The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-11-21
THE CONTESTED ELECTION.
OF the Board Of aldermen
FIFTH DAY-FRIDAY. NoV'R 20, 1868.

FIFTH pAY-FRIDAY, NOV'R 20, 1868.
The Board met at eleven o'clock. fourteen
members being present.
VIM. r. Mishaw, manager of the second pre-
cinct OF Ward No 8, was first examined He
testified that the chairman, MIR. Slawson, gen
orally administered the oaths, and that he (wlt-
nese) had done so. The chairman Of the
board and the clerks were duly elected. The
clerk, he believed, was sworn. Did not hear
any manager say to persons applying to regis
ter that il was not necessary to give their res
licences.
Cross-examined: Witness an1 Mr.. SlaTson
ouly were present at the first meeting, the
third manager refusing to serve; did not SEQ
Mr. Wright, who took his place. until the nrse
day OF the general election; no minutes were
kept. ,1,..-
Cross-examned by Mr.. BoSen: Witness
identified the return shown MIN, which haa
been signed and had been carried TO tao Mayor
by the chairman; it was unsealed at Inc tim :
and was afterwards sealed by the Ma:or; the
three managers were present; after the mana,
gers had taken in the return the Mayor SAID
the law directed it should conc in IN a seaild
envelope; the Mayor got an onvc.o?c, piaceq
the return in it, directed it to himself, sealed
it up, and placed it in q box on The table; W.T.
ness saw tho envelope sealed up; the box con-
tainlng the ballots was delivered to the clerk,
and the next morning handed to the Mayor
with the return.
Witness also testified that he did not know
that the return was signed by Nlr. Slawson;
the registration book was sent in; no pol. book
was kept; the names ofvoters were only cho:kcd
off on the original registration list as tncy
came up aud voted.
Mr.. H. Slawson was then examined. Wl!ncss
deposed that he signed as chairman any papar
requiring his signature; thc clerk was sworn;
did not sigu the return as chairman because nc
thought it should be signed by all the ooard
as managers; no minutes we're kept.
one signed by him and handed in ID the Mayor,
and confirmed the testimo y Of the preceding
witness as to its sealing by the Mayor ut tile
request Of him, SlawSon.
James E. Wright, one of the managers OF
tho Second Precinct, Ward 8, was then ex-
amined. Witness deposed as to the or5aniza-
tion of the board, and that he was sworn; wit
ness also said that no poll list was kept, hut
the names were checked off on the reSstra-
ton books; more than seventeen names were
checked off in excess OF the number OF bailols
in the box; two double ballots were dcstro; ell;
the rest were put back in the box, wh'ch was
then sealed; o number of votes were chaliene-
ed, witness objected to q co'ored man who oil,
fered to register, because he lived OUTSIDE OF
the precinct, but the other managers admitted
him to registration; witness knew that the CO..
ored man did mol 1--we in the precinct; all the
challenged votes were counted; some sailors
who offered to swear that they were quallIc1
we're refused registration; witness testified that
the other managers held that no man who was
registered could be challenged when he Of
fcred to vote, and no challenges were a.
lowed; witness did not know of any voters
being prevented from voting by physical
force but some were threa.eaed; witness was
ordered by one OF the special deputy nstables
to move the ballot-box into the. light SO that
he could see il; the man referred to wore
badge, and said he was sent by Sheriff hiackey
to superintend the conduct OF the managers;
the constables would not allow tho managers to
ride in carriage to the Guardhouse with the
ballot-boy, but were told by the c0nslab.es
that they must walk; they, therefore, walked,
followed by large number OF m,n; tho So
called constables wero armed with clubs; they
said they were acting under tho orders Il the
sheriff, and that they would 500 that witness
did nothing wrong, and that he, witness, had
been doing wrong all day.
This witncss further Testified that some OF
the managers told persons applying to regis
ter that it was not necessary for them 10 staS9
in whose houses they werc living, and that no
oath was administered to any one on the Sc
cond and third days OF registration. -. -,
Fl. Slawson was then recalled and TESTIFIED
that the olth was omitted because most OIL
the voters had previously taken it at the gene
raj election.
W. II. Mlshaw, recalled. confirmed the tcst:-
mony on this point, and said that he did not
know that tho deputy constab!e5 interierod
with the election in any way.
R. Howard, o manager of Ward No. g. testi-
fed that he was only at the poll the first day
OF registration, and that he empowered the
clerk to attend to his duties on the other two
days. The witness identified the return, and
swOrc that the election was conducted by him
self and associates to the best OF their ability
and under the sanction Of their oath:.
J. b. Patrick testified that tho clerk acted as
manager two days, and was never sworn, to
his knowledge.
R. Howard, recalled, identified the box Of
his precinct by seal, and also identified tho
KEY of the box.
Juhn Davis, manager Of First Precinct,
Ward 4, was sworn; identified the box Of his
precinct.
Charles W. Graves. chairman Board of Man.
agera, Second Precinct, Ward 4, testified to
the correct conduct Of tho election OF his pre-
cinct, and identified the box.
John r. Mauran, manager OF Second Pre-
cinct, Ward l., confirmed testimony OF Mr.
Graves.
Hutson Lee, ESQ.,, sworn Vas manager
OF the Second Precinct Of Ward 4; he testified
that one colored man was allowed to register
against his protest, who swore that he lived at
No. S Gadsden-street, when it was proved that
he did not live there; otherwise tine election
was, he thought conducted fairly at his pre-
cinct, 40 far as the managers wero concerned.
J. A. Quackcnbush sworn: Acted as manager
of Third Precinct of Ward No. g.. The c1ami-
nation of this witness elicited nothing OF
striking interest, and at tho conclusion of II
Council adjourned.