The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-07
INVESTIGATION CLOSED.
TESTIMONY BEFORE COMMITTEE
Number OF witnesses Were Examined as
to the Frauds in tho Third Precinct
OF jefferson Ward.

the Third precinct Of Jefferson ward was con-
tinued by the subcommittee composed by
DR.. Benjamin Harrison. James T. Ferriter.
and Evan Snead at the rooms of the Demo
cratic committee yesterday commencing at
1870 p NJ.
There were four witnesses examined. but
no new developments were made The only
witnesses requested to appear before the
committee who have not been examined are
Sheriff ID. 5. Gates, who is sick; Mr. jim
| cannon. who. for reasons best known 10
himself, declined to testify, and Mr.. Law
! renee Gibbons, who is said 10 be out of the
| CITY, The committee closed its investigation
/ at o'clock and will report TO the regular
meeting OF the committee as a whole next
! tuesday and will make "A recommendation
IN accordance with the evidence before them.
THE sUB-cOMMITrEE.
The subcommittee is composed of three
good men, tried and true. and the inyestiga-
| ton has been conducted with patience Wis
dom aad care but without the authority to
summon witnesses or give the proceedings a
| proper legal bearing they were greatly handl-
capped and II 10 vet an open question as 10
who committed the frauds ia the Third pre-
clnct OF Jefferson ward. The testimony beard
plainly demonstrates that Incompetence ex-
and that for WAYS that are dark and tricks
that are vain the Third precinct Is peculiar
Persons who had no business or right to be
present we're n the room, and not only pres
ent, but were the chief instruments in the
count of the vote. One of the officers was in
to1lcated and the general plan of the primary
was violated IN many WAYS. yet the evidence
Is not decisive rs TO who Is the guilty man or
men.
The meeting Of the committee yesterday
was called more especially for the purpose of
giving Alr. Henry Cohn an opportunity to
ylndicate himself against the charge Of Mr.
Samuel Page aud substantated by Mr.. W. w
Wood and son that he acknowledged TO call
Ing the ballots wrong in tho count of the
Second precinct or Jefferson ward.
DID SOT AFqEAp.
Mr.. Cohn did not appear. however. but sent
q letter % Dr. Harrison chairman of the
committee. which set forth that inasmuch as
the committee declined 70 let him be- present
at the examination of the witnesses that he
did not think in Justice 20 himself he could
appear before the committee az he had at first
intended TO do. they having deprived him of
the rights OF an humble citizen.
Mr.. Stephen Chasa was the first witness
examined yesterday RE held tickets at
Second Jefferson during the day. and was one
OF the three citizens who overlooked the
counting of the vote at tight. He straight
ened out the ballots after the names on them
were read out. lie was confident that the
Second Jefferson was all right until the re-
count showed different. He would have been
willing TO swear 10 II.
SAW NOTHING WRONG
Mr. John X Molloy. Jr. whose name has
been prominently connected with the late
contest, was the next witness. He was at the
Third precinct during the day. but saw moth
ing wrong Said he WAS not invited 10 be
present. but saw Jim BOtto and asked him
where he was going, was told that he was CO.
Ing in 10 see the count and SAID he would 90
too. When he got inside the box was setting
IN the usual place, about eight feet from the
front door After he went in they took the
blI and emptled the votas out on the table
III the back room. Mr.. Richardson. Mr.. Cree
aud Mr. Cannon did the counting. Mr. Roy
ster did the tallying until Mr.. Cannon re-
heyed him and was in turn relieved by wit
ness. Mr. Cree also tailed a little Mr.. Lowe
sat on one side of the table doing nothip~'
particular. though he looked at some,n -
ballots Mr.. BOttO was in the front
the counter asleep most OF the time. -
When asked about the clerks cOpditlc NIT
night he said: ] can't say Mr. Koyster was
drunk but | would not ike for man in his
condition to count forme if / was a candidate
When asked about his looking over the
transom ho said: We did not look over "a
transom. but over the top of curtain on a
glass door. Duke tried to hold me up first and
failed. and then 1 held him up. He said he
saw lot OF papers on the table. got up
minute later and saw nothing but some dishes
on the table. You could not see all over the
room.
When ! came in the box was setting where
ithad been setting all dag. / saw II brought
into the back room and emptied. don't
think the boxes could have been changed. |
did not notice but one box, and that was the |
IL. bod l,Ia - .
there was any fraud know nothing OF it or
how it Was done. | know great many names |
that are said o. have voted that | did not see |
around there. If had heard names called |
twice. as close together as they appear on the |
poll-book, ! certainly would have noticed It.
Borro on THE STAND.
Mr.. James Botto was then put on the stand. |
All hands Strengthened up and showed in
creased interest when he commenced his
testimony but II WAS Disappointing. He was
very glib and very yOlube but besides
giving some very novel ideas Of running poll
ties his evidence was not Of particular
moment These ideas were more sulted 10
the scalawag days in South Carolina than the
purity of the ballot for which OUT estimable
Is striving.
la regard tol the primary he said: / was
nj the Third precinct about half the day.
came back at one time and MIR Koyster was
away. He returned in few minutes saw
10 one behind the railing myself. You might
know thew would not allow me. Mr. Perdue
and don gee horses and he don't Ike me
~ ALL / voted about the second man | saw
The registration book Oh the desk ! have al
Savs been about the polls for nineteen years
md they always used the poll books. / did
not notice the book though that day Did not
hnk about it. / saw nothing going on out
# the regular order. | was on the outside
nearly all the time.
Just before the !polls closed Mr. Perdue
said all who are coming in get ready. There
yere three suppers brought IN and went IN
nd pulled down "a swinging lamp and fixed
he suppers. Mr. Perdue asked me 20 cut up
us food for him. He said he wanted glass
Il beer and / went ont 20 get It. At tho door
saw Tom Boiler and said: am going 10 get "a
rink; il you want one come quick. This
vas referred 10 as the expression used IN the
ate contest, quick as lightning
TOO MUCH ABOARD.
Mr.. Royster had on more than man ought
o for that business. lie took two chairs and
vent 70 sleep while the count was going on.
Iy wife refused 20 let him have drink IN the
middle Of the day because he had too much.
cannot account for the discrepancy between
he book and the ballots unless they We're Just
nut on the book. Old man Perdue Is Just a.
onest a man as ever lived and he watches
hat box during election like a snake. and no
ody could swap any ballots on him. II there
ad been any mistake even. and blr. Perdue
-. Il, ,.o,, ,voulf have heard from N None