Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1882-07-01
THE CONTESTED ELECTION
THE PROCEEDINGS LAST NIGH I
THE TESTIMONY TO PROVE
VIOLENCE, go.

the Eleventh Ward contested election
case. In the absence of the President,
Mr.. Bailey was on motion called to
the chair.
The first witness was Edward True
man, who testified that he is resident
of the Eleventh Ward and that he was
entitled to vote on age. He saw some
men who had been beat when they went
to vote and he was told that II he went
he might get the same, so he did not
try to vote. In answer to q question
by Mr.. Garrett, the witness said that
he was prevented from going to the
polls through fear of personal vio-
lence. The witness was CROSS exam
ined by Messrs. Paynter, Newell, Gar
rett, Moore and Quinn.
The CROSS examination brought out
the fact that the witness had intended
to vote, but when he saw the condition
of Mr.. Croney he was afraid to approach
the polls, and was also told by his
father and brother-in.law that he had
better not 60. Before this witness had
concluded, President Conrad came in
and TOOK his seat. Cyrus Ellis colored, .,
was called and testified that he quit
work to 60 home and vote. He went
to the polls and while he was standing
there he saw Johny Newell, and he
told the witness that he would not ad.
wise him to try to vote, as he did not
believe that they would let him. He
went up to the polls, and before he
showed his tax eceipt, or offered his
ticket, he was challenged; he however
handed in his ticket but it was handed
back to him, and he heard lick struck
behind him and he got out of the crowd.
Mr.. Bailey asked him "why did you
90 away without voting?" when The
witness convulsed the members and
spectators with laughter by answering
"Do you suppose that wanted to get
my head knocked of? No sir, my
health is all I've got and don't want
to lose it"
The witness was ross-examined by
Messrs Paynter, Newell, Bailey, Men
ton, and Quinn.
Lewis Morris, colored, stated that he
went to the polls to vote, and when he
handed in his ticket they asked him
where he lived and handed 1t back TO
him; he told them that he lived In Bird
street, but Dan Mcguire said he did
not, and they would not take his vote.
He walked out of the crowd and saW
Mr.. Cottingham, who said that he
knew that the witness lived in Bird
street, but he did not want anything to
do with it. The witness has lived in
the Eleventh ward for ten years. On
cross examination he said that when he
handed in his ticket Dan Mcguire
yelled to the inspector: "Dont take that
ticket" and he was not allowed to vote.
In answer to question by Mr.. Payn.
ter he said that ne was not hit by any
one. After few more questions by
Messrs. Quinn, Paynter and Garrett,
the witness was allowed to retire.
John Davis, the Republican candi-
ward, testified that he was at the polls
when they opened and Officer Mcguire
was there and said that he had right
to be there as the Inspector had called
him to the window. Upon objection
being made the officer retired. The
witness then detailed the scene around
the polls, and was proceeding TO des-
cribe fight that took place short
distance off, when he was interrupted
by Mr.. Newell who objected to the
testimony, as he said that he had been
tried before a court of justice tor this
alleged offence, and punished, so he OBJ
jeCted to having the matter rehash-
ed here. The President decided the
evidence as being in order, when Mr..
Quinn objected to the witness on the
ground that he was an atheist. After
considerable discussion the witness
laid his hand upon the book, and said
in an impressive manner, "If l did
not believe in the sancity of the oath,
l would not take it," when Mr.. Quinn
withdrew his objections and the wit.
ness proceeded.
He said that he went over to where
the men were fighting, and as soon as
Mr.. Frederick who was beat emerged
from the crowd, Mr.. Newell came run
ming over and kicked Mr.. Frederick in
the face. Tie witness demonstrated
with Mr.. Newell for acting in this man.
ner, and while he was talking another
man came up with large seal ring
upon his finger, and said "this is what
cut Frederick's face" The witness sta
ted that he heard and believed, that it
was the intention nf the Democrats to
injure the principal workers in the Re
publican party at the Eleventh Ward
polls. In answer to questions the wit
ness stated that he saw a Democrat
struck that day, but he was not a voter
in the Eleventh ward, and he did not
zee Democrat who was prevented
from voting. The cross.examination
failed to alter the direct testimony, and
after a number of questions had been
asked and answered, the witness was
dismissed.
George W. Roberts was sworn and
testified that he was the clerk for the
Republican party at the election in the
Eleventh ward. He stated that dis
turbance was caused by the policemen
being within two or three feet of the
polls, aud when he called the attention
of the inspector to the fact of his just
having taken an oath to obey the laws,
that official told him that he was boss
of the election, and knew what he was
doing. Tue witness saw two men whom
he was told were Democrats, who had
hold OF Mr.. Croney and were holding
his hands wien Dan Mcguire stepped
up and struck Mr.. Creney violent
blow in the face. This 80 incensed the
witness that he called out-"That is
cowardly act" The excitement was 80
great not only outside but also inside
the polls, that the two assistant inspec-
TORS threatened to jump out the window
when the witness told them to stay
where they were.
He then described the scenes that
were occurring outside the window
He said that Mr.. Bayard came to the
window without his tax receipt, and
his vote was taken without any hesi ia |
tion, but when Mr.. Trump who was al
so well known, came up and offered to
vote without his tax receipt his vote
was refused and he was compelled to
60 home and get it, When a colored
man came up and offered to vote the
inspector would run his eye down the
list, and the window man would bring
his fist down on the window and say,
tEG-d d-n Won, YOU have no right