Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-13

Granam aHeBe1, tnat An dBTetm INT WIS
effected whereby challenges sleuld not
be made. The legislative county tckc,s
were involved. The contract was unsaw-
fui. because IL prev nted challe nges. At
Wentworth the night before the election
the bargain was made by man examines
as a witness, who admitted that he made
II with three negroes there. and This same
witness also admitted that ne paid money.
In answer to the question Of Mr.. Mccall,
OF Massachusetts,, Mr. Graham said the
evidence would show that the Illegal votes
were cast for Settle. who seemed to have
a firm hold on the black electors not only
In Rockingham but in other couriies.
coNTEsTEES CASE.
Major John W. Graham followed as
the attorney for the contestee, Mr.. Settle.
He commenced TO explain also the regis
tration question. and told who conducted
the elections After doing that he cited
number OF court decisions in reference TO
elections, including Norlect VS.. station
and others. In North Carolina, he said.
women were allowed to be lawyers and
notaries but there we're few. This refer
encc as made to show who were eligible
as notarics. and he read Il decision rem
dered in Indiana by Judge Gresham. now
secretary Of State. that minors ana
women could a, as notaries. He contend
% that under the votes actually cast Mr.
Settle received 6l3 plurality, and II votes
had been counted that ought to have been
counted for him he would have had GA.
Rof-rr'r~ 20 the decision In Harris vs..
.crrr'", p. which had been cited. Major
Crtf,r. r'rcd that It d.d not affect his
,ii. o. The decision, he took il,
r-ar respective, and he did not be
IT,. "ir ID 20 men who had been on
/ tie -r years The registrars were
L. was NOT Intended 70
PIT i1sr 90 80 level of n convict, simply
| bee, res uuInr I'VE old registration they
had cot >tnu srccifc as to place OF birth,
| ago. nc upat on, and place OF residence.
! The registrar IS quasi judicial officer,
and he thinks h has a right to do certain
| things end with the consent Of the elector
the registration Is completed.
Major Graham said we claim IN the
| South that We have no need of Federal
laws or OF bayonets. but there is still on
| the statutes a provision. referred TO by
the other side. and It was for the commit
! tee to say whether or not 1t is unconstitu-
| tional.
RETURNING BOARD WORK.
Major Graham next went over the work
of the returning boards. and spoke of
/ votes pitched out because the initials of
/ Settle were wrong In some instances. In
| Granville county. where Williams lives,
/ Settle carried the county by more than
| 300 plurality. but enough votes were
| thrown out by the canvassing boards 10
reduce the plurality to something over
one hundred At the Wilton Precinct. in
the same county, Major Graham declared
the simmons regulator" as they called
| IL in North Carolina, was applied.
Major Graham explained carefully the
testimony Of large lumber of witnesses,
and defended his client against the at
tacks made on him by the opposing side.
| He had a great deal to say about the
voting in Reidsville and other tobacco
| towns
Major Graham charged that 400 Illegal
votes had been cast in Rockingham coun-
| ~ for Williams, If the contention made
| by his attorney In regard 10 Illegal regis
tratlon were sustained.
Later on in his argument Major Ora
ham stated that many Democrats voted
for Settle, as the testimony showed. one
man swore that he was IAN old blue
| Democrat" an expression which caused
several members of the committee TO
smile. especially Republican members.
Major Graham. In response TO questions
asked him. said the law entitled a mar
TO a right 70 vote. and he went into a fui
explanation OF the custom OF challenging
and stated he had heard but could no
vouch for the truth, OF tho story that ir
Western county OF North Carolina Z
notice was put up that any one who chal
lengss voter would be strung up TO I
tree.
In closing his speech. Major Graham
said there wasn't much chance for an!
Republican in North Carolina who wa
not elected. but Settle was elect
ed, and 1t was 80 thought by mos
people in North Carolina. He woul'
rely on the fairness and justice OF IN
Democrats OF the committee. They coul'
afford to be fair They would find Settl
entitled to the seat. and he thought Their
ought to be unanimous report In fave
OF contestee. Much stress had been lai
on the decision in Harris VS.. Scarborough
and Il was talked Of extensively In IN
State. and while Major Graham wante
Il understood he had the highest regar
for the North Carolina Supreme Court,
had been remarked that this was the frs
political decision rendered down there.
SETTLE IN HIS OW BEHALF.
After speaking one ana a half hours
Major Graham gave way 20 his client
Mr.. Settle, and he was allowed hal
hour in which to present an argument 4
his own behalf He started out by say
ing that every registrar in the distric
with single exception was Democrat
He then spoke In detail OF the work o
the canyassing boards. Finally comlni
10 the State Canvasslng Board, Mr.. Set
tie dwelt at some length on the Stoke
county controversy, and said 1t was &C
cepted In spite OF the representations mad
10 the board by one of the local attor
news for Mr.. Williams.
| MIR. Settle next contended that he wa
the only Thomas Settle now living II
North Carolina that he knew Of. Vote
were cast for Thomas NJ, Th5m1s "A.
and Thomas II. Settle. In two precinct
these votes, evidently cast for him, wer
allowed by the boards; in one instanc'
they were rejected.
Mr.. Settle denied emphatically the ale
CATION Of the other side that ne had In
undated the canvassing board Of one o
the counties. 1.-The idea" he exclaimed
"of a Republican illuminating Democrat
I'm North Carolina He said II coul'
not be done. The elections ware fair II
the district and the honest Democrat
would allow no one to iutimidate them
Nor could the Republicans Of the distric
be inundated.
No improper influence was brought L
bear. he insisted, on the board In Stokes
county.
MIR. Settle then stated that Just after tn
election he went TO Stokes county havin;
been pdvsed by a prominent Democra
OF Greensboro to go there INN sdiateIy u
look after his (Settle's) interests.
MIR. Settle referred TO the fact that tn
Governor OF North Carolina is Demo
crat. and all Of the notaries In his dis
trict. with one exception, were Democrats
He asked the Governor to appoint thre
notaries. and he recommended three men
two Democrats and one Republican TIL
Governor appointed the two Democrats
but declined to appoint the Republican.
THE ROCKINGHAM TRADING.
In reference 10 the alleged unlawful
compact made by him IN Rockingham
county, Mr. Settle said he knew that !
challenging was commenced many voter
would have no chance 10 get in their bal
lots. That would have hurt him, and h
knew II. He was aware the Republican
could not carry Rockingham county
There was an agreement that he was {
deliver 100 votes to the Democratic Conn
and Legislative Committee. Colonel 3 81
now deceased. was a party to the agrc2
ment, and so was Mr. p. p. johnson. =
well as other well-lnown Democrats.
was fair and legitimate trading. which /
done by politicians everywhere when 2,
opportunity is presented He claimed tie
the election was fair and honorable.
It had been. he maintained. a long-estah
lished custom TO have midday countings