The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-20

it as an oath, but never heard it read before.
In reply to the Mayor: Did not hear any
manager state to persons applying to register
that It was not necessary to give their resi-,
dence, but we did not insist upon it; wanted
to ask in many cases, whether certain parties
lived in Mr.. Pringle's yard, for instance or
other places, but the others did not seem to
want it.
Nr. W. E. Mikell sworn; The clerk Of his
board was never sworn, to his knowledge; was
satisfied that he was not sworn; the clerk did
not administer any oaths; did not hear any
manager say it was not necessary for parties
registering to give their residences; we exact
cd the residences and numbers as closely as
we could. Witness here repeated, in sub
stance, the testimony given by him relative to
the election Of chairman of the board, and
explained how biz name appeared on the
certificates OF transfer as chairman. Had not
the slightest doubt that If Quash considered
him (witness) as chairman but what did so
sincerely; the certificates oftransfer were made
ND by the clerk, with the words chairman OF
Ward No. 1" on the right, leaving it so that
whoever signed one, appeared as chairman on
such certificate; they we're signed indiscrlm!-
nately; as far as he knew, these were the only
papers on which his name appeared as chair
man.
Mr.. 7. Waring Mikell sworn: Acted as clerk
for Ward No. 1; was never sworn; did not ad-
minister oaths while serving as clerk; my duty
was to take down the names and TO keep tally;
occasionally questioned persons who came to
register and to vote; in some instances where
I doubted persons who gave certain residences
asked in tue capacity OF citizen; put down
the name of every man ordered by the mana
gers; did not put down any name not au-
thorizsd.
N. K Read was next sworn, and answered
substantially as follows: acted as one OF the
managers OF Wa-d No. g. at the recent election;
Mr.. Winner was chairman; [ administered the
oath to applicants for registration on several
occasions; no person not manager aeslstec
in counting Ltc votes, or ever administered the
oath at our precinct; our clerk was elected re-
gularly; our board was organized some three
or four days previous to the general rogistra-
ton, when the chairman and clerk were eoct-
cd; we first elected Mr.. Barber as clerk, but
lie having declined, Mr.. A. s. Trumbo was
elected; Trumbo was sworn; l swore before
Major D. T. Corbin; / Dever heard manager
at our precinct soy to an applicant for regis
traton that it was not necessary to state his
place of residence.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Barker: The board
met at Steling's restaurant and elected . chair
man there, few days before the general elec-
ton; proposed Mr.. Winner for chairman,
and Mr.. Trumbo acquesced.
Cross-examlned by MIR. Corbin: took the
cath the afternoon we organized; MIR. Trumbo
and myself were sworn at that time; 1 know
the clerks signature. Papers shown him ].
Witness recognizes it as having been written
by A. y. Trumbo. 1t it his oath; he wrote and
signed it himself; We decided as board upon
the question Of every voter who applied to re-
gister; never consented to O mans registering
and voting whom did not think was entitled;
there were only two or three cases OF extreme
doubt, and only few applicants who were re-
I'll. A., nF n11r
acted in perfect good faith; considered we
were acting undor oath.
In reply, by Mr.. Barker: Major Corbin did
not read tho oath to me, he merely asked me
for my signature; was sworn in before MIR. Cor
bin previous to the general election; where the
right OF parties to vote was doubted we gene
rally accepred them on taking the oath; Mr..
Trumbo went out several times to sea whore
parties lived, and some of them were rejected;
never objected to testimony being introduced
in cases OF dispute; were willing to swear any
party who camo to register; cannot recall any
case in which the managers OF our ward object
ed TO tho investigation of q case.
DR.. E. G. Kecblcy vas duly sworn, and tosti-
fed as follows: Was chairman of tho managers
of First Precinct of Ward No. 8; we conferred
together without having regular meeting,
and I considered myself as chairman; We ap-
pointed clerk; administered the oath ut the
polls, as did also the other managers; no per-
son not manager did it, the clerk was sworn;
l took the oath before the clerk Of the court;
no one registered at our precinct who did not
give hi. residence.
Cross-examincd by Mr.. Barker: took the
oath before Mr. Richmond; wrote and signed it
myself; was not sworn on the Bible, nor did
hold up my right hand; knew OF no minutes
that were kept OF the proceedings OF the board,
and have no record of my appointment as
chairman.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Corbin considered
myself as under oath all the time; the oath is
now on record in tho clerks Office. Shown
return.] 1 can identify il as the return OF our
ward; I recognize my signature; it is q correct
return; after counting the ballots We put them
in the box, which we scaled up; it Is thore,
sealed and covered with brown paper.
John A. Winthrop, being duly sworn, deposed
and said Never heard. any manager say to any
applicant tor registration that it was not necos-
sary to state his residence; DR.. Keckov's son
was our clerk and was sworn; DIR. Keclley
generally, as chairman, administered the oath
10 applicants; I administered tbe oath severa
times; we mot as board, and by mutual con-
sent considered Dr. Keckley as chairman and
his son as clerk.
Cross-examined By Mr.. Barker: Think the
clerk was sworn, but don't know it; he was not
sworn in my presence; took the oath before
Major Corbin, who read it over to me, and 1
swOre by holding up my right hand.
Cross-cxamined by MIR. Corbn: The election
was conducted fairly on the part of tho mana
gers; there was great harmony and no wrang-
ling; no one registered without the consent OF
the board; after the votes were countod We
were all agreed us 10 the RETURN tho votes
were put in the box, which was sealed, aud the
key fastened to tho top and scaled. (Shown
return Identified it; testify to my signature
and those of my associates; identified his box.
Joseph P. Howard was next called and, upon
being duly sworn, said a: I am u manager OF
Wari No. 3, Precinct /; the board did not hold
Il regular meeting, but was considered olgan-
lied by common consent; l aud DR.. keckley
consulted together-therc were only two OF US
as to who should be chairman and who clerk;
this was On Meeting-street; Mr.. Winthrop was
substituted on the board in the place OF nr.
Burke, and only made his appearance on the
first day of registration; 1 administered the
oath on several occasions; the clerk did not; l
swore before r. G. Delarse; merely agreed
that DR.. Kcckley should be chairman, and
presumed MIR. Winthrop agreed to 1t also.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Barker: MIR. Wiz
thrcp was not present at our first consultation;
there wero no minutes of our proceedings as
board kept, and l know OF no record OF the
appointment OF chairman or clerk; l swore by
holding up my hand; the oath was read and
subscribed IT.; it WAS filed in tho Office OF the
clerk Of the court; the clerk was not sworn IN
my presence, nor in tho presence OF the board.
The hour of adjournment having arrived,
the Board, on motion of Alderma Olney,
adjourned. W. a. SMITH.
Clerk of Council.