The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-10-30
LIBERTY coUNrY's CONTEST.
The Norman-McIver MIDDLE Getting
Strengthened Out.

Strengthened Out.
X. X. Richards Esq, and A. Fl. Macdonell,
Esq, counsel in the Liberty county Nor
man-McIver contest for the legislature
spent Sunday at home and left yesterday
for Hinesviile, where the taking Of testimony
will be resumed this morning and, Will be
continued until Saturday when, If nothing
new springs up, the instigation will be con-
cluded
A MORNING NEWS reporter, in an inter-
view yesterday with Mr.. Richards, counsel
for MIR. Norman, learned that great interest
is being taken in the contest. 1t is dwarfing
all other questions in Liberty, even the
presidential issue. When County Judge
Ashmore ope ed the court of inquiry last
Thursday morning, he said that it looked
like a camp meeting. The colored
people came from miles back in
the county, and McIver was
gloves, and looked like an old time aristo-
crat. I'm fact" said Mr.. Richards, mot
one of the John c.. Calhoun school OF old
time aristocrats could have excelled Nc
liver in the dgnIfied expression which he
carried, varied occasionally ty dagger
like glance at his Angla-Saxon opponent"
After the first day McIver wore his every
day clothes and le his kid gloves and
Prince Albert at home.
The evidence of the contestant" said
Mr.. richards, was put in on Thursday and
Friday, and Friday afternoon Rev. Floyd
Snelson took the stand for Mclver. For
two and half hours he made an unInter-
rupted statement, carefully looking over the
shoulder of the clerk to see that every word
went down just as he delivered it. He con-
tinued his statement on Saturday, when q
cross examination began, and it will be re-
sumed to-day. There are ten or fifteen wit
nesses to be examined after Sneison, prin-
cipally colored and the contestant will
follow with other witnesses.
Mr.. Norman is supper ted,' Mr. Rich
ards said, "by Capt Bradwell and others,
by whom they prove that the vote of the
Riceboro precinct should be thrown out,
because the managers of the election were
not sworn according 10 law, the chief
manager, Floyd Snelson swearing the other
two-his son and Bacon, and not having
the oath administered to himself There
was no jurat to the affidavit of the free
holders, and the evidence shows that the
principal freeholder was not sworn,
although an officer was on the ground
qualified to administer the oath. that
Snelson, being a commissioner of the
county, with the power of making and
changing precincts, and with all the powers
of the old inferior courts, he was not quail
fed to preside as a freebooter, though he
might have been qualified in his official
capacity.
ut is also proven that one of the free
holders is a son of Floyd Snelson. unmar-
ried, but over q years old, returned only
for poll tax. Snelson's father, however,
produced on the stand deed of gift from
himself to his son for several acres of land
dated July 2, which was not left for record
until the morning of the day when the con-
test began. Snelson also produced a deed
of trust from Frank Carroll to Bacon, the
hT.d fw-na t%II f.
dated Aug. 13, and not left for record until
the day the contest began. The contestant
looks upon these deeds with sus oicion.
They are clean, bore evidence of having
been handled but little, and he will claim
that they were prepared for the OCCASION
'Snelson," Mr.. Richards said, sis the
diplomat, the MaZarin, and the power be-
hind the throne He is a remarkable col
ored man. AS a preacher he is looked I'D
to. He claims to have the election laws at
his finger ends, and he leaves no part In his
testimony uncovered. He claims that he
swore the freeholders, as has been the Gus
tom for fifteen or sixteen years; that the
republicans have majority of 800 in Lib
erty county, principally in the Riceboro
precinct; that the election was fair, and that
a collection was taken UP for the manager
after the polls closed.
THE contestant will prove" Mr..
Richards said, ''that hundreds voted who
were not qualified to vote, not having paid
their taxes; that the tax books have beel
examined and that great many people
voted at the Riceboro precinct and other
places who had not paid their poll tax
Snelson claims to have LOT of tax receipts
for some of these men. This week will be
taken w in proving the illegal votes cast
for McIver. We will prove that Snelson's
son, a student at Atlanta university and a
teacher outside of Liberty county, was not
qualified to vote"
"Will McIver go on the stand 2" Mr..
Richards was asked
81 do not know whether he will make a
statement or not II he does he will be
submitted to rigid cross-examination.n
Mr.. Richards said that the colored people
in attendance at the investigation have
deported themselves well. Isaac Beckett,
ESQ.,, was present last week, and will go up
tie latter part of this week. He is brother
in-law of Mr.. Norman, an d is taking deep
interest in the contest. Mr.. Richards said
that he has no doubt that the vote of the
Riceboro precinct will be rejected, and that
his client will be seated.
TIM HnTTDm ON nDnTNADU