The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-09-21
REGISTRATION EERAEHaR.
DEcksOn's Case Tried and Will he De-
cEaea on Monday.


The case of CAIN Murray, Clark and Duncan,
clerks Of registration third ward. charged with
eonspiring to prevent the negro Dickson
from registering. came up yesterday before
Commissioner Lane Judge Evans and Mr..
Harris for the prosecution. and Messrs. Hard
ing and Renshaw for the defense.
The first witness called was Mr.. j. o. Landry
Registrar OF Voters for the parish of Orleans
He said:
Cain. Duncan. Remy CLARK and Murray are
the clerks of registration for the third ward
THOMAS DICKSON,
sworn says: reside since two years In the
house No. 166 FRANKLIN street; am in the city
Ved S m ss od 1kS &c mS wh 81 The
Then was told to get two men to Identify me.
Lewis and qabe Noel, | was told they would
Duncan as one of the persons he saw in the
regtgtration, office OF work. was not ,reais;
eo by he Clerks a WatH Who Were
not at work at the time was in there. ,'NO "eA0
Gross examined-My ROOM No. 1866 Franklin
street, rent from Annie Smith. Thore are
about six in the same yard. and two men in the
tered. Asked Duncan who referred me to Gain.
she used to keep the house. and Cain was not
satisfied with her answers, and sent me for two
Vent to BE- Tegered Bapste adsms md
Riley Williams occupy the same room with me;
one steamboats, and the other drives floats.
the coast before coming to New Orleans. Knew
Sandy Lewis here. work on steamboats,; was
last On the Cannon. dabe Noel got acauaint,
II the city. | was born on the Manchac planta-
ton, Iberville parish.
GABE NOEL.
residing at No. II Cypress street, a registered
Es,r,r
his request with him to the registration office.
There MI. Gain asked me If knew where Dick
son lived, where re- i lived. end whether Ehad my
readily. He then told me to step back. There
was an old gentleman who was In the office, and
questioning me. Three of us we're there but
the clerks were not satisfied. and told Dickson
to get two more men,
Witness points out Duncan, Murray and Cain
as being present in the office.J
Mr.. Duncan asked the questions.
omng e met poeson dn s25 s
Pargoud. ] sometimes went to see him, and to
see Sam ~, WHO was sek Dickson is SINGLE
| registered at the Pelican coffee house, corner
Perdido and st. Charles streets. told that to
Mr.. Gain.
Th m ay e. A. the Of Roksoq
The testimony Of Lewis corroborates that of
Noel.
BEN. RICE,
United States supervisor of election of the third
ward, office Perdido, says: I know Dickson
saw him at the registration office OF the third
was asking to be registered: CLARK came Dun
can and Murray were present; Duncan has a
table near the door whore voters enter to be
registered; Duncan sent Dickson to CLARK who
was sitting next to Mr.. Gain; CLARK admins
ha T3 ah to pig Ddk and aksd him bis
at JIG Franklin street., How long had he been
CLARK asked him If any one else was living IN
the house with him.. He answered. Yes the Q
two-story brick house. He replied No" When.
Dickson returned with thems Noel, one of the
men was asked If he knew Dickson he eaid
YES The conversation between Clark, Gain
accused offered to register Dickson and when
ever Cain and Murray refused to register any
party the others generally acQuiesced in their
| Mr.. Rice was subjected to long cross exami-
| nation, which did not elicit any parttcu ar
points bearing On the case. He was followed by
visor of election. who, together with Mr.. Cain.
gave the details already narrated by other wit
| nesses.
This closed the testimony. Judge Evans ar
gued for the prosecution and tended to show
| that there had been d conspiracy to prevent the
| negro Dickson from registering.
! Mr.. RensheW, or counsel for the Defense then
the four accused had willfully obstructed regis.
| tration. but they may have done it unlaWfuliy-
that is, by mistake.
1t is an essential ingredient Of crime that
He took the position that they are not there to
register any one who should come but thew
must exercise certain discretion In the exer-
else Of the duties. After quoting many author
! GTF mi Tod