Wilmington daily commercial., 1876-10-05
Frivolous Arrests.

THE HEARING OF THREE ooLoRED MEN FOR
OFFERING TO VOTE ILLEGALLY-A PEEP IN
TO TIE PLAN OF INTIMIDATION.
William Anderson, Hannibal Singleton,
and Moses H. Murray, the first two named
arrested at the Third Ward polls, and the
last at the Fifth, were arraigned before the
Mayor last evening, on charge Of of at
tempting to vote illegally in the Wards
named.
William Anderson was the first called. He
promptly responded and produced his yellow
tax receipt Of 1876, regularly signed and
about which there could be no mistake. He
said he lived in the Third Ward right oppo-
site the polls, and produced receipt from
the landlord for rent which he had paid. He
had resided in the city he could not tell how
long, but one of his children over two years
old was born in the city, and he worked up
on the new basin when it was first com
menced. The Mayor scrutinized the tax re-
ceipt and receipt for rent closely, and said
the man certainly had a right to vote.
FL. B. McIntire, being present, volunteered
his testimony that Anderson had worked for
him on the new basin, fifteen months ago,
and he had no doubt as to his right to vote.
John Brady said he saw Anderson come
ont of the house opposite and heard him
say he was going over to see the clerk over
there. He, (Brady,) then quizzed him, and
Anderson said he had come from Baltimore
three days ago, and when Anderson went
gp 70 vote,he went along over and objected.
Thomas James, the Inspector, said Ander-
son came and offered to vote, and it being
objected to he was told to go and get a
Yorcher, but he never returned.
Anderson here said, "guess l didn't, for l
wa collared and locked up, and lost my
yc.e
The Mayor decided that Anderson was
wrongfully deprived Of his vote, and dis
missed him.
The second case in the Third Ward was
thai Of Hannibal Singleton, who was al
lowed to make statement in which he said
ne offered to vote in the Third Ward,
though he had moved into the First Ward
two or three days before the election. He
said he thought he had a right to vote in
the Third Ward until he gained residence
in the First, aud he did not mean to vote
illegally.
Inspector James said Sngleton's tax re-
ceipt was genuine, but his residence be.
ing questioned, he said he still had it at the
old place in the Third Ward. The Mayor
said it was his duty to bind Singleton over
to Court, but at the same time he would lay
--hc -.se before The State's Attorney, and he
would assure him, (Singleton,) that he
should uot be convicted. His Honor then
said that Singleton had right to vote in
the First Ward, even if he removed into it
on the morning of the election. No speci-
fed time Is required in an election district
TO gain a residence, to entitle man to vote
st a State election. He hardly thought
Singleton intended to vote illegally. Henry
F. Pickles went on his bond for his appear
ance at Court.
Moses Il, Murray, was arraigned for at
tempting to vote on a fraudulent tax re-
ceipt in the Fifth Ward. The receipt was
very much torn, and had Lewis McCall't
name signed to it. Squire Publ testified
to Murray Offering to vote, and Lewis Nc
Call testified first that he didn't think the
signature was his, and finally that it wa:
not his signature, positively. Murray wa'
held in $500 for his appearance at court
Howard M. jenkins becoming his surety.