Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-03-03
A Case OF VtndicsIve Prosecution
PORTUGAL Persecution a Fo -efESI
OF the 7'residentiai Campaign

PORTUGAL Persecution a FO refASI.:
OF che Presidential Campaign
Avoysed Vi nd ctIv >-'rbe
United states VS. ". o. Curtis.
This is prosecution for violation
of the act Of Congress regulating the
matter of reg stration and voting. TIE
warrant was issued by q. s. Comm;s-
sioner J. J Cassidy. on the affidavit
of Lewis A. Galloway. The investi-
gatioa took place in the q. s. District
Court room il this city before Con-
missioner Cassidey Cd Monday, the
Dist, Hon. Daniel L. Russell appear
lug for the prosecutio4 and W. 5. II
D. J. Devune and Marsden Bethany,
E~qrs., appearing for the defendant.
The prose cusion introduced the fol-
lowing witnesses: Lewis A. Galloway
II NJ Wescott. Alexander GALLOWAY,
and JOHN w Davis, cocred.
The first examined was r. NJ West
colt, who testified i'll substance as fol-
lows:
I have no feeling in this mntter
KIN w DIR. On, tbs, hut do not r. collect
the exact time when he went North III
the year 1873. My best impression is
that was ABOUT February or March of
that yea. [ think that he returned
about 3 or months pravinns to the
August election IN 1874 A short time
before DR. Curtis left s m ithvilie he c. noe
into my fathers store, asked for d
small account that We had against
him, and stated that he was gong to
leave Smithville and wanted To- sett {
al his accounts. He then went on to
state that IL he succeeded in business
he would stay away, but-some circum-
stances would bring him back. He
stated that if his wifes he llth improv-
ed he wonld not return. DR. Curtis
had been housekeeper in SmIthville
ever since could recollect, and always
had house of his own. d.. Curtis
s,ld his house and gave public notice
that he was going to leave. In that
netIre it was stated that he intended
leaving, and what claims were due him
he wouid ike to have them paid before
he left, and those not so paid to be
paid to Mr.. Prioleau, his agent. In
the same notice he asked that all
claims against him be brought for
ward. I know nothing about MIR.
Curtis having sold his furniture. He
was clerk of the Superior Court of
Brunswick county when he left, and
resigned. After he came back in 1874
he was nominated for the same posi-
ton about the 18th Of June, 1874 H.
accepted the nomination and canvassed
There was an election for Mayor in
Smithvi'le in May, 1874. When DIR
Curtis first came back he remained in
a short time. DR.. Curtis
owned a small farm outside of Smith
vile both before and after his return.
That he had heard that DIR. Curtis
owned other lands in Brunswick but of
this he could not state as of his own
knowledge.
Lewis A. Galloway, the prosecutor,
was next examined:
I made the affidavit in this case, and
{ was Register of D eds in SmitAville
n the year 1874. I am indicted in
Brunswick county for not letting Dr.
Curtis vote. I believe that DR.. Curtis |
S at the bottom of all the prosecutions
Igainst me, and on that account /
this prosecution against DR.. |
Iurtis The witness here started out |
With the intention of making speech to
he Court but was stopped by his own
DIR. Curtis left Smithvile in Februa-
y, 1873, and was gone until April,
S74. This makes his absence about
thirteen months or more. He went to
Vermont, and I heard him say in the
Jerks Office in the courthouse, Just
'efore he left, that ne was going away
nd going away for good.
A good many were present in the
Jerks Office at the time, but cannot
emember who any of them were, but
hink that Samuel P. Swain heard it.
Dr.. Curtis said that ne had invested
q some company in Vermont, of which
10 was either Secretary or Presid mt.
hat he could support himself there,
rhich was more than he could do
ere. And besides, his wife's health
ras bad. saw Mrs. Curtis sticking
% advertisements for the sale of the
lrniture while DIR. Curtis was gone
,e first time. The notices said
lat the furniture woHld be sold
rivately, that is all that could be Sold
ntil the DIR. returned. And it was
sold to, different people. I know
r 4 -
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