The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-12-28
THE IsE.wADDILL CONTEST.
Mr. Waddi,i Replies to Certain Charges
Made Against Him Published Ia the
Times.
H.. u nnnnrnhnr Oh 1879


RICHMOND, VA, December "a, 1888.
Editor Daily Times:
Dear Sir,-Referring 10 the local in
your issue Of Friday the I'd instant, where
in Messrs. John Poe, Jr., and c. III. Epps
undertake to criticise my notice oil con
test for a seat in the fifty-first Congress,
| beg to hand you herewith a letter
received by me from Major Poe in refer
ence to said article The letter speaks
for itself
Now, as T. Epps, ] shall not under
take to handy epithets with him. If the
good people of Richmond approve OF his
course, he, peace officer, in high author
ity, can stand it, Considering his feel
ing and behavior on this occasion, the
public can readily appreciate how he
demeaned and behaved himself on The
dav Of election, when everything was AT
fever heat Since Mr. Epps, however
has undertaken to criticise my notice of
contest. which notice venture TO say he
has never read or seen, and 10 call IN
question certain statements therein con-
tanned. | think il but proper that IT
should be known with what recklessness
he makes statements 10 the end OF
determining the Importance that should
be given 10 what he says now and here
after. In answer 10 question from
your reporter as to whether any arrests
were made for illegal voting, Epps
replied, None except on warrants
sworn out by the challengers. The
truth is, as shown by the records OF the
Police Court criminal docket, pages 35l,
3j2. 1853. 354. 35i. 1858, and 800 There
were. on election day, twenty-six persons
arrested for violation of election laws.
Of this entire number warrants were
sworn out against only seven persons
and of the number, fifteen, arrested from
Jackson ward not one had warrant
served out against him, but were arrested
by our nOn-partisan policemen IN that
ward upon the mere say-so OF Democratic
challengers and partisans. OF the entire
number Of persons thus picked up and
imprisoned 10y the police, without war
rant of authority, only two were found
to have even slight suspicion oil
guilt against them and sent on TO-
the grand jury, and this, TOO, before
a court presided over by an honorable
Judge Of different political views
TO those arrested. Captain Epps
further SAYS: " For several hours in the
afternoon voting was very slack at the
First district especially" This language
was manifestlv intended to convey the
impression that all persons at this pre-.
cinct voted, whereas there were l,oll
registered voters, and only 43l were al
lowed to vote.
The truth is, this precinct, hours be-
fore day the morning OF election, was
crowded 10 overflow with voters, and at
sunset psi were standing in line, ballots
in hand; in addition, large number OF
voters.have already reported TO me as
having left the polls, seeing II was I'M
possible t. vote. Now as TO the street
barricade talked about by Epps. The
facts are: So great was the crowd at TINS
precinct that the sidewalk for square or
more was packed with men in line to
vote. and in moment | saw something
was necessary to hold the crowd back
from pressing at the polls, and | did at
tempt to put up scantling to restrain
them and prevent the crushing OF those
AT the windows, at the same time eXpe-
dite the voting and possibly prevent a
row. This reasonable precauuOni now
ever, did not meet with the approval OF
our non-partisan Police Captain, who I'M
mediately caused the same to be taken
down, and the natural and no doubt an
ticipated result followed, as above shown.
This effort 10 enlist the feeling and sym
pathy of the police force of the city OF
Richmond in this case is as apparent
as is the attempt by this attack
10 draw the attention of the public from
the real merits of my contest. Both,
however. will fail. The reference to the
policemen of Richmond in my notice OF
contest in no manner reflects upon any
member of the force not participant In
the violation of the election law, and
naught but a guilty conscience can dis
turb single policeman The other efiect
will likewise fail The intelligent pub
lie know the outrage of this case, and
cannot be hoodwinked by side issues.
The contest will proceed and l shall
proye every allegation in my notice OF
contest, Policeman Epps TO the con-
trary. Notwithstanding, and secure my
seat and the law be vindicated.
Respectfully,
EDMUND WADDILL, JR.
The following is the letter from Mayor
Poe, above referred TO;
RICHMOND, Va, December p, 1883
Judge WaddiR.'
Dear Sir, While ] have no doubt OF
your romancing about the action OF inc
police in the last election, | did not tell
nv young friend-the reporter-that
YOU lied. The language is distastefui TO