The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-11

investigating CONlIulSSlOu redsSeuUleut aho
the following evidence was heard: "
Testimony Of Fernando King.
Twas registering officer for Madison Ward
in March last, and know of some three or
four cases Of parties applying for registra-
ton Oh naturaliz .tion papers. l think three
or four cases were specially questioned.
Do not know their names. They had first
papers. One of them had papers from
court in New Jersey, issued seven or eight
years before. One of these parties came
back with final papers, and was registered.
l examined them myself. His second pa
pers were from Judge Meredith's court.
Mr.. Alderdice and Mr.. Daniel, who saw
them, said they were legal papers. Don't
know the dates of the papers. Remember
no other cases.
Dr.. W. @. MansfelGs Testimony.
g Was registering officer of Clay Ward in
March, and was present during the sessions
of the Board all the time. Remember seve-
raj cases of parties applying for registra-
ton Oh, naturalization papers. Cannot
specify any of them. There was man
from New York who had taken out his first
papers there in 1866, and then came to
Virginia; he went to the court here and got
full papers. Don't know his name. Such
cases were generally noted on the oath, and
if had access to them could probably get
at several names. / understood the papers
came from Judge Meredith's court. | am
not native here; am rather stranger.
Don't know much about it. Think the pa
pers were signed by man named Chris
tian. 1t was common thing for foreigners
to apply for registration on first papers, and
on being refused, be taken away by men in
charge of the white book, and be brought
back in short time with final papers. 1t
was my duty to examine the papers to see
if they were correct. am foreigner,
and am acquainted with the naturalization
laws. Was convinced from my examina-
ton of those papers that they deviated from
the rule prescribed. Did not pay much at
tention to them my duties were in connec-
ton with the colored men, but my attention
was called to these things by the president
Of the Board. The cause of refusal was
noted on the oath when the party was re-
iected. The man from New York had been
in the State year, know.
Cross-exxmined Cannot give the names
Of any of the parties. They stated they
came from Judge Meredith's Court. MIR.
Hicks, who had charge of the white mans
department, would write note sometimes,
and send it by the rejected party, who
would go to the court and get final papers.
Donot know that the final papers were pre-
sented within less than two years after the
declaration. Do not understand fully the
naturalization laws. Would not permit a
man to register if knew he had come to
the country under eighteen years of age,
unless his father. had come with him and
become o citizen, Don't think any of the
parties I mentisned came here under age.
Did not catechise them inferred so from
their appearance. Could not tell from their
appearance how long they had been in this
country. If they said they had been here
only nine or ten years, and were evidently
forty or fifty years old, i should judge that
they had come here over the age of eighteen
years. A man may have been IN the cour-
try twenty years without declaring his In
tention to become a citizen. My memory
has not been refreshed by reference to the
books or from any other source.
Maurice Dentists Testimony.
This witness spoke very little English,
and his statement was very confused and
amusing. He said substantially am q
native of France, came to America IN !SoI
when was twenty-five years old. Iook
out naturalization papers during the wal
lin 1869 but don't know from what court
Also got papers in March last from Judge
Merediths. court. Don't know what be-
came Of the first papers.
Cross-examined :, / was asked questions
by the Judge. Don't know what they were
Don't know what questions were asked my
brother or Mr.. Tracy, who were also pre-
sent. applied to the French Consul, N
Paul, for protection for my property during
the war, and he said he could not give II
then applied for naturali lization papers; a
son Of Francis Delaroux was with me whei
l applied. Do not know what the law re
quires. I had counsel, but forget his name
Left the case to him and the Judge. hnog
that j was tWenty-0ne years old before
| left France, because had to draw for tn'
conscription, and got free. Marie had m,
name recorded in his books, and knew IN.
age. s... ,....i
Testimony of Cornelius ! Henness.
Lam aNorwegian, and came to the uni
ted States twenty-one months ago. Am nov
| tWenty-four years old. q Got natura lizatioi
papers last March in this city. Tore then
Eup, because I was told they we're worthless lies
andsI could not register, Went but once. :
the court Nobody was with me. Asks