Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-10-18

GAHLAD A1Ah&+s
Just prior to the November election Of
1882. It was discovered that an arrange
ment had been effected by certain Rs
publicans, namely, by Richard Smith.
Martin Burrows, Asbury Pennington and
others, to send party of negro FOUNDERS
or repeaters from St. Georges hundred to
Wilmington to vote. Some OF these
negroes were brought from Maryland,
and the others resided In st. Georges
and Appoouinimink hundreds in this
county; but were not entitled to vote
anywhere. They were placed on board
the cars st Middletown, furnished money
to pay their fare, and were brought to
the junction of the Delaware and p, w.
ABR. R, Just outside Of this city,
where they were met by a white man
named Ellis Hicks, who then resided in
Christina hundred. Hicks was accom-
panied by several Wilmington col
ored men. Frem there they were
taken to a store kept by eolored man
by the name of Anderson, In the western
part of the city, where they were
furnished with Autographed tax receipts,
stamped with counterfeit collectors
seal Of New Castle county. The receipts
purported to have been given by several
different collectors of the county. They
were filed out at that time and place In
the names Of the negroes who had been
brought from Middletown.
A number or them were then taken In
q wagon to Newport, were several Of
them voted From there they we're taken
to North Christiana hundred, where a
number also exercised the right of fran
chise, after being challenged as non
residents Men of wealth and supposed
responsibility vouched for them and on
their assurance that they were residents
of the hundred their votes were taken.
They were then brought TO Whining
ton and voted In several wards in this
city. At the Seventh ward, while some
Of them were at the window voting, a
gentleman from Middletown named
Thomas Hopkins, recognized some Of
these men as residents Of that neighbor-
hood, and mentioned the fact TO parties
who were standing at the polls He was
at once attacked by an Infatuated crowd
of negroes, encouraged by white Repub
loans and was obliged to flee and take
refuge In private house on Orange
street, ran into the parlor and hid under
the piano. Some Of the negroes went SO
far as to enter the house and insist on
making q search, refusing to leave until
assured by the lRdy that the man they
were looking for had passed on through
and out the back way.
An investigation was Immediately in
stituted by the Democrats, when 1t was
found that large number of these col
ored repeaters had voted in the various
wards Of the city. A committee was
then appointed TO 60 to Middletown and
Interview some of these colored men who
had been recognized. The committee
went to Middletown on November 10,
1882, and called on Levi Anderson, one Of
the repeaters, who at once ackno wledged
the whole conspiracy, and stated that at
q meeting of the colored voters held IN
Hamtown, negro settlement near Mid
dletown, they were addressed by
Walter Burris and Richard Smith,
who informed them that they would
be furnished with tickets and money at
the Middletown depot, and advised them
TO 60 to Wilmington to vote upon tax
receipts TO be furnished them when they
arrived there.
Anderson also gave the names OF
twenty FIVE or thirty others who were
led into this conspiracy By Burris and
Smith Anderson had his Autograph tax
receipt in his possession and Immediately
gave it to the committee. He was then
asked whether he would 60 before a
justice Of the peace and make affidavit 10
his statement. This he Immediately an
swered in the Affirmative, and went be-
fore Squire John Vasey at Middletown,
and made the affidavit as follows;
- New CASTLE COUNTY, S.
personally appeared before me, the
subscriber, John Massey, one OF the JUS
tees # the peace for the county afore-
said, Levi Anderson. known to me TO be
snch aud being duly sworn, deposed and
said, /. Levi Anderson, being resident
Of the Western district Of st. Georges
hundred. New Castle county, STATE of
Delaware, on the Seventh day of No
vember, A. D., Eighteen Hundred and
Eighty two, did go to TO the city of VII
mington, New Castle county, Delaware
and still there st the election being then
held. unlawfully voted for James Martin
for sheriff of New Castle county and
further there were not less thar. twelve
ether residents Of the same hundred as
myself, who accompanied me to the said
city for tbs same purpose as myself
Witnesses: his
GEORGE w. RAVES, LRvI ANDERSON.
THE. WHTTocK, JR mark.
''Sworn and subscribed to before me
this Fifteenth day Of November, A. D.,
Eighteen Hundred and Eighty-two.
"JoHN VAsRY,
"Justice Of the peac e"
The committee then found seventy fv,
others. who made affidavit TO the SAM
effect as Anderson, and the following
three are sufficient proof Of the con
spiracy:
NEW cattle COUNTY, IS,
November Fourteenth, Eighteen Hun
dred and Eighty two;
~. William Jackson, Of the Western
district Of st Georges hundred, New
Castle county, State of Delaware, de sol
omnly swear that on the Seventh day 0
November, A. D., Eighteen Hundred an
Eighty two. l. the said William Jackson
did go to North Christiana hundred, an
did then at the election there being held
vote unlawfully for James Martin 70
sheriff Of New Castle county.
Witnesses Illnesses w., his 80.
T. WHITToCK, JR. mark
Sworn and subscribed before me thi
Fourteenth day Of November, A. d.
Eighteen Hundred and Eighty-two.
''JoRN VAsEY,
Justice OF the Peace.
s'NKw CASTLE COUNTY. IS.
PERSONALLY approved before me, IL
subscriber, John Vasey, one Of the jui
tees OF the peace for the county, afor
said, Robert Bayard Brown to me, to
such, and being duly sworn depose
and said, Robert Bayard, being res