National Republican., 1883-02-22
THE Y1RaINIA coNrEsT.
Further Evidence Taken I'm the Massey
wise Election Case at Alexandria.

| Wise Election Case at Alexandria.
The taking Of depostions in the Massey
and Wise contest was resumed yesterday be-
fore X. Kemper in Alexandria, at 2:30 o'clock.
The first witness called was John 8. 3.
Thompson, clerk for John s. Barbour, prcsi-
dent of the Virginia Midland railway. He
testified that he is democrat and voted for
J. i. Massey and John 8. Barbour. He ex-
planned the difference between the democratic
and readjustor ballots used. Was at the
fourth ward polls all day on the day Of
election as representative of tho demo-
cratic party for the purpose Of see
ing that no fraud was committed.
He made list Of all who voted
upon tax receipts signed by Arthur
Simpson, collector. One hundred and
sixty-six persons voted on such receipts, of
which 16i were colOred and were white.
One hundred and sixty-6ve voted the read
iuster ticket and one the democratic ticket.
OF the above 166 who voted, SO were not on
the delinquent list. Witness challenged Sam
uel Tennesson for this reason, and his vote
was rejected. Previous to challenging Ten
nesson's vote he did not have copy Of
delinquent list, and did not therefore
challenge the rest. Fifty-two Of the 81 50
| voting were cOlOred men, and voted
| the readiuster ticket, so far rs witness could
tell, with few exceptions. Being asked as to
the number of votes for J. S. Wise polled in
the third ward, on such receipts, witness re-
| piled that he was not at that ward ON election
day and had no personal knowledge, but he
had compared the poll books of the third ward
with the records in tho treasurers office, and
on commissioner of revenues books, and found
ninety-three names on the poll books who
had not paid the capitation tax for 1881
to the treasurer, They were not exempted 1;
/ mot NFANA m mot M
the delinquent list, and, as far
as he was able to discover, must have voted
on receipts signed by Simpson. Being asked
as to the number in the first and second
wards who voted on receipts from Simpson
who were not on the delinquent list, he re-
were kept by other parties, from which IL ap-
pears that 80 voted in the first ward and %
in the second ward.
On cross examination the witness said he
took an active part in the last canvass in the
city ; was not employed to do so made can
vass of the fourth ward in connection with
others to bring out the democratic voters, and
advised them Of the registration being held /;
thought the white voters, except about
forty were registered. Canvassers for that
ward were selected by the members
Of the democratic club in connection
with the city democratic committee.
Most Of the canvassers volunteered
those organizations; he procured capitation
tax receipts previous to the last election, but
could not recollect how many; thought per-
haps ten or twelve; some of the other can
vassers did the same, but could not state how
many; parties who were taking more active
part, were from time TO time. preceding the
election requested by parties or their friends,
TO procure receipts and pay the capita
tion tax; couldn't state how many were
| so procured as n rough estimate, would say
at least 100 in the city; some receipts were
secured at the request Of tho parties by the
city committee; couldn't say how many pos
sibly $50 or 450; they were not delinquent
taxes some were parties returned delinquent
and were paid to the clerk of the corporation
court, and others who had never been assessed
at the regular assessment, and who
were supplementary assessed, and taxes
therefore paid to the city treasurer.
1t was difficult TO tell how many were paid by
the canvassers upon the supplemental list, but
he judged at least one-third. Could not say
who furnished the money to pay for those re.
ceipts. He was then asked If there were not
several hundred dollars raised by somo parties
| to pay this capitation tax. He replied there
was some raised by subscription by the two
organizations to be used in defraying the ex.
penses of the canvass. He could state most
positively that not one cent was sub
scribed or paid by tho Virginia Midland
Railway company. He was then asked ii any
of the officers subscribed, which question was
objected TO. He said, however, that as far a'
his personal knowledge went, some of them
did, though how much he could not state. He
mentioned the superintendent, Mr.. Dunn
the treasurer, Mr.. Marbury; the secretary
Col. Reid auditor, Mr.. McLain Capt. Hawks
Mr. Sims, Mr.. Luckett, Mr.. Green, Mr.. +. s
Marbury as having contributed to the Young
Mems Democratic club, and said there wa:
no understanding with the parties voting, to
whom money for taxes was advanced, that
they would vote the democratic ticket there
was no case where he paid the taxes Of any
one where there was an understanding as Il
how they would vote; paid taxes for
colored men, one of whom had voted
the readjuster ticket think he voted
that ticket in November; / paid, or had
paid, their taxes for them, and gave
! them thier receipts, and they afterward re
turned the money. Read the fifty-three tar
receipts of the persons mentioned; read every
tax receipt that was presented at the fourtl
ward polls and such votes as were presented
open; can't say how many of the So ballot
were presented open at the fourth ward
by the account / kept of ballots cas-
on receipts issued by Simpson there were 66
which included tho 53 he saw; at leas
twenty-five or thirty Of the same voted open
can't say how many of thoss were voted by
the 53 namedj kept no account o
open ballots. He was then asked how ht
know that John Wise's name was on tn,
So ballots, and replied that such o
them cast openly had the name of John s
Wise upon them, and the others appeared Il
be the same size, character, and color; thes
ballots were furnished in nearly every cas-
by parties at the polls holding tickets will
the name of John Wise upon them th
two ballots were printed upon paper Of dif
ferent texture, tint, and size; could readil,
distinguish them apart. His busines
at the polls was to see ballots de
posted and challenge voting parties VIII
| had no right to vote; had no persona
! knowled how the parties voted at other wards
The readjustor vote in the fourth ward was
, For John S. Wise, about 227; about 25 or 3
, whites In that ward voted for John S, Wise
suppose about 10 whites voted for Wise b,
scratching Massey from the democratic bal
lots; was told about that number of demo
I cratic ballots in the box were scratched
think not over 1875 to 150 whites in the cit
voted the readjuster ticket.
In reply TO redirect examination by MI
Mushback, he said the voting in the fourtl
: ward was steady from the start until 2 o'clock
/ The time consumed in finding the name of
voter on the books in the fourth ward wa
about as short as could well be; some della
, was caused by having two ballot bOXes-on
for congressional votes and one for the amend
2 ment ballot the judges had in each cas-
4 TO ask the voter which was the congressionu
and which the amendment ballot. AdjOurne
until 10 o'clock to-day.
WRshIngtOn's birthday.
r II is probable that Washngton's birthda
< will this year be more generally observed an