Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-04-24

i replied that dld not wish any military
force in Wilmington; that was satisfied in
my own mind that with the police force /
could keep better order than could with
a'military force, and that required no mil
itary force to keep order.
> @. Did the presence of the military at the
polls in the city of Wilmington conduce to
the preservation Of good order?
| A. No sir.
@. Do you not think that your regular
police force would have preserved better
order than the military force did?
A. Yes, sir. 3 .rsE
Q. Do you know of any instances of out
rage or disorder that were produced in that
city by the presence of the military on that
dayp
A. cannot answer that question directly.
My impression is, if the military had not
been there, there would have been much
less difficulty in preserving order than there
was.
Now let us see what kind of order was
preserved:
Philemon Scotten sworn and examined.
By the Chairman:
@. Mr.. Scotch, where did you vote on the
day of the last general election?
A. AT Hazlettville, in West Dover hun
dred.
@. VIII you please to state whether you
observed any Outrages committed by the
soldiers who were present there, upon the
voters of that district? 5.
A. Ibid. The soldiers there of the Fourth
| Delaware made a bayonet charge on the
people at the polls. They stuck bayonet
in me, but did not hurt me much, but would
have done so, If had not warded it off.
They stuck a bayonet into my face.
@. What was the cause Of their sticking
their bayonets into you?
A. suppose they had orders from the
provost-I1arshal to do so.
@. Had you been guilty OF any disorderly
conduct or breach Of the peace?
A. No, sir; had not.
@. Did you hear Moses Rash order that
charger ~
A. No, sir; did not hear him. heard
others say they heard him order the charge.
heard him say that he would clear the
window, and saw him when he went off to
do 1t.
@. Did he claim that he had right to
drive the voters away from the window.
A. He said he had the power, but he did
not show any power when he came there.
@. Did you hear him threaten to close the
polls that day. li a8fo
A. Yes, sir.
Charles Brown, sworn and examined.
BY the chairman: ] L.e 1a. tas
O. Mr.. Brown, where did you reside on
the day of the last general election in this
State, and where did you vote?
A. | resided in Dover and voted at the
State House.
@. How long have you been voterp
A. Forty-four years.
Q. Did you observe anything at or near
the polls on that day unusual and different
from Whist you had ever seen before at cleo
| tionsp II so. please state what 1t was.
A. saw number of men in United
| States uniform, some of them with side
arms-perhaps all-and revolvers, busy at
the polls; and, in two instances, assaulting
unarmed citizens. Several of them, per-
haps six or seven at time, striking, beat
ing citizens; and, In one instance at least,
that number had a citizen down on the
ground, striking at him, and stamping him
with their feet; one, at least crying: xiii
| the damned secessionistp | interfered to
prevent the man from being killed, and
with the assistance of some others enabled
him to escape. Some time after, / saw sew
eral Of these soldiers around another man,
trying to pick quarrel with him.. / went
to the man, took him by the arm and at
tempted to lead him away to prevent an
other disturbance. These soldiers, or men
In uniform, Immediately commenced an at
tack; pursuing the man and striking at
him for some distance, until number of
citizens assisted to take the man OIL the
ground. While the soldiers were beating
and stamping the first mentioned man ly-
ing on the ground, the acting sheriff, Mr..
Hill, came to the spot, and called upon them
to keep the peace. Several of the soldiers
began cursing him, and threatening to serve
him In the same manner. -fst,., d i,