The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-06
THAT INVESTIGATION
STILL DRAGS ITS WAY ALoYG.
/" 'os'ai Clerks Testimony OF Occurrences
I'D ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Eustace Glib
son and George ID. Wise on the stand.
by telegraph 90 tho Dlspatch.

! "'"'NuloN, april O.-GcorRc III. SOUTH
ml, postal clerk between Lynchburg and
DlHvoi, Iefn., was examined before the
DanVile subcommittee this morning. He
was IN Lynchburg the night before the
eieetion and made notes OF two speeches
urnvered at public meeting there by Mr..
WnheDead, editor Of the Lynchburg Id
vahce, and Mr.. Marye. n lawyer OF Lynch
curg' witness read his notes. The speaker
sma, III substance, that they (the Demo-
cratsl intended TO carry the election by
piooa IL necessary. and that all arrangements
hau been made 10 that end. Sentiments OF
approval for the action OF the whites at
DanVille aud denunciations OF the "traitor
Malone were uttered. He described the
circulars which were put out by the Demo
crats. One OF them grossly misrepresented
statements made by Governor Cameron in
a public speech. 80.
On cross-eXamination by Senator Vance
witness described the feature OF the
meeting. which he said had not occurred
to him before. A colored brass land
approached the meeting, followed by
crowd, and some one in the
meeting said: Here they are coming
to break Us up. Protect yourselves"
| The whites formed In line and great
many pistols were drawn. The approach
ing crowd bore banner Inscribed, " We
are With YOU" and the whites were re-
assured. Witness said that a good many
% the Democrats disapprOyed the senti-
mcnts uttered In the speeches Of White
head and Marye. lie did not understand
the speakers to threaten violence in order
| to secure votes, but 10 protec. the polls
! from violence.
Mr.. Eus'ace Gibson, a congressman from
! West Virginia, was examined. lie was at
! Cuipeper, Va, on election-day and several
! days before. assisting bis brother, who was
q candidate for the State Legislature. Wit
ness made speeches in the county, and had
/ frequent consultations with both Demo.
cratic and Republican leaders up to the
! time OF the riot. The Democrats had con-
! iident hopes OF carrying the county. The
colored people became very much excited
| bv the news Of the riot, and would there
after hold no intercourse with the Demo
cratic leaders. The news sOlidified the
colored vote on the morning OF the
election-day. He went very early TO
the polling-place, where he expected to
meet two colored Democratic voters, who
came early. anG about one hundred and
thirty colored men formed in line on the
side OF the road and shook their tickets,
saving, "These are colored mems tickets"
This was done with the intention OF IN
! timidating the two col0red Democratic
voters. The first colored man who voted
the Democratic ticket secured pledge that
the witness would not make known the
! fact. After voting. the man "broke and
ran" The color line at that pollng-place
was entirely drawn by coored men. The
news OF the riot was very damaging to the
Democrats.
Congressman George d. Wise. OF Vir-
GINA, took the witness-chair, and was ey-
amined by Senator Vance. Immediately
after the discussion with Colonel Sims, he
made a journey with that gentleman. On
! the train and in conversation, Colonel Sims
stated his confidence tina, he would carry
| the election i'm Danyille, and described his
organization of the negroes. Sims agreed
with witness that he could not hope to
carry the county, but he did expect to re-
| ducc the Democratic vote. Referring TO
the testimony OF Mr.. John $. Wise, witness
quoted the remark: 81 consider my case
| stronger now than when we started. He
| Massey has not proved anything, and
| have proved some seven hundred peIiuries
and forgeries for his benefit" Witness said
be was acquainted with the men thus as
sailed, and they were men who stood as
high Gs any men in Virginia, and no man
had ever questioned their word. What
were called periuries and forgeries
were delinquent taX-payers-men who
had not been assessed by the proper
officers. They went to the commissioner
and received certificate from him that
they had been overlooked. Upon this pa
per the Treasurer received their capitation-
tax in order that they might vote. No oath
was required-it was common practice all
over the State by whites and blacks.
There was, witness said, in the city OF
Richmond 4 regularly-quali6ed collector
OF delinquent taxes. The Coalitionists,
however, selected a second man for this
duty. who opened his Office III the United
States custom-house at Richmond, and
placed guards at the door, and none were
allowed TO pass in who were unaccom-
panied by the guards. Streams OF colored
men were guided in there by these attend
ants. Witness was warned by n prOmi-
nent and honorable Republican that things
were going on there that II known would
shock the public. Witness employed a
man and gave him money TO go and pay
delinquent taxes, as he had the legal right
TO do. The man went, and was threatened
with death.
Senator Lapham objected TO this, on the
ground that the witness was stating what
was not within his personal kno Wedge.
Senator Vance insisted on having the
statements of the man.
Mr.. Wise continued. He repeated that
he could not remain there; he was ac-
cused OF being a spy for the witness, and
was threatened with violence. Witness
L. Frsl Ixr .salr Isaa8Fa 10.
90 and watch the course OF affairs. aud
this man too was elected. The law re-
ouired that the collector should execute a
bond, and it was discovered on the day OF
the election that the second collector had
given no bond. The reason for this was
that one dollar had been made TO serve
the purpose OF paying the tax Tor
four hundred colored men. When a
colored man entered dollar was handed
him: when it was paid to the officer 1t
was carried back to the doorkeeper to be
handed to the next colored man. The
Judge OF the court ordered that none OF the
tax-receipts issued by John ID. Snellings.
second collector, be recognized, because OF
the discovery that he was not under bonds.
Acting under this order, some OF Smell
lings's certificates were refused at certain
white precincts, and thereupon the Co
alitionists arrested the election officials and
kept the polls closed during portion OF
the day when many Democrats wished to
vote. Witness took the names OF between
200 and 800 Democratic voters al two pre-
cincts alone who were thus prevented
from voting. A United States marshal
who arrested challenger ct one OF the
colored precincts was met by John ). Wise
and ordered to release the man. The mar
shall was told he did not understand his duty.
Witness submitted in evidence circular
appealing to colored men to vote solidly
for the Coalitionists; to avenge the mur.
, der OF their fellows-fve at Danville, and
one Robert Robinson) in another place;