New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-02-19
SOME RACY TESTIMONY.
Try TELEGRAPH 10 THK IkiBUNE.l

SOME RACY TESTIMONY.
rRy TELEGRAPH 10 THE TkIBUNE.l
Washington, Feb. 13-rhe House committee on
Elections today heard oral arguments IN the contest
of WaddH against Wise, Of the lld virginia DStIlct
The District comprises the cities Of Ecnmohd anu
Manchester and seven adjacent counties. About one
half the voters live in Richmond. and was in Jackson
Ward Of HAT ctt that most of the outrageous Demo
cratic frauds were committed which resulted in the
granting Of certificate to Wise by virtue OF f'auuu-
lent and fictitious majority" of 26l votes Inc
printed record in the case. not including briefs OF
counsel fills no less than $50 pages The testimony
Of contestee fills only 32S pages little OF when Is
responsive 20 the testimony offered by contestant
For example while there were not less than hlN
Democratic challcngers at the polls in the iOul pre-
cnctS of Jackson Ward on election day' o"10e>.eo
placed only Of them on the stand TO cohudulcO
the testimony relating to their Irregular anu ma
conduct i'm his behalf Not Of the four Onteu
State supervisors in the ward. WHO were Democrats
was placed on the witness stand Not one OF the
twenty four Democratic United states deputy mar
shals was summoned 10 testify From three Oh INC
precincts few Of the Democratic judges ana clerNs
of election testified, and from the fourth pfecpcl ho'
one. 49,,
Jackson Ward Is tbo only ward In Richmond which
contains preponderance Of coOrcd voters. the Whle
registered vote being $40 and the colored 3lo' WHO
the total white registered vote of the city Is ll'|
and the cOlOrcd 1874. In other WORDS iei'N 80
which contains less than per cent OF the White vote
In three precincts of Jackson Ward the testimony
shows that contestant deprived Of ~ No'os
by a conspiracy in which Democratic supervisors
deputy marshas election judges and clerks ana "'ier
partisans of contestec. actively engaged
After the polls closed 54j qualified Republicans
voters deposited in ballotboxes in the presence OF
officials Of the United states Court the identical ballots
which they had vainly sought during the day 10 de
post at the regular polls. These ballotboNes were
Immediately sealed and placed in the custody Oh a
United states Commissioner, where they remained wul
opened in the presence of the notary pubc VINO '0oA
the testimony Of the voters who had deposited ther
ballots Therein and each of whom before so depositng
lis ballot made affidavit that lie was esdi anu
duly qualified voter in the precinct, that ne Hdu uOno
all in his power to vote at the regular polling Ptes
that he was prevented from doing so by no iault OK
his own and that the ballot he deposited vas "'e
identical ballot which he had been prevented RON
voting at the regular polling place. NO vote was
thus received and deposited unless the identity OF ue
voter was satisfactorily established Inc roou con-
tains the testimony OF 437 OF the 'so hePuuA''N'
voters who deposted their ballots for contestant III
the side boxes in the manner and under the sa'e
guards above described. In the three precincts men
4oned the testimony also shows that contestant was
also derived of votes Of who, after valy wall
ing for hours FOR an opportunity TO vote were com
pced 70 leave the polls and 30 were not present 70
deposit their ballots in the side boxes
Of the votes cast III the iliOV PNN'''
Of jackson Ward with the votes returned from pro
rincts in whlte7 wards furnishes prlma iacIe eNF
aenco NJ the frauds committed in the interest OF WISE
tbe Democratic candidate IN the First Precinct 81
Jackson Ward the registered white vote was l"- anu
The colored vote ESD, making total OF lOlo. fIo"
that precinct only 431 votes were returheu-f- per
rent OF the REGISTERED vote in the Third Precinct the
white registration was 2j4 and the coorcd '9'' Ma"
ing a total Of 1851; while only SO votes Ne'e re-
tnrned-less than 50 per cent of the registered vote
la the Fourth Precinct the white registration was 'o-'
The colored C93, making total Of lOo4' "iuIe Oilf
Il votes-or about 90 per cent-were retuFhcu' III
The Third and Fourth Precincts the white voters ana
eoored voters alernated until all the whites VINO
re.etcd themselves had deposited their balot-, when
there was a suspicious lula sudden consesuoh' "a IL
vere-and lew votes were afterward admitted
Now. take two precincts, from each Of the TWO
heavy "white" wards. in the Third Pecm't 81
Marshall Ward the white registration was OJ7' the
colored $50, total liza; while the vote returned "as
colt per cent Of the registration
In the First Precinct Of Clay Ward the white regis
tration was 1O-4, colored a., total 1,l26, returned
vote 9l3-or 81 per cent Of the total Iesl9tfatloh
exactly double the percentage in the Frst l1echCV u
Jackson Ward with its white registration o. 49, ana
It's colored registration of o-3 votes. There is no pre-
tence that the colored voters were less anxious 10
vote than were the whites there is abundant evidence
TO the contrary Something besides an accident must
account for the light vote in the coored" precincts
cincts.
The means used to produce this astonishing result
and manufacture d fraudulent and fictitious ma
iortyn for Wise fully expressed and described by
hundreds Of witnesses whose testimony is unconira-
dcted and unimpeached The testimony proves De
yond the shadow Of a doubt that previous 10 the
election a plot was made 20 cut down the Republican
majority in Jackson Ward by threats against the
colored voters by first challenging their votes, and
asking them all of frivolous and irrelevant ques
tons in order to waste time; by taking advantage OF
the mistakes and neglect Of the registration officers,
all Of whom Democrats; by obstructng the en-
trance Of colored 10 the polls, and by variety
Of other devices II is I'm evidence and uncOntr5,-
dlcted that members of this Democratic conspiracy
openly boosted, the day and night preceding the
election that they would shut out enough niggers in
Jackson Ward to elect WISE Like boasts to the
success Of the plot openly made after the polls
closed on the night Of election day. Here is one OF
scores Of items of testimony on this point from
as many witnesses. George Duncan, United states
Supervisor First Precinct, testifics:
Quest ZC-Heard Cottre and Tmberlske, judges and
Smith Beyin chaenges during the latter part Of the
day communicating themselves the success OF their e.
forts in keeping out votes. go denialJ
Here is another item W. ". Cardwell Third Pre-
sinct, testihea:
Question 42-On the night Of the election, while waiting
TO the flashed on the canvas at Ihe Dis
patch " Office 1 heard say How are You, Mr.
Hughosi" The answer came back: " How are you.
HAYWOOD; how Lao IL gone IN Jackson Ward On tAat
Immediately turned and my elbow body touched
tx-Msyor Taylor. OF Manchester. narwOOd replied 1--WE
have better than expected" don't mean 70 say
these are the exact words they give substance.
Hughes answered "HOw have thrown out -
Mr.. uarWoJd replied by saying: " From TOO " 500"
Mr. Hughes inquired " How did you do ~" Hsr-
woods reply was Why, ii took two hours and fortyhye
minutes to vote l sent him 70 his house four
times FOR his number He would time and
would tell him: 1t is wrong; 20 back and get IL
eealn.'" Ex-Mayor Taylor then sad to Mr.. Harwood
Was that an unavoidable delay natural delay ? 8"
These are his words. Mr.. HsrwOod's answer
I'VE fixed everything night but have done better
than We thought we would" EXMayOr Taylor then de-
nounced It and said outrage, and wonder
that tho Northern press denounced ard condemned the
b.I in The