The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-04
THE ELECTION DISTURBANCES.
The Trial Of Parsons sConcIuded-The
Decision Reserved.

with and preventing one Robert Price
from casting his vote, and with riot
ously and maliciously interfering with
divers other persons in the exercise of the
elective franchise, and attempting to
create riot between the white and CO.
lored citizens Of Richmond" the said Of
fences being committed at the First Ward
polls on the 23d Of last month, was re-
sumed and concluded before Commits
sioner Hambrick.
The following additional testimony was
elected:
William Jackson, coored, sworn: I was
one of the special police appointed by Co.
lionel Rose, and was on duty at the First
Ward polls. remember when Price came
in. He came in without orders, and rushed
up stairs. Parsons stopped him and asked
If he was sick, and also asked him how he
intended to vote. He replied that he was
going to vote the Hunnicutt ticket. Price
then handed his ticket to Parsons without
having been asked for it. Parsons said
6 eThat is not the Hunnicutt ticket tell
me which ticket you wish to vote for.
Some one has been fooling you; tell me
who it is, and I'll report him to General
Schofeld." Some white men came in at
this time. Some of the police were with
them. There were about four persons in
all. These men asked Price if he had not
| told them that he intended voting the
johnson ticket. Price replied, " Yes, |
did say So" Price commenced to trcm-
Bile, the white men crowded around, and
the policeman up at the top groaned out
"Lordy, dey is going to kill Mr.. Parsons"
Never saw Parsons take any tickets from
colored men. Did not hear or see him say
or do anything calculated to incite a dis
turbancc. At one time he advised the
colorcd people not to have any disturb
ance.
Henry Davis (colored) sworn: belonged
to "the special police" and was on duty
at the First Ward polls at the lower door.
Heard a noise up stairs, and went up.
Heard Parsons and some white men
talking about d negro mans voting. Par
/ sons came down stairs, and heard him say,
elf can find the man that fooled Price,
| 1'll report him to General Schotleld."
Saw Parsons several times during that day.
He behaved himself and did all he could
to prevent any disturbance. Did not see
him take any tickets from any one.
William Coleman, colored, sworn: Saw
Price go up the steps to vote, pushing by
everybody else. Told him to come back,
which he did. He had his ticket in his
hand, aud said he was going to vote for
Hunncutt. Some persons asked him to
show his ticket, which lie did; and those
s! who asked him, remarked that he had the
wrong ticket. Mr.. Parsons said if he
wanted the Hunnicutt ticket he would
give him one, and then handed him one.
Price then went up stairs, but in few
moments returned, accompanied by some
white men. They asked who had given
Price the Hunnicutt ticket. Parsons said
he had given it to him; that he had asked
for it. A blink eyed polceman-1 don't
know his name-said to Parsons: "Et you
take arenother ticket from any one III take
you to the station house, A rush was
then made for Parsons, and some one yelled
out "Come up here" Parsons was then
taken to the cage.
Pleasant Jones (colored) sworn: Myself
and Price went up stairs together. when
we got where Parsons was, Parsons asked
Price how he intended voting. He replied
that he intended voting for Hunncutt.
Parsons then gave him ticket. At this
moment white man came up and asked
Price if lie had not told him that he in
tended voting the Conservative ticket. lie
replied, "I did, Some more white men
came up, and one of them Ia policeman
said, cpl arrest you if you give any more
tickets" a gentleman came up and asked
Price if he had been intimldated 10y any
one. He said he had not been. Some one
asked him why he had said he wished to
vote for uuunicutt. He said, / was ex-
cited" A crowd gathered around Par
sons and abused him. lie was then ar
rested.
Mr.. Samuel NJ. Page sworn: [ am
lawyer, residing in this city. The Commls-
sioner here handed witness the warrant
for the arrest OF Parsons, and asked If he
knew anything about it, | wrote the
warrant on the 23d Of October. On that
day was standing opposite my Office, 10:
1915 Main street, when Messrs. Allen aud
Kelly came up to me. One or both OF
them stated the facts as laid down IN this
warrant, and asked if it was not against
the law. Told them it was. Mr.. Allen
asked me to draw up q warrant, and went
over 10 nv Office ard wrote it. | told
him before this that it was useless 10 arrest
Parsons, as it was bailablc offence, ana
he would get bail Immediately. MeSsrs.
Allen and Kelly went with me to the oillce'
While l was looking for the law regarding
the offence, Mr.. Riley and Mr.. Campbell
came in. After writing tho warrant l
handed it to Mr.. Allen. He signed 1t,
took Bible, and administered the follow
ing oath TO Messrs. Campbell and Riley:
s. The evidence you shall give IN the
case before me shall be the truth, and no
thing but the truth, so help you God" lie
then folded up the warrant, put it IN his
pocket, said twas all right; and the whole
party walked out.
Questioned: Do not think Mr.. Allen
read any of the warrant to Mr.. Riley q?
NV impression is that l read the warrant
10 ar. Allen in the presence OF Mr.. Kley.
remember remarking as we went OUT
i" Bob Allen is h-ll of fellow, and has
a queer way of doing business: =! re-
ferred to the (his) manner OF administer
ing the oath.
CAPTAIN B. C. Cook, of the Freedmen's
Bureau, was here introduced to prove that
Parsons was not profane man. The Cap
tain was told to hold up his right nand:
This he could not do, as the right arm mad
been shot off.
The Commissioner said :"1 am stumped."
uI am in the same fix" said the Cap
tain, and held up bis lett hand was
sworn, and testified that he had never
heard Parsons swear, and believed that he
was the last man to do such thing.
Mr.. J. Arnold sworn: was regis
tering officer in charge of the First Ward
precinct. saw nothing in the conduct
nf Parsons that tended to create disturb