National Republican., 1883-02-26
THE MAssEx-w1sE CONTEST.
The Taking OF Testimony C1osed-The Evi-
dence OF the Alexandria witnesses.

dence OF tho Alexandria witnesses.
The taking Of dispositions in the contest Of
Massey vs.. Wise was resumed at the Office Of
X. Kemper on Saturday morning.
J.C. Taliaferro testified that he was present,
continuously, at the place of registration of
voters as United States supervisor for the
fourth ward The registrar was Mr.. wimsett,
rcadjuster. He challenged five men
who lived outside the city limits. The
registration lasted six days. At the close Of the
sixth day he gave the registrar notice that he
would require him TO send notice whenever
he placed a name on the registration book
between that and tho regular day. He did
not comply with this notice. On the final
day of regis tration he demanded an examina-
| tion of the books and was refused. From
casual glance at the books he Judged that
some forty or fifty names had been added in
the interior between the sixth day of regis
tration and tho final day of sitting. The
registrar would not permit careful exami-
nation. He said he would not allow him or
any one else TO copy names from tho books.
The registrar did not remain in town
after the final day of registration.
He was present at the election, Nov. z, and
could easily distinguish the difference in the
tickets of the two parties whites generally
voted the democratic ticket, and blacks the
rcadjustcr. Witness is democrat and voted
for Massey and Barbour.
A. w. Armstrong was examined by G. Il.
Stuart and testified that he is now and had been
chairman of the citizens republican commit
tee since the year 1877, with the exception
of one year. At the last November election
the cOlored people voted, as far as could judge,
unanimously for John ID. Wise and II. X. Farr
For several days prior TO the election he went
around this town, and had one or two others
Il Il, NIna 4 h.,
men to act as Canvassers ON the day of cleo
tiOn for what was known rs the straight out
republican ticket. to wit, John NJ. Dorsey for
congressman -at-large and John b. Syphax as
congressman for the eighth congressional dis
trict. lie only got two to act as such cam
vassers. In going around he found the senti-
ment rs before stated. Nearly all the Colored
voters were for Wise and Fdrr. Was at sew
eral polls during the day. There was not the
slightest violence or intimidation at any
place that he knew of neither was there a
large crowd at any of the polls, except at the
third ward, during the whole day. There
was not the slightest confusion or disorder.
| Didn't think he ever saw a more quiet cleo
tiOn. The majority Of all the registrars and
| judges of election were read busters.
| j. j. Green was examined and testified that
| he is II democrat, and voted for Massey and
Barbour; could identity the democratic and
readjuster ballots used on Nov. in the sec
| Ouu warn InOSS HlCu IN eNluCnCe were, us
| well as he can remember, the same as those
used on that election day was at the second
ward polls on election day about three hours
electioneering, and took list of names of
those voting on tax receipts signed by Ar
thur Simpson; there were fifteen in all
(witness here filed fifteen names; they
all, with one exception, were colorcd).
They all voted, judging by tho appearance
OF their ticket, for Wise and Farr.
Capt. William Smith, city sergeant, was
called and identified the tickets presented as
similar to those used by both parties on cleo
tion day. He knew Charles Dearborn prior
to the election. He was registrar of the
first ward. Had conversation with him at
Mr.. Simpsons office about ten days, he thought,
previous to the election; there were several
| parties present. He made some such remark
US that II the success of his party depended
upon his going to the penitentiary for ten
years he would be willing to CO." Being
familiar with him, witness remarked that that
was II lie. He then remarked u second time
that he would do it knew the registration OF
the fourth ward he was a Malone read juster
and resided in the second ward didn't know
where he was between the last day OF
registration and the day of cleo
tion. Under direction of the corpora
tiOn court, to obtain the fourth
ward registration books, which were ordered
to be returned to the court, he used due dill
gence both day and night TO find him, but
did not succeed. He got the books from the
fourth ward polls on the morning of election
He understood the voters could not obtain
transfers to other precincts between the last
day of registration and election day.
Mayor j. Il. Beckham testified that he was
q democrat and voted for j. Il. Massey fol
cong ngressman-at-large. That he instructed
the chief of police, james Webster, to place d
sufficient force at each of the polls to see that
perfect order was preserved, and that the
rights Of each and every citizen, white or
black, democrat or readjustcr, should be
properly guarded, and If there was any effort
made to crowd any particular vote to report
to him, and he would instruct him to arrange
q line to the ballot box, with white
and colOred men equally distributed in the
line. He did not receive from either political
party single complaint that any advantage
was being taken by either party. / only saw
one single disturbance, which was at the third
ward. When Mr.. David A. Windsor requested
the police officers to take fron the line man
who, he claimed, had voted and was about tC
vote again, the officer came to witness fol
instructions, and he directed him to pay nC
attention to Mr.. Windsor, but say to him not to
interfere with the police force in the discharge
of their duty; but to watch the party, and
If he voted twice to make complaint, under
oath, when he would issue a warrant for hi.
arrest. The election was unusually quiet
there was no arrests made by the mayor o.
police,
Arthur Simpson was then called, and ex
amined at great length in regard to the col
lection of the capitatiOn tax, and this closed
the taking of testimony.