The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-12-05

i
arrest for fraudulently attempting to vote,
and Mr.. S. NJ. Page came inside the polls
and commenced conversation with the
prisoner. / told him that he was disobcy-
ing orders, but that he might converse
with him when Colonel Rose came, with
his permission. The Colonel came, and
after some talk about it, told Mr.. Page he
could not have any conversation with the
prisoner. Page was then ordered out of
the room, and after a while he went down
stairs with the Colonel. Page asked to
converse with the prisoner as his counsel.
do not know that Colonel Rose had any
thing to do with the arrest Of Page.
Major General Schoiield was next called,
and testified that Colonel Rose was superin-
tendent of elections for the city Of Rich
mond, under orders of witness. The gene
raj duties Of his office were to supcrintend
the several polls in tho city, and, as far as
possible, to sec that the election was con-
! Quoted in accordance with orders; to give
such instructions from time TO time as he
might lind necessary to accomplish that
purpose and to correct any abuses which
he might find to exist. Also, to see to the
preservation of peace and good order in
the immediate vicinity of the polls, espe-
cially to secure to all persons, as far as
practicable, the free exercise Of their right
to vote: For these purposes he had
the powers of military commits
! sioncr, including the power to make
arrests for disturbances Of the peace and
interfercnceS with the proper conduct OF
the election, and to contine offenders. lie
had also the power to command the civil
police and the troops in the vicinity Of the
polls for this purpose. he had full discrc-
tionary power to use such lawful means as
he might deem necessary in the discharge
of his duty. He discharged his duties, as
far as | know and believe, with great
fidelity and in satisfactory manner.
saw Colonel Rose several times on the
last day Of the election, and SO far as |
could see, he was perfectly sober on each
| occasion. He had general instructions not
to permit crowds of persons not willing to
vote TO assemble around the polls, and
especially after sunset to require al cX-
cepting those waiting to vote and the
executive committees Of the political par
ties to leave the polls.
| Some gentlemen of the Conservative
party reported to me after dark on the
23d of October that the poll for whites in
Madison Ward had been closed, while the
colored poll was still open. went with
them to the voting place in that ward, en-
tered the room, and made inquiries Of the
officers of election, police, aud others on
duty, in regard to the matter of complaint.
| They unanimously informed ME that the
poll for the white voters had not been
closed, and that no announcement to that
effect had been made by any person in the
registering room. On the contrary, they
said that Colonel Rose had ordered that
both the white and colored polls should be
kept open until further orders, which in
struction was obeycd that there was some
ground for a Mistake on the subject,
arising from temporary suspension Of the
voting at the white polls during some
change that was made in the arrangement
of lights, tables, or something of the kind,
and that a police officer outside Of the
room, apparently supposing the polls were
to be closed, commenced to close the shut
tiers at the window for white voters. They
said, however, that an officer Of the cleo
tion, seeing this movement, at once pushed
the shutters open, declaring at the same
time that the polls were not closed. If the
window was lowered or the blinds pulled
to, it was hardly completed before the
polls were fully re0pened. l cannot recall
pany impression other than that the Con-
scrvative gents who spoke to me in re-
ference TO the premature closing OF the
white polls were sober.
General Schofcld's testimony closed the
, evidence for the defence.
REBUTTlNG TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Andrew jenkins was examined by
the prosecution, and testified that he was
in front of the City Hall on The evening
spoken of when the announcement was
made from the inside that the polls were
closed. Do not know who made the an
nouncement. Waited few minutes, then
went up to Monroe Ward in hack, and
returned TO the Dispatch office, and then
went back to the polls, when found the
polls for the whites still! closed, and those
: for the colored open. The negroes were
then voting. Was in the passage rom
which a person was ordered away BY Col
onel Rose. Was with Il. L. Daniel, ST.,
r. T. Daniel, Jr., Major SturdIrant,
Norris Montgomery, and. others. None oil
, them seemed to be at all under the in
fluencc of liquor. Mr.. Daniel, ST., was, in
: nv opinion, as sober at that time as al y
gentleman in this courtroom. Myself, the
Messrs. Daniel, and Mr.. Montgomery, went
around to see General Schohcld, 10 report
the closing of the Madison Ward polls.
! Mr.. Daniel, Sr., conducted the converse
, ton with the General. While there Major
d, Turner and Colonel NJ. Johnson came in
! on the same business.
! Mr.. George W. Wilson testified that
:, about dusk on the evening of the 23d he
y was standing about six feet from the win
= dow for white voters, and distinctly saw
:. the window lowered. Did not know who
' lowered it. Did not hear any announce
, ment from the inside that the polls We're
: closed.
!. Mr.. Matthew Blair testified that he went
= to the polls after supper that evening, and
found the polls for whites closed. Didn't
: know by whose order it was done. The
colored people were still in line, and
voting.
CoLoRED SCHOOLS IN RlCHMOND.-Th
schools. though not so well attended as
!. during the last session, have quite num-
Der of scholars. The following list will
give an idea of what they are accomplish
ing
The school at Asbury chapel, under the
control Of two teachers, has an average at
tendance of los scholars.
The school located at Chimborazo, under
the management Of two teachers, has an
! attendance of l25 scholars.
There isalso u school at Roch etts, taught
by a colorcd man, which has &c scholars in
regular attendance.
. a at nj