Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-19

THE CONTESTED ELECTION CASE
FROM THIS DISTRICT.
Edgar Allan Opens ,he Case--The Reply OF
rfr. Msrcdith-New
postmasters.


WASHINGTON, ltofNhrN to.-~Ihe House
Committee on Elections commenced this
rnorning the consideration Of the Virginia
GENERALIZATION case Of Wsddill rs. Wise.
an ~ the members OF the committee wero
,,~esont. and some time before the meeting
knur 90 o'clock persons who were in
torested in the matter began TO arrive
Ju1ce WaddiN, the contestant. accompa-
nod bv Colonel Edgar Allan, his counsel.
,-as on hand early. Representative Wise
..n3 Mr. c. V. Meredith, his cOun-
AL were on hand when Chairman
lt.wcll called the committee 10 order.
Among the Democrats who were there 10
F-t.n to the arguments were Representa-
fve Ncnahlo, Edmunds, and Tucker, ex-
g,,rree,man Harris, OF Rockingham. Mr..
NlrhranDs. oi Petersburg, and Others.
Iud-a Naldill also had some sympathiZors
and friends on hand. Mr.. Morgan Treat.
IL West Point, Va, was sitting near. and
shortly after the ball opened Mr.. McCue. OF
Richmond walized in. He adjusted his
glasses and looked about, and seemed TO
r.tul kccnly the arguments Of Counsel Al
Ian. WHO related some of tho incidents Of
81. election IN Jackson Ward.
Counsel for both sdcs had two hours al
l.R.l for argumcut. The members OF tho
Elections Committee each had in front Of
rrr the printed record in the contest. this
l..uncut alone making nearly 1. 700 pages
d Imprinted matter. Then there are
l.l9c, Tho briefs If each counsel. so that
g.. testimony and arguments are yolumi-
ALLAN OPENS.
2,r. Allan opened the case. He was de-
.f.raf, n biz treatment Of the facts col
l..t.3 10 the effort 20 prove that Judge
SOD ought - have the seat for which
l.f- striving. He held the attention of
-. committee. and both Republicans and
Democrat. asked him questions frequent
g.. Almost the whole OF the time allowed
..nf. t3uts counsel was consumed in 90
Ind over the alleged frauds and intimida-
tons SD Jackson Ward. Mr.. Allan
.unc O. the testimony IN regard
O.. certain precincts there as te-
r..0u,iy a- possible. He threw his whole
,..I ints Do and seemed 90 appeal 10 the
Republicans 60 follow him. He was rs u
r.. calm and impasEonr1, and without
PIG bitter or hoistor0us. and from "a
.,r..ir Republican standpoint he attempt
Oh. make the northern man believe that
fr poor darky" had "A hard road
-. travel IN the Third district at
rtet'.cfon in 1888 Indeed, he frankly
ftt.I 10 tle outset that Judge Waddill's
. rested on the capacity 10 prove the al
f..+.u of fraud, intimidation, and pre-
e nom voting at several Of the Jack
.Nari precincts. Re explained the
alleged system Of challenging votes on
oil. u.rt Of the Democrats. and de
r.-ol amphatcally that Democrats who
.I l.. reside ln that part OF tho city
p,-t INTO Jackson Ward for the purpose
. revuting Republicans from voting.
DH..rs off election, hc also charged, actu-
..r aided these people IN their attempt 20
rrtUl negroes from exercising the cleo
r1 franchise.
DTrHrS.
Hethan went into details and read from
ST.. record iu tine case the alleged inter
-.. W3th voters 10 the several precincts
rIs.ksIu Ward. aud said that contestant
r. B on moFo than a score of well-knOwn
Iruulmtu rs witnesses to subStantlGte
Gin. r..r-es. aud among those named were
~ d -ycv, d. &. smith. John IL. Taylor,
I So -outhwurd. DIR. Taylor Emmett
l.lIfs. Garter Harrison. Sylyanus +.
vs.. N. Mullen editor Of the LGhOr
H-1I Giles Jackson, Rev. Elias Watson,
a.i others.
ARRESTS.
Nr Allan nlso spoke # arrests made on
f.r.. -juv-muIu than thrt,-and said
It although the Judge was q political
fr1 ~ Mr.. Wise, there was not a single
,.I..n, and tins was proof positive,
Tr. Adam ro0tonded, that the arrests were
...4,..i political purposes.
MI. MEREDITH.
SIR W.-el.th very soon after beginning
f..fr..i. some Of the wltpesses exam
n.I .n'estaut, and cudoav0rcd to
fr...f i.' instead of the men standing in
.c.ul I.- % f.e polls In Jackson Ward, as
ti .rt.l .r f.r Ecpu bliCaus. ~ WAS proved
utI. i..- and the sworn testimony
fl.ar ir contested that some of the
...... were mot az the polls at all on
,c.'.1.day. lalsehood, Mr.. Meredith
Nuol, was shown IN the very begin
81 f..-f
D.r side. Healso read from tho brief
tlr record in tho case 60 show that IN the
rl., ~ testimony Waddills witnesses had
r'radicted each other, and that being
Gao case ho wanted TO know how the
committee expected 20 get at the
fu.'h. Tie WAS not arguing from the
.-tmonv taken by the contestee, but
vI.u that testimony was closely exam
l.i il would ho found that there We're
l...ls from honorable and respecta-
Gentlemen. showing that the charges OF
'.GcflNn and fraud were not sustained.
I.u- mp Mr. Allar3s selections from
t.. lru'als, and which the latter tried to
wr, 10 advantage Of contestant. Mr.
N.r l.lh said that Mr.. Allan's explana-
t.l- were forced. IT had been shownthat
ann, negroes We're not IN line at all, and
tln who claimed they stood in line all
l-rwcso there only few moments.
ACTUAL DELAY.
Nr Meredith next proceeded 10 speak of
:. extent of the actual delay at the polls
ta r.trUou-dav and whether what did
ftt. p.tcr was unnecessary, and made the
1rIt that the class of men challenged IN
J..a.lu Ward were not tho class of men
De- ..p Gathered together IN the commit
f..-I.1m aud before his ewes az that mo-
r,rt. 7 hey were men who would take an
D..A with great ease. lie denied also
t.at 10 was possible the voting
fr two hours and forty minutes,
4. lll been charged IN the testimony, ana
SD response % inquiries from Republican
reuitrs II the committee. went INTO an
interesting explanation ot the Virginia
o,euoa-laws. The Republican members
u tle committee asked questions IN
rlru.r and tone that clearly indicated
t..r were rather hoping that Dir. Meredith
would NOT bee able 90 break down the aIgu~
l.ats and facts presented by Mr.. ALah.
ll,rc D.. OF course, good deal OF par
tuu feeling here at present, and no mat
Or how much they NAV try TO conceal their
sentiments the Republicans are endeaVor-
r- O.. r.lroad the eases through ana I'M
.t ID uocrats as rapidly as possible. MT:
N.- however, Il IA popular member OF
Congress. aud he has prepared ms case
l.,. and there isa disposition 70 give the
rl.eclr,ful consideration. ~ least. What
On. email decision wlll be viii depend large
Nu..u the partisan Wow taken by the
tcrs Of the committee.
A STRONG ARGUMENT.
Nr Meredith made "A strong and into
.r. argument. and he was not only at
t..y,iy listened 10. hut the Republican
Do. ..rs uut questions 50 often that he
not stick closely to the text of his
a-ruHut. Ills explanation Of the chal;
I...n- DO Jackson Ward rather opened
t.e c,ts.f some OF the Republicans as 10
t. class OF certain voters IN their own
I4rty iu Virginia, and his explanation oil
g.. law, was such that 1t ought TO be con-
ElOur.
IA. committee will not again take up the
ca-e of W4llul Cs. WISE for week, a. the
f.m.L IS 20 yOlumiuous they cannot 30
N-iY4-l 2, sooner.
BOUNDARY QUESTION.
The Secretary Of War transmitted 70 the
hen.te today the report Of Colonel
Aug-. of 'ue Engineer Corps, IN regard 10
60 proposed improvement Of the Snensnsc
el river from the boundary line Oh
J,-erson county, W. Va, and clark coun-