The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-01-16


CINcINNATI, Jan. l5.-In the Springer
investigating committee to-day, Mar
shall Wrignt began to introduce his
testimony. A. A. Ferris, attorney at
law, was the first witness. He told of
scenes at Precinct a, Fifth ward, where
colored man, named Spriggs, was
taken from tho polls while being ques-
toned by the judges as to his right to
vote. He Was iorcibly dragged from
the polls and afterwards beaten
by the police and taken
to the station house. Two other
csses Of a similar kind occurred. The
deputy marshals were afraid, appar-
emily, to Interfere with the deputy
sheriffs and tne police. The deputy
sherifls were armed with dray pins. He
was asked whether tbere was not a gem
eral feeling among good citizens prior
10 the election that the appointment Of
deputy marshals was necessary to Sc
cure free aud fair election, but obieC-
ton was made.
Mr.. Stewart, Of Tho committee, thought
the question admissible.
Mr.. VanAlstyne thought the only
view in which it was admissible was in
case witness bad made any such state
ment to Marshall Wright.
Chairman Springer favored the ques-
ton, and witness answered that There
was such general feeling. There were
grave apprehensions of rowing, organ
lied gangs Of repeaters.
On cros>-pXamiuation ho said his
knowledge Of tho apprehension that
there was danger ol repeating was OBJ
tanned from general report, newspaper
talk, etc. He did not mention it to Mar
shat Wright.
A. Howard Hinklo, q supervisor o;
election at the same precinct, cOrrobor.
ated the preceding witness as to the b ID
treatment of coiOred voters by depu y
sheriifs and police, who interlered with
voters while The judges were examining
them. SprlggS was dragged away and
was afraid To return to vote, although
he was lawful voter in the third ward
An oliicious gentleman from Kentucky
said Springs lived in Cynthiana, bul
afterwards said he thought he lived
there. The deputy marshals did not
preuent any Dem crat from voting.
To question by Chairman Springer
witness SAID that in his opinion it would
have tended to better preserve the peace
at the polls if Marshal Wright had ap
pointed good men from both parties al
deputy narshalS.
John w. Heron, attorney. at-law, was
oorroborated the previous witnesses a.
10 the action of deputy sheritls anC
police interfering with Republican
voters. Tho deputy sheriffs were dis
orderly and rough. Nobody interfereC
with any voters that day except witt
colored men. The colored vote was les
than usual that day.
Q. S. Wea,horbv, a dry goods mer
chant, testified that he saw colored
resident OF the seventeenth ward ar
rested at tho instigation of Councilman
Refs, and that he demonstrated witt
Refs at the time. Later Refs admitted
that the rest was a mistake, but die
not go TO release the prisoner.
Amos Ludington was a supervisor a
the Race street precinct, in the eighti
ward. The colored peuplo did not take
charge of the polls aud run things thei
own way. Tho Democrats challenged
every negro. In some eases before Gdl
judge had time to examine the man thu
Democrats would shout, ole is re-
peaterW and no would DO jerked dOwi
and beaten till he ran away. Deput,
sheriffs, armed with dray pins, ordered
deputy marshalS aud supervisors out
the voting place, One of them, namrt
Phillips, was in the room now, and lac
to-day threatened witness.
Judge Foraker asked If Phillips wa
present.
Witness pointed him out, and Phil
lips arose and said: "You hep
Witness said he had been told that h
(Phillips) had threatened him. Wirnrs
said: "That man with tue hickory clu
in his hand ordered him out OF the poll
ing place. He pat his hand on the bal
lot box and stond ut his post"
=. Taylor, colOred, bank messenger
told of his effort to vote at this pre-
cinct. He was challenged by CO.
ored Democrat. He was the only 90
ored man he saw there. Tho Judge NJ
pointed men 10 20 with him to SEQ wher
he lived. The moment he stepped dow
he was knocked down. He got up an
ran away, but did no dare to 20 back
Later, while on business for the bank
he was passing within squar
or two of the polls, VIII
he saw mob after Andei
son Bennett, colored. The mob turne
on him. lie showed two scars on "a
top of his head and one on his lil
caused by wounds then received. ii
was put in patrol wagon and had
chance TO see tho mob trying to HI
Bennett in the house of Preacher Webb
where he took refuge. Bennett wa
finally put in pairol wagon and I'll
mob threw boulders at him in th
wagon.
The official stonngrapher says IN
published reports Of the episode when
witness was asked, n day or two az
III ho was not notori II
as n leader Of repeater
were incorrect la saving that his note
showed that the original question COZ
tained the phraS q, "whethor deSerVeul