Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-01-26


an understanding rs this.
Mr.. Nandegritt-"l don't see that
counsel need get excited in this. The
court asked mo yesterday whether adj
nitted MOrrlsun's position. replied
counsel had better prove the commission.
There is no question that Mr.. Morrison Is
registrar.
The cuurt-"This only shows how neces-
sary 1t is that all agreement between
counsel should be put in writing"
Wrights examination then proceeded.
He claimed he was not out of the way
drunk. lie claimed that MIR. Morrison
did not tell mo to go way and come back
the next week The witness admitted he
was qualified by Mr.. Morrison on the fol-
lowing saturday, September 10Th. lie had
no lroub.e with THE registrar at all.
EX-J'0lleCtUr Israel Riding was the next
witness, lie identified the taA receipt rs
bearing his signature.
IN reply to MIR Nandegrift the witness
admitted there Is Robert Wright in the
district other than the man referred 20.
Horace II. Groves, Cnlted States super
visor, testified similarly to Il degree to
what has already been stated, Mn, Nor
r.son held up several applicants for regis
trutluu. these quite independent of politics.
vino held kidlngs TAX receipts, In starting
out in the morning Mr. Morrison said to
me we Will have perfectly iair election,
no llhtltT WIZ ~ Nus, VI hc salu WuINo 70
that elect. 1t is true there was question
between us as TO the legality OF the Riding
tax receipts.
Mr. Nandegrift then asked the court to
| find the defendant not guilty. lie asked
| this for the reasons that the prosecuting
attorney has afforded absolutely no proof
that Robert Wright or Robert W. Wright
was endtayoring this day to vote for a
| member of Congress. Nnt only thAt but
ullnFpl
ment.
My contention is that IL should have
| been alleged in the Indictment not only in
regard to members OF congress, but also in
| proof that these men have endcavored to
| register in order to vote for member of
congress, and unless learned counsel prove
that Wright tried to do this he has failed
| in his argument.
The court then asked for the indictment.
| Counsel was shown that the document
contained the words "lOr registration of
| voters for an election OF a representative
| in Congress" That is the issue substan-
| TALLY, added the court.
Mr.. Nandcsrift continued in an effort to
! impugn the government prosecutors
course by showing that up to ls92 there
was no such man us Robert w. Wright,
The court-"ihat Will be Il question of
| identity for the jury.
MIR. Nnndegrilt, IN opening his case, said
that he would prove that Mr.. Morrison
was judge under the laws and that his
desire was to hold a fair election. He
never undertook to keep this man from
\ voting,
Robert II. Morrison, the defendant was
then placed upon the stand. lie testified
that it Is his belief Wright was drunk
when lie came to tho winduw. lie showed
two tickets, and, puking one iii the
window, said lie wanted to be fully quail
tt.,.l ,,,.tt ..,t.1
lister you ON this receipt Come next day.
| was in doubt rs TO the Riding TAX re
ceipts. went to Mr.. Rodney, wnD said
| had a right TO hold these receipts under
adyisemcnt until the next day
John IL. Rodney, who was not sworn,
testified that Mr.. Morrison had called on
him and inquired US to his right to post
pone registering for adyisement On any
doubtful receipt or other cause until some
future time. Il told him he might" Mr..
Rodney said, 1T was done with my I'D.
vice.
Edmund T. Rogers, clerk of elections, in
addition 70 what has already been testified
70, heard Mr.. Morrison say to Wright
u hold tins over until next Saturday, o.
VIII partially register you now" Aftci
Wright had left MIR. Morrison made some
remark about his being drunk. William
j. Hunter, the Democratic challenger
William A. Gordon and others wer'
turned away by Mr.. Morrison for similal
reasons to those given to Wright.
Mr.. Morrison was again placed on TIN
+ witness stand, when he stated that hi
t arrest had nothing to do with his action ii
registering Wright on September 10th.
Mr.. Nandcgritt then addressed the jury
! Court adjourned at T. IN. to = oclUck
At the close of the address to the jury il
: the United states court Tuesday after
/ noon bv District Attorney Watson tn
court gave the charge ON the testiinon!
heard against the defendant. Robert 4
Morrison, registrar Of the Northern distric
: of New Castle.
Judge Wales said in effect, that Rober
r. Morrison. the defendant, has been in
dlctei for violation of chapter 5jl2 Re
: viscd Statutes of the United states in tina
/ he did knowingly and wilfully, as regis
trur of the Northern district of Ncv
Castle, refuse to register us voter Rober
w. Wright That is the first count.
-. In tho constitution If the United state
! Article /, section !, is found time, plac
| and manner for holding election for Sena
g tors in each state.
The intent is that Congress shall regulat
! the election Of Congressman.
The court then referred to the duties o
the registrar, quoted the law, il any sucl
officer meaning the registrar knowinsl
{ register one not entitled, or refuses I
e register person entitled to vote he shall
j sc.
3 il. continued the court, the election il
question were restricted to state or som
local officer, such rs the sheriff, Congress
: cunld not interfere,
Z The state of Delaware in 1891 create
! oIiccr3 called registrars Of election. Til
las Was then quoted that the regislra
9 may make such remarks as he consider;
l. &c, this to be done IN a column of tn
e registration record set apart by law TO
I this purpose.
Also IL any registrar Shall be in dout
after the preliminary examination he ma
2 postpone TO the next day The registrar
2 power is twO5foll. lie can postpone fins
registration to the nest meeting, or if In
applicant ask, 70 q later day, but not late
n than the last day ON which the rcgistru
i sits alone,
The testimony is that Robert w. Wrigl
" appeared before the registrar on Septemb,
81 with two tax receipts in his hands. II
& approached tie window with, in the lc
hand one receipt and in his right han
1t another. In the left hand was a receiI
Al signed by Collector Hayes with the nan
Il Robert Wright. Iii the right hand was
receipt signed by Collector Israel Riding
II signed Robert W. Wright. He told Nor
son he would not be qualified With II
IS HAYES receipt, but wanted to lie full
Nd qualified ON the Riding receipt as il col
- II appears that both Morrison an
Wright became excited over the matte
"a Tho defendant says that he stated TO Wrigl
Ia that tie would postpone the application
in September 10Th This is C0rroborated /
clerk Rogers who was present. Supe
=, visor tirOycs had no recollection Of it.
~ The primary examination, when an n
n plirHtion for registration is made il in r
< gard 10 age, residence, brth, &c, ard Il
NJ final examination is us TO QuailicatC
- t1tttIni,, M, GtntA M nTti1ppp.g NF T..