The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-11-01
THE ELECTION DISTURBANCES.
TRIAL OF PARSONS BEFORE THE
MILITARY COMMISSIONER.
T E S T l NJ o N Y


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. Parsons
plead not guilty, and the trial commenced.
Robert II. Allen was first sworn, and tes-
tilted / am a justice of the peace of this
city. On the 23d instant was standing on
the corner of Sixteenth and Main streets
Mcssrs. S. NJ. Page, Campbell, and Riley
came to me, and Mr.. Riley said he wished
to obtain warrant for the arrest Of Par
sons, stating that he had been interfering
with the elections. Then, upon the oath
Of Mr.. Francis j. Riley, | issued the war
rant for the arrest Of Parsons. The war
rant was written by Mr.. Page. Mr.. Joe
Kelly was present at the time, and be-
leve said he was witness in the case.
Riley swore that the accused had pre-
vented Price from voting.
Robert Price, colored, sworn: On the
23d instant l started to the Old Market to
vote. Just before reaching there | met
three strange gentlemen. | reached the
polls and started up stairs, when colored
man asked me if | had ticket. replied
that | had. He then asked to see it. /
refused. Parsons then came to me, and
asked if l had ticket. told him had !,
and refused his request to let him see it,.
Some one down stairs said, "Take his
ticket" / became frightened, gave Par
sons my ticket, and went down stairs.
Parsons went down just before me. He
opened the ticket, and said that he would
show it to General Schotield. lie then
said that he had both IIunnicutt and john
son tickets, and asked which one I'd vote
for. I replied Mr.. Hunncutt, as | was
fearful that I would be hurt. Mr.. Riley
and two other gentlemen came up, and
said that l could vote as choose and
asked who wished to vote for. replied,
Mr.. Johnson. Mr.. Parsons then gave me
back my ticket, and | went up stairs and
voted.
Questioned: did tell Mr.. Riley that |
was going to vote the Conservative ticket,
and asked them Uhe three gentlemen he
met just before he reached the polls) to
protect me. Fear made me give the ticket
to Parsons, and went down stairs to see
what kind of ticket he was going to give
me. would not have dared to vote tho
Johnson ticket if Mr.. Riley had not said
he'd protect me. After we went down
stairs Parsons said I could vote as pleased.
DO not remember that Parsons said ne
would show the ticket to General Scho-
field if the men had deceived me. He did
say he would show it to the General. No
one threatened me up stairs, nor did any
one use language calculated to provoke a
riot. Parsons returned the ticket he had
taken.
Mr.. Francis J. Riley sworn: | was told
on the morning of the 23d that there were
two colorcd men in the employ OF MIR.
Carter who wished to vote the Conserva-
tive ticket, but were afraid Of being mo-
Tested if they went to the polls. Myself
and friends offered to protect them if they
came to vote, and waited on the corner OF
the market for them. Presently Price
came along. l asked him if he had
ticket. He pulled one out of his pocket
I scratched Oft for aud put against on
it, making it vote against Convention
He was perfectly satisfied. showed him
the way up to the polls. He went up by
the colored and l up by the white stairs
When l reached the top, | saw Parsons
talking to Price. Price seemed reluctant
to give the ticket to him. Parsons's man
ner was such as to indicate that he in
tended to have the ticket. They theI
went down stairs. | also went down. Mel
Messrs. TYLER and Campbell near the bot
tom, Then saw Price, who seemed to be
much frightened. Some one remarked
that he "was going to vote the Hunnicuti
ticket" l stepped up to Price, and said
"Didn't you say to me that you INTENDED
to vote the ticket you showed me, anc
didn't you ask our protection" lie sale
he had, and then went up stairs and Votec
his ticket.
Questioned: Never saw Parsons before
the 23d. Swore out warrant for bis ar
rest, Did not hear the whole OF the war
rant read. only swore TO that part re-
lating to Robert Price. Did not see Par
sons Interfere with any one after the dlffl
Guilty with Price.
Mr.. Sherwood Carter sworn: Rooer
Price told me on the 23d that if he votet
at all he would vote the johnson ticket
Gave him the ticket which caused the dit
fculty.
Mr.. James NJ. Tyler sworn | am
member of the city police, and was OF
duty at the polls. Mr.. Riley's statemen
abont Parsons preventing the colored maj
from voting is correct. Saw Parsons ane
Price standing at the bottom of the STAIRS
Heard Parsons ask Price if he intende'
voting for Hunnicutt or the rebels. fric
made no reply. He then asked Price
he was going to vote for Mr.. hunnlcutt 0
Mr.. Johnson. Price replied he was goin'
to vote for Mr.. Johnson. told Parsons [
give Price his ticket; that if he did not,
would arrest him. Went up stairs to MI
Arnold, registering officer, and tod nlt
what Parsons had been doing, and aske
if he was authorized. Mr.. Arnold sal
he was not, and came out and ordere
Parsons away. -.
Questioned: Did not see Parsons lax
ticket from any one. Saw ticket
his hand was told that he had taken
from Price. Did not see or hear farsoi
say or do anything calculated to create
difficulty between the whites anu oiaoA