The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1892-11-03
FEDERAL INTIMIDATION.

United States Commissioner Becker
dite Tries to Scare Registrar Armfield.
The following correspondence eX
plains itself. Last week Charles Rey-
nolds threatened to have W. S. Ball,
United States Commissioner, issue a
warrant for Registrars t. B. Douthit
because Douthit declined to register
certain negroes that Reynolds pre-
sented for registration. On Saturday
last in public speech in Stokes
county Reynolds boosted that he had
set the machinery in motion for
Douthit's arrest and that he felt sure
that the papers at that moment were
in the hands of an officer for eXecu-
tiOn. However the threat so far has
failed to materialiZe = but instead
thereof in the appointment of III. L.
Beckerdite United States Commits
sioner at this particular juncture is
seen the dastardly hand that Rey-
nOlds is playing. The fact now con-
fronts US that we have United
States officer in our midst for election
purposes. The United States officer
has taken his first step to override
and intimidate State official. Beck
erdite is deputy under Staunton. He
is being made a tool of by Reynolds,
StauntOn and league.
Registrar in Third ward, Armffeld,
upon second application of one PCin-
dexter, accompanied by Willard Mas
ten, ex-revenue officer, refused to reg
lister him. Mr.. Armfield's letter
shows that he knows his duties and
his rights and the contempt that he
has for Beckerdite, his authority, and
his cO-cOnspirators. A bare state
ment of these facts should be suffi-
cient warning to Reynolds and his
gang. There is no better man in For
syth county than w. n. Armfield, and
he will register all that are qualified
regardless of whether Mr.. Beckerdite
wants him ''tO have any trouble over
it, or not. This is an inauguration
of the period when we shall have ''a
bayonet behind every ballot"
]. p. STANTON, Register.
OFFICE OF REGISTER OF DEEDS.
FORSYTH COUNTY.
Winston, n. c., Oct. p, 1891.
Mr.. ARMFIELD, Dear Sir:-ThOmas
PoindeXter comes to me and complains
that you refuse to register him. He
claims to be q years old, 22d of Feb
ruarE1S92. The law does not require
you to ask evidence unless requested
by some bystander. | will send him
before you for a second time as l don't
Respectfully,
II. l.. BECKERDITE,
U. S. Com'r.
WINSTON, n. c., Oct. 81, 1892.
II. L. BECKERDITE,
U. S. Commissioner.
Dear Sir.-Yours of this date to
hand and in reply will say that | am
an officer of the State of North Caro-
lima, that as such officer l know my
duty and will perform it in utter dis
regard of your contemplate insinua-
ting threat. w. n. ARMFIELD,
Registrar Third ward.
THE LAW ON THE SUBJECT.
The election law of the State Of
North Carolina on this point is as fol-
lows:
Sec. 1851. Every person who shall
present himself for registration shall
state under oath how long he has con-
tinuOusly.residedi in this State and in
the county in which he offers to vote;
whether he is an alien or native born;
when he becomes twenty-one years of
age; whether married or single, and
where or with whom he resides. Upon
the request of any electOr, the regis
trar shall require the applicant to
prove his identity or age and residence
by such testimony, under oath, as may
be satisfactory to the registrar.