The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-25
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.


Ieet1mo0ys
To he Editor Of the Dispatch:
In the contcstcd-electio case Of William
r. Sims and ais. us. John l.. Hurt and ais,
IN this county, the taking OF dispositions
began on both sides to-day. New-Design,
near Danville, where the negroes have a
considerable majority, 10 one OF the pre-.
ctpcts where they failed TO vote In the last
election. II II charged that Democrats,
armed with guns and pistols, inundated
and hindered Rekdjusters from voting at
that precinct.
The following deposition Of Republi-
can negro, who was summoned by the
coutestees, Hurt, &C., and who testified
here to-day, tells the whole tale. General
Fowlkes (colored), being first sworn, de-
poses aad says:
Question. Where were you on election
day, November 8, 1883, and where do you
vote!
Answer. / was at New Design precinct,
Pfttsylyania county, Virginia; live In one
hundred yards OF IT, but didn't vote on
that day.
o. Why did you not voter
A. They said there wasn't any tickets
there for us. / asked Bill Brown. a col
ored man who was one Of the leaders at
that p-ecinct--I asked him how come there
want any tickets that day, and he said one
OF the leading men-I think 1t was Mr..
Raulston-t told him not to issue any tick
ots there that day; that there want 10 be
no tickets issued there nor at Danville.
North Danville, nor at Ringgold.
Q. For whom did you intend TO vote,
had you voted on that day.
A. would have voted the Republican
ticket-that rs, the Coalition ticket.
O. Did the Democrats eDdeayor to pre-
vent the colored men from voting, and
what was their conduct towards the col
ored men 2
A. Nothing more than that they all in
vited the colored men to come up and vote
for who they pleased, and appeared TO be
mighty mild, and everything passed of
very quiet, more so than usual.
Q. Were there any armed men there that
day.
A. None that saw, except Mr.. Clarkson
Lee, who came up the road with his gun
going hunting. He left his gun some dis
lance from the polls, up above Mr.. Fullers
store, and came up and voted and then
went back and got his gun and went on
hunting.
O. What have been your politics, and
what are you t0-dayi
A. have beenla Republican all the time,
aud am still one to-day.
Q. Were you afraid to vote that day.
A. No, sir; / was not.
And further this deponeDt saith not.
his
GENERAL y FOwLKEs.
mark.
This is only sample Of what Mr.. Hurt
and his colleagues expect TO prove by men,
bers OF Mr.. Sims's own party. The above.
however, Is sufficient to give the lie to the
vilainous statements sent from this section
to Mahone's organ, the National RepuJli-
can.
Here IL how Sims was defeated. Figures
won't lie. In 1882 Wise received in Pitt
sylvanis county 1886 votes. In 1883 sims
received 3,547-an increase in 1883 OF 652
votes-which is exclusive Of Danvllle, and
still he says the negroes were intimidated
and didn't vote. In 1882 Massey received
3,767 votes, and i'm 1883 Hurt received
l,79S-an increase OF 1,031. Hurts ma
iority in this county and Danville ana
North Danyille was 1876. He could there
fore afford TO give Sims the registered Re-
adiuster vote at these places, they being
the only places the negroes didn't vote,
and still leave him behind nearly 1000
votes. But OF course his contest is all for
buncombe, and when he goes to Richmond
for his seat the Senate will probably be
generous enough to give him one on the
Capitol steps. ABERDEEN.
Chatham, "a, November 81, 1888.