The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-01-31
MORE ARRANGEMENTS.
MESSRS. GulGON. HUNTER. AND STE
PHENS BEFORE COMMISSIONER
PLEASANTS.
CHARGED WITH OBSTRUCTING
VOTERS IN JACKSON WARD.



The preliminary examination Of the
cases OF Messrs A b GuigOn, John
Hunter. W. J. stephens and \. Glaze
brook, before Commissioner Vi. r. Pleas
ants. Al the United states District Court
rooms. was commenced Yesterday morn
ing. The defendants are charged With
interfering with aud hindering voting at
the First precinct Of Jackson ward, q
charge similar 70 the one which was
brought against Messrs. Belvin ana
others. reported in the TIMES OF yester-
dsy. Several negroes who were put on
the stand testified very uniformly until
they were put on cross-examination
by Mr.. Meredith, when they, in many
material points, coniradicied their own
statements, and the statements OF their
own witnesses.
J. B. Homer was put on the siand
about 1870 o'clock. He stated that he
was present At the First precinct OF Jack
son ward on the last election-day acting
In the capacity of Federal supervisor ;
that Mr.. Stephens was judge there ana
the other gentlemen acted as Democratic
chelleneers. That Mr. GurgOn com
menced challenging votes there about u
o'clock In the morning Continuing,
he said | asked him on what grounds
he challenged, and he said that II was
none of nv business. ! had received
instructions as 10 what questions could
be asked, and / came 20 the conclusion
that be was interfering with the voting
by challenging about one IN every
three persons who came up. Ihere
was not at any time during the
day many white men al che polls eX'
cepf those acting as challengers, ana
consequently, as Republican and a
Democrat were allowed 10 vote alter
nateiy, the Democrats were all voted
easily, while the cOlored voters were
kept back On my order Mr. Guigon
was arrested, but he objected 70 the ar
rest, and in doing so delayed the election
so much that | thought we were losing
more time with him than be consumed
in challenging, SO withdrew my ofdef
OF arrest
Mr.. Stephens insisted on explaining
the law for voting on the Constitution
until his voice almost forsook him.
lie allowed at one time the case 10 be
argued when there was a doubt as TO
whether a man whose residence dld not
correspond with the registration books
should be allowed 20 vote.
AT another time during tho day a
gentleman whose name was registered
came up. BY some means bis name APP
peared on the books a james heanes,
which was incorrect, and he was not al
lowed 10 vote. Al numerous Tunes
during tie day men were challenged aud
asked numerous irr leyant questions after
which the challenge would be withdrawn
and the man allowed 10 vote. IL was
about twenty minutes TO 5 o'clock in the
morning when ! got 10 the polls, and
there were then about 100 men in the
coiored line all during the day. Ny
position was such as that | did not have
fair view Of the voters, but when the
polls closed there were then about the
same number in line, who had not been
voted. There were about $50 white men
and about 600 colored voters on the
registration books at this precinct out
OF this number only about 4.J voted
"S0me times man would come up,
aud the challengers would say 4 chal-
lengc that vote before the name was
found on the disfranchised liels. In this
instance the challenge was withdrawn,
for the name did not appear on The lists;
but great deal oil time was thereby con-
sumed, and there were FIVE men who,
after they were sworn, were not allowed
10 vote.
I'm one particular case man by the