Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-17
PETERSBURG.
TuE casy laArNtT DEnecRAT1c Re-
GrsTRAR coLDwELL
Sent on 10 the Uai,sd states court-Ihe
Eviesnce- General News
Hbtcf.
tcorre.pondence Of the Richmond Dlspa,ch.l

OCTOBER 10, 1888.
Colonel Catlett Gibson, United States
District Attorney, and Deputy United
States Marshal overly came over 10 Pc
tershurp this morning from Richmond
on official business. Deputy Marshal
Overby was armed with warrant for
the arrest OF Mr.. James +. Coldwell,
the Democratic registrar Of Second Ward
in this city. which was issued by Com
missioner Schank on Saturday upon
coinulsiut OF Sir. ". \. hagand,
the Federal supervisor Of said ward,
charging Registrar Coldwel with
violating sections 2026 and 1922 Of the
Revised Statutes Of the United States
relative to the elective franchise. The
specific charge in the warrant WAS that
Mr. Coldwell had refused to allow Super
visor Ragland to make q copy OF the re-
oistered voters OF the Second Ward.
Colonel Gibson was present TO represent
the interest OF the Government IN
the case. The warrant was served
upon Mr. Coldwell soon after the arri-
val Of the District Attorney and deputy
Marshal. aud abOnt o'clock the case
came before Commissioner bchank, at
the custom house, for hearing. The de-
fendaut registrar was represented b7
Nessra. Alexander Hamilton aud Rich
ard b. Davis rs counsel. The only two
witnesses examined we're the complain
ant, Mr. Bagland, and the defendant,
MIR. Coldwell. Mr.. Ragland stated that
on Friday last be called upon Mr.. Cold
well. exhibited to him his commission
a. supervisor. and requested that he be
allowed the privilege Of making n copy
Of the registration-b books OF the Second
Ward; that Mr.. Coldwell declined TO
allow the copy to he made that he then
went 10 see Chief-Supervisor vi. Z.
Plessants, at Richmond, and received
from him letter directing him to make
list of ell registered voters in the Sc
cond- Ward precinct, and to cause the
names Of those upon such list whose
right to register or vote is doubted to be
verified, and declaring that TO enable
him TO make such a list he Is en-
titled TO access TO the reglstra-
tion-books Of the precinct. Mr.. Ragand
further stated that he then called upon
MIR. Coldwell and showed him this let
ter and made further demand FOR a copy
Of the registration-books, which WAS de-
cHned unless suitable compensation
should be allowed. Mr. Ragland stated
that while Mr.. Coldwell did not deny
INN the privilege of an inspection Of the
books, be did refuse him the privilege of
making copies Of them unless compcnsa-
ton we're given, and he said that he had
no money to use for this purpose.
Mr.. Coldwell testified that Mr. Rag
lands request was more in the ma
tire Of a positive demand that when
Mr. Ragland approached him he asked
HIM how much he would pay for the ser
wee Of copying the books; that Nr.
f,agland said be had no money to pay for
such work that he offered 10 allow Dir.
Ragland ID inspect the books. but not
to consume his time in making copies
without pay; that in doing this he was
acting under the State law and IN ac-
cordance with a decision IN an exactly
similar case rendered by Judge Bernard,
of the Hastings Court, last spring, which
sustained him ID his refusal to furnish
his books for copies. lie furthermore
disclained anv intent to disObey the
Federal laws, but claimed it to be his
duty to obey the laws OF his State.
The evidence concluded the case was
argued at some length and the Commits
sioner announced that after careful con
alteration he felt it to be bis duty to
send Mr.. Coldwell on TO the United
States Court for trial. Bail was allowed
and given in the SUN OF $500. lmmcdi-
atoly afterwards Mr.. Ragland made an
other demand upon MIR. Coldwell to be
allowed to take copies Of the book,
and the latter, after consultation with
counsel, again refused on the same
grounds as before. Another warrant Of
arrest was applied for, but under the cir
cumstauces the District Attorney would
not advise its issue, and the Commits
sioner said he would take the matter un-
der consideration.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.
Counterieits Of silver half-dollars have
been pretty freely circulated here within
the last day or two, and number Of
them have come TO light
The cases Of the two negroes, Brown
aud Maugum, charged with the recent
felonious cutting Of young Walter
Poarch, VIII come up before the Mayor
tomorrow morning for examination.
Poarch has sufficiently recovered to be
able to appear in court
The political meetings at Dinwiddie
Courthouse yesterday made things very
lively and amusing there. 1t is reported
that while LangstOn was speaking a
negro in his audience made some insult
ing remarks, winch so angerod the
speaker az 10 cause him to threaten
chastisement to the interrupting party.
The latter was quickly hustled out Of the
meeting.
Hon. f. S. Taylor, OF Illinois, is in
the city, the guest Of General Malone
He delivered an address to the Republi-
cans tonight ut Library Hall on Pro