The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-09-27

take possession of the books after they
were made up? Mr.. 0nderdonk, al
though formerly a member of the
Board, was not one when he aided in
seizing the books. The records in the
Governors Office show that his success
sor was appointed September 10th, 1859.
But had Roderick an official right to
control of the books2 Roderick, in his
testimony before the Grand Jury says
that he had a commission from the
Governor as a member of the Board,
but on November 18th, 1869, the re-
cords in the Governors Office bore no
evidence of his appointment. On that
day the Governors book showed that
Messrs. Hawn, Etchison and Traynor
composed the, Board. But for all this
it is not to be denied that Roderick re-
ceived his commission before he aided in
Selling and altering the books of the
Board | have since ascertained
and now state that a blank COM
mission was sent to certain parties
in Jefferson county, just before the
election, and that Rodericks name was
then filled in and he was commissioned,
not by the Governor, but by another
person to whom the power was dele
gated. 1t is clear to my mind why the
Governors record on November 18th
bore no proof of this appointment. The
Executive had not then been informed
who had been commissioned by his dep
uty. Since that time, find, the infor-
nation has reached him and the record
has been amended and dated back to
cover all contingencies. But have in
my possession letter dated November
18th, from the pre>ent Clerk Of the
House, informing me that after exam
ming the Executive journal, he found
the history of the Board of Registra- !
ton in Jefferson comfy for the year |
1869, to be as follows:
September ljth.-W. B. Chambers /
appointed v;ce Onderdonk; Traynor and
Turner recommissioned.
October | It'll. r. Hawn appointed
yice Turner.
October ljth.-Etchison appointed /,
rice Chambers.
Hawn, Traynor and Etchison were !
therefore the Board. There is no men
ton of Roderick, who says under oath
that he had commission signed by the |
Governor given him he knew not by
whom. The amendment in the Execu-
tive Journal referred to, confirms his
testimony and shows that other persons .
besides the Governor were concerned in
the commissioning OF Roderick and that
the Executive did not know who bad
been commissioned until long after the
election was over.
The testimony of James Stephenson
before the Grand Jury in question, was
that lie was registrar for Bolivar town
ship, that the book for that township .
never reached him, and that he was in
formed it had been sent to Bolivar and
then taken back to Shepherdstown, no
effort having been made to deliver it to
him. This, in connection with the
erasures as proved in the cases Of MessrS.
Molar and Duke, shows how the regis
tration lists were treated after Onder-
donk, Roierick and Traynor got pos
session of them.
submit these facts for your consider
alton. obtrude no argument From
these statements You can judge for
yourselves how far the present registra-
ton system conduces to honesty AMI
Justice, and how far abuses OF the APP
pointing power and ofthe authority now
welded by the registrars may need cor
rection. Wishing nothing but good to .
my State and fair play for all her citi- /
zens have addressed you in this man.
ner and now leave the subject in your
hands. f. II. CHAMBERS.