The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-09-27
70 the Legislature of West virginia.

\ Of our State, 4 desire to laybefore you
few plain truths that may not be un
welcome in your deliberations l will
preface what have to say upon thu
REGISTRATION law by remarking, that
4 represented the county of Jefferson il
! thu, House OF. Delegates in 1868. l
was then andam still a Republican. In
October 1869 L was nominated by the
Republicans Of Jefferson county for a
iseat, in the present House. OF my po
iitical status there can therefore be nc
-question. Istfs .-
: During my candidacy in October last
there was adifficulty in our county about
a Board Of Registration. 1t was ru,
mored, and understand stated by the
Governor himself, that owing to that
difficulty the people Of Jefferson would
probably have no election But after
Governor Stevenson had personally Wis.
tied the county Board Of Registration
was appointed There were some
changes back and forward, but the
Board that acted Just before the cleo
ton, consisted of Messrs. .Hawn, Etchi-
con and Traynori After these men had
made up the lists, prepared the books
for the election, and sealed them, a
certain Mr.. Onderdonk, who had
formerly been President Of the Board,
but was not then one Of its members.
went to Mr.. Fasman, Clerk of the
Board, after the books had been thus
completed, and partly by threats pro-
cured possession OF those books. After
Onderdonk had taken possession Of
them they fell into the hands of Tray
nor, a member of the Board which pre-
pared them, and one Hezekiah Roder-
lex, who claimed to have been commits
stoned as County Registrar after the
Board before named had been appoint
ed and organized, and after the work
for the election was done.
When the election came on, the
names of persons who were registered,
when the Board completed It's work,
were missing from the books. Consid-
cradle excitement prevailed in consc-
quence, the authority Of Roderick and
company to take possession Of and alter
the books which the Board had com
pleted and sealed being generally ques-
toned. At the next term Of the Circuit
Court For Jefferson county, the Grand
Jury inquired into the case The testl-
mony taken may be gathered from the
following statements Of members of the
Grand Jury. Mr.. Welshans says:
On the evening of our election day in
October last, there was a good deal OF
excitement and complaint against the
Board of Registration by persons who
had registered and whose names were
not on the books when they came to
the polls to vote. They said they had
received no notice to appear before the
Board.
The matter beng brought before the
Grand jury at the November term OF
Court, the Board of Registrars and
others were summoned to testify in the
matter.
Mr.. John Hawn, msmber of the
Board, being Intercepted, answered as
follows: was member OF the last
Board of Registrars, and the books sent
to the polls were not the books made
out BY said Beard told Won so on
the evening Of the election. Mr.. On
derdonk had taken the books and re-
fused to give them ur, he not being
member of the Board.
Mr. Charles Traynor, a member of
the Board said he was not obliged to
give testimony to criminate himself, and
refused to testify.
Mr. Ouderdonk, i'll answer to the
question, "how came you by the
books p said that Etchson and Hawn
were both drunk and therefore he took
charge of them M.
Mr.. Hezekiah Roderick, member
Of the last Board, being Intercepted
said that the books were so scratched
and scribbled over, that they were not fit
to be sent to the polls.
Mr.. Lebbers Etchison, an important
witness, it was said, could not be
found. The jury were nearly unamI-
nous for an indictment, but it being
late in the day, and Court having ad-
iourned and the witnesses not all eX-
amined, we reported to the Judge &C
cordingly, who discharged us without
our being able tofinish our work.
Messrs. Joseph D. Holmes and Wash
ington Spangler, members OF the Grand
Jury, say:
Mr. Fayman, acting as Clerk of the
Board of Registration, testified that the
books were sealed and locked up ready
for sending to the respective townships
and Mr.. Onderdonk came and demand
ed the books. He (Mr. Fayman) asked
him where he got his authority, and
Mr.. Onderdonk replied by saying,
"I1l have the books" and also threat
ened. ,.
The testimony OF Mr.. Onderdonk was
that they were not the proper parties
| to have the books. He was asked II
they were not the proper Board OF Re,
gistration, and he answered, Yes:
| The question was then asked, "Why did
YOU demand the hooks? He answered
BY saying they were all drunk. He
therefore took the books home and
locked them up. f.
The testimony Of Mr.. Traynor was
that he could not answer the questions
without committing himself.
The testimony OF Mr.. Roderick was
that he had his commission in his
rocket with the Governor name signed.
He was asked, .'Who gave You your
Icommission q He answered, II hardly
know, but I've got it." He was asked
| if the books were sealed up when he
got them, He would not answer the
t9uestion, but replied that they were SO
Iblotted he could not make anything out