The Crittenden press., 1920-07-27
JUDGE RHEA FACES
"FEDERAL CHARGE
John y. Rhes. Arrested Al Russell.
vile. is Accused Of Sending
Obscene Letter.

Russeilville. ky.---Judge John S.
Rhea Of the Circuit Court at Russell
vile WAS arrested this afternoon on
. United States warrant. charging
specifically the use Of, the United
States mails TO send an obscene let
ter. His arrest is the elimination Of
= feud VI political inception that be-
gan with the birth Of the Russellville
Messenger,
Judge Rhes was taken before Unit.
81 States Commissioner George S.
Hardy, who released him under $500
bond for preliminary hearing Thurs
day Ih0ff1mg in Bowling Green. His
brother. Thomas s. Rhea signed the
bond
The arrest was made by United
States Marshall A. T. Chsney.
Logan county has long been known
as q democratic stronghold in Ken
tucky. but early In 1919 J. +. Logan
returned To Russellville from over
seas with the rank Of captain and
with A. NJ. Herndon started an in
dsps ndent newspaper, the Russell
Vile Messenger.
RhsAs Are Political Powers
The RheAs have been political
leader in Logan county for many
years. and term after term. Judge
John S Rhes was returned TO the
Circuit bench. Thomas s. Rhea, his
brother. served As Election Commits.
sioner' ssar In and year out and dur
ing the hist gubernstorial race was
chPirmsn Of the Democratic Cam
psign Committee.
That newspaper, other than one
syowedly Democratic should expect
to'live In Logan county. caused much
Commen, and Democrats freely ex.
prsssed themselves rs believing the
pSbsr financed by Republican money
wts started for the specific purpose
Of getting the Rheas." The Mes.
sspKer in one Of its first editorials
uudsr the caption, What VIII Be the
Pplicy Of The Messenger" tried 10
answer these rumors. the editorial be.
Ing { dsnunciation Of Judge John s.
RAsA ard hls brother
A dSy ofso' later Mrs. Herndon
reSelv.s m. q verne :lst,sr dsnounc.
int her and her husband and part.
nsf. The letter was unsigned, but
the editors Of the Messenger accused
Judge Rhes Of its authorship. Sew.
srpl days later Judge Rhea called
the grand jury into session. read the
editorial and declared from the bench
that II the charges were true, NJ
connpt a. Judge should be impeached,
:fpxhtxbys. Age Jsdieted.
but. y they. ars. not true the pub.
liS Shers Of this paper should be In
dieted." he told the grand jurors. In
dietments were returned at once
sgAinst Csptain,Joxan and Mr.. and
Mys. HerhdoM: The following day
Ms. Herndon was thrown In Jail,
1risl after trial Of the case was
called until finally II was thrown out
ofcourt by refusal Of governor Black
TO name u special Judge. necessitated
because Of the fact that Judge Rhea
was y party TO the suit.
The Herndons In the meantime
asked q federal investigation of the
authorship Of the anonymous letter.
Ppstoffiee inspectors have been work.
Ing on the case. and several days ago
thu warrant was issued In Louisville
fok Judge Rheas arrest and forward
ed to Russellville.
The letter received by Mrs. Hern-
doh has figured extensively in gossip
and newspapers in Logan county,
but Judge Rhea repeatedly has de.
MED the authorship Of II.
At = recent sitting Of the Federal
grand Jury. in Bowling Green, Judge
Walter Evans instructed the grand
JURY tp.inyestigste the letter but the
term Of the grand jury closed before