calls on GOV. EOnaghey every day and lays be- fore him something new in connection with the case. Gov. Donaghey states that he has not determined to change in any manner his refusal to com mute Rhea, or grant a respite.
 The sentiment in Desha county against Rhea, is not that the majority | z but they think it is time someone was being punished for a murder, after so many have escaped. .Rhea says this is another case where he is unfortun- ate, his trial coming off at a time when the people were inflamed over