The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-06-06
INVESTIGATION OFTHE CHARGES
AGAINST JUDGE MEREDITH.
TESTIMONY ADDUCED.
JUDGE MEREDITHs LETTER TO GENERAL
GRANGER.

JUDGE MEREDITH'SL TO GENERAL
GRANGER.
The Mayors Office was crowded yesterday
morning with persons desirous Of witness
ing the proceedings in the case Of Judge
Meredith. General Granger presided, and
Captain Clapp conducted the examination
of witnesses, Judge Meredith being una
Bile to attend promptly, he was represented
by Raleigh 7: Daniel, J. o. Steger, and
Gustavus A. Myers, Esqs.
.Danner's Testimony.
J. L. C. Danner was the first witness
sworn. He wished it to be understood
that he was not, as had been alleged, the
prime mover in this investigation He then
testified that he was q practitioner of law
in the Richmond courts. Was present in
Judge Meredith's court last February when
number of persons presented themselves
for naturalization. They were principally
German and Irish-about fifteen or twenty
altogether. They were naturalized on no
other testimony than their own oaths.
One German stated that he came to
this country at the age of twenty-one,
when Judge Meredith remarked, " You
came three years too late-you are too
late to be naturalized as minor No
proof was offered as to residence, further
than that the party was himself sworn.
Cross-examined: cannot name any Of
the parties referred to, as made no notes,
not Intending to make use of the facts. The
Germans we're. brought in by Charles F..
Gauter, and the Irish by James II. Dooley.
Couldn't say that / am familiar with the
naturalization laws. Don't know what l
went to court that day for. Was present
during the whole examination of the per-
sons applying to be naturalized. Don't
know what was the date, except that it was
in February. It,swas O short time before
last registration. It struck me at once that
the only questions asked were asked of the
party applying to be naturalized. ylegal
impression was that the fact Of residence
should be proven by other testimony. Did
not mention it to the court, because |
thought the court ought to know, and it
wasn't any of my business. stated the
fact, however, alta Republican meeting.
Do not remember what members of the bar
were present when the occurrences related
took place. ,-,.;Ts, 4. r,-e. ~. y
A. d. Johnson's Testimony.
A. D. johnson Constable Tails deputy
testified that he was employed as clerk to
the Board of Registration in March last.
Knew of parties to present themselves on
one day with their declaration of intention
to become citizens, and their application to
register being rejected, to return next day
with their final papers. Several persons
were present and among them Messrs. A.
G. Babcock, Z. M. Ezekiel, and Joseph
Kelly, who take off the persons thus re-
iected, carry them before the court, and
return with their papers, sometimes, in
half an hour. Sometimes the declaration of
intention and naturalization papers would
bear the same date. I remember the names
of Baptist and Maurice Dennis, natives
of France, who produced certificates Of in
tention, and on the very next day brought
their certificates OF, citizenship from the
Circuit Court of Richmond, dated March TO-,
1868. This fact will be found noted on the
registration book. There was also one Cor
neIius Hennes, twenty -four years old, who
had been in the United States only nine
teen months, and produced full papers, ad-
mitting him to full citizenship. Don't
know where this man can. be found. There
were probably fifteen cases Of this kind in
Jefferson Ward There would have been
more, but parties would examine the papers
of some before they got to the registering
officers and send them off. I neglected to
mention the case Of a Jew named Schwartz,
living on Main street, whose papers ex-
pressed only intention, but being rejected,
returned in half an hour with certificate OF
citizenship. a.,:ssf = 49, aE:sgss..
Cross-examined: 1t was not my business
to make notes, but I did 80 of some Of the
facts My functions were those OF clerk.
/ don't know why l made notes of any
cases. ...'....,.., -. -. !" !"
The witness was further rigidly cross
examined by Mr.. Daniel, but got his ideas
SO mixed up that it was. difficult to make
any sense of the testimony. ozE . %-,oa
Testimony of Thomas Raggerty. =
Thomas Haggerty was next called. He
also was clerk to the Board Of Registra-
ton, of Marshall Ward. His business was
to register the negro voters. he. knew of
many cases OF persons applying to register
on naturalization papers. John. Schmidt,
of Rockets, came in the morning. with 3his
first papers, declaring his intention, and,
not being allowed to register, returned
the same day with full papers. ]
don't know. the dates on the papers.
Schmidt was registered. No record Eas
made Of his case or Of any other. This
man said he had been in this country
eighteen years, and | suppose he was forty
or fifty years Of age. I don't know the name
of any other parties, bat there were twenty
FIVE or thirty similar cases. T did not see
II Hs1e II