Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-01
THREE OUT OF FIVE.
JUDGE MINOR REvERSeS THE REGIS
TRARS IN A FEW INSTANCES.
Purging Cases Set for To-Day-Petitions
for AIandamus Ready tn BE Pre-
sented to Judge Wexford.

judge Minor, OF the henTlcO NOunty
Court. ascended the bench at II o'clock
yesterday morning and spent nearly four
hours hearing matters growing out OF last
Saturdays registration.
The cases before him were those of per-
sons claiming the righ; TO register and vote
who made individual appeals from the de-
cisions of the registrars in refusing to enter
their names.
It was expected that there would be q
great many Of these. but if there were
more than five they were not brought TO
the attention Of the Court.
COUNSEL AND WITNESSES.
There was a large crowd in the court
room during the whole time that the hear
ing was in progress.
Spectators were not the only persons
liberal in their attendance, for Of counsel
and witnesses there were large numbers.
Judge Waddil represented the parties ap-
pealing, and had associated with him one
or two lesser lights. Hon. George ID. Wise
and Mr.. William II. Sands were leading
counsel for the defence, and bad several
members of the city and county bar to as
sist them.
The principal witnesses for the defence
were the registrars themselves.
THE APPEALS.
Three Of the appeals were from Smith
ers's precinct, where Blr. Normcnt Is regis
trar. and two from Jones's, Mr.. Darlington
registrar.
All of the complainants were negroes,
and each case was entirely different from
/ all the rest except that in two instances
| the chief question to be passed upon by
! the Court was whether or not the persons
seeking registration produced sufficient
| evidence before the registrars TO prove
| that they had reached the age OF twenty
one.
sS1THERs's.
| The cases coming from Smithers's pre-
cinct were first considered. h'ing taken up
/ in regular order. one at = time.
! "A TO BENJAMIN Holmes the registrar GER
tilted that he didno apply TO be registered
until after sundown and was refused on
this ground. The Judge affirmed the OIL
GERS action in this instance.
pompev Has sius claimed TO have re-
gistered at Meyer,ahls, IN Chesterfield. IN
1892 and 10 have voted there up 10 about
three ye9rs aco. when he moved 10 Hem
rico, where he has since resided but never
offered 10 register. Registrar NOrment re-
fused 10 enroll ilasEiu,'s name because he
did not bring % satisfactory certificate
from the registrar at hlcversabPs, where
complainant name did not appear on the
newly-copied books.
Judge ilinor decided against the petl-
toner n this case and took occasion 70 say
that under his construction OF the law the
Court was not utlor.Zed to pass upon tho
right of any one I'D bc registered or 10 vote
further than 60 decide whether the regis
trar erred with the evidence before him,
Iii refusing % cator the name.
QUESTION or AGE.
The question involved in the noKt two
cases. one from each of these voting
places. was whether the compliments gave
satisfactory evidence that they were old
enough 10 vote, and the Judge being of
the opinion thai the testimony offered was
sufficient. directed the registrars to rem
| state the names.
The last ease wns that Of o man who ask
! ed registration az Jone-'s on transfer
from another precinct. dated " October 26-
g." which Mr.. CauingtOn declined 10
honor. on tho ground that the irregularity
was OF such a character that he could not
with any certainty say when the transfer
Was granted.
The judge held that the defect in the
transfer was not sufficient to vitlate that
paper and ordered that it be recorded.
There would probably have been several
other cases presented had they not been
barred by Judge Minors ruling that his
jurisdiction was limited TO the single ques-
tion rs to whethar the registering officers
acted properly with the light before them
in other words, that the Court could only
consider the testimony that was before the
registrars.
As To THE PURGrNG.
The two principal cases growing ont of
the registration in the county VIII come
IN before Judye Minor IT II O'Clock this
morning. this having been agreed upon On
"Wednesday IN q conference between the
Judge and counsel for both sides. The
proceedings ON these viii be- on the peti-
tiOns already fled OF the persons whose
names were stricken of and who collective
lyappcal % the Court 20 review the action
OF the registrars and lave the names re-
entered.
Here the real test will be made. The
number Of votes involved il eighteen at
Smithers's and about two hundred at
JOnos's. The docieiOn in these Instances
will most likely have more or less effect
upon the course 10 be- pursued where losses
have been sustained by the books being
pursed.
MAND ANUS WANTED.
The papers have been prepared and will
perhaD, be presented TO Judge Nellford
of the Circuit Court for the county, to-day
asking him to issue % mandamus to compel
the registrars To restore the names. This
. course had been decided upon end he ap-
plicafion would h1yo been made yes crday
# jude Woddl. who IS running the whole
business. he'd not been too much pressef
for time. lhe papers win no doubt be pre-.
sented, it matter, not how Judge Minor
may decide the cases before him, rs Judge
Wexford also holds the Circuit Court Of
Richmond. and his ruling in the one III
stance VIII I'M tine main apply TO the city a.
well rs tne county.
As vet no steps have been taken in the
CITY courts. but H. is understood that III,
, lists have been prepared ard were signed
at "a meeting held last night, 50 that II al
opportuuc time presents itself the mattel
may be rushed through III hurry.
JCDGE BOND.
II has been rumored for several DAYS thai
judge Bond may yet have hand IN tine
matter The idea seems prepOsterOG5
Probably IL is put forth for effect.
The judge is not in Richmond, but the
Republican leaders have been, and ar,
perhaps now, in communication with him
Bold as Bond is it Il not in his power t(
bolster up Mahone's crumbling cause.
MANCHESTER NEWS IN BRIEF.
a Few Items of Interest from Across thu
James.
I q Il