The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-10

above / notified Captain Clayton, who
was the Republican precinct chairman,
of what had seen and suggested that he
have some one watch the man Run, so
that there might be other witnesses be-
sides myself. In order 10 test Run still
further / procured a Democratic ticket
and so as 10 mark 1t / tore the captain
or heading off from the ticket and went
out Of sight behind the building and ran
my pencil through the names Of the can
dldates for State offices and senator and
wrote the name of Morgan Treat for
senator which ticket / voted. That night
when the polls were closed, / was admit
ted to the voting room as one OF the
watchers and / witnessed the unfolding
Of the ballots and there was no such bal
lot opened by the judges of election as the
ballot which ] had voted during the day.
While / was in the voting place | saw
bottle of whiskey which the officers Of
election drank and Of which | also drank
at the request of one of the judges whose
name is Edwards. From my knowledge
Of the votes l think that Morgan Treat.
the Republican candidate. ought to have
been seyenty-fve votes ahead at that pre-
cinct, while as ii was the judges Of cleo
ton returned him less than half that
number. Captain Clayton, after | report
ed Ruf's sleight Of hand performance.
notified several white men and told them
to watch Ruff. Shortly after, a white man
named L. C. Vaughan, a voter Of that
precinct. accused Ruff saying that he.
Ruff had two tickets in one hand which
RIff admitted and then when somebody
else WHISPERED in his ear he denied that
he had the tickets and called Vaughan
liar. when Vaughan passed the lie to him.
About this time Robinson, the Common
wealth's Attorney, drove up and seeing the
excitement and commoton growing out
Of the dispute and being told that the
cause of it was the discovery that Run,
one Of the judges. was cheating he ordered
HarWood, a policeman, 10 drive the "alch-
ers away from the window so that they
could not stand and see Ruff cheating
Captain Clayton, the Republican pre-
cinct chairman, refused to leave and
demanded that the Commonwealth
Attorney. the law officer of the county.
should stop the cheating. The Common
wealth's Attorney answered Captain
Clayton that if there was anything he did
not understand that he must complain
TO the Grand Jury and rot 10 him, and
further this deponent sayeth not.
NJ. ID. WRIGHT.
Sworn and subscribed this 18th day Of
November 1893 IL. c. BLACKISTON,
Notary Public.
State Of Virginia, County OF War
wick-ss.
T. j. Anderson, thirty-Gne years Of
age a white man, voter Of Virginia
who has resided in Newport News since
March lst 1892, and who is a registered
voter there being duly sworn deposes
and says That he is member of the
Populist party in Virginia, that on
Tuesday the 9TH day OF November he
represented that party at the voting
place at election district number three.
Newport News, that he was present
at said voting place from the opening
OF the polls at sunrise until the closing
Of the same at sunset with the excep-
ton OF forty-five minutes when he went
TO dinner; that ne observed closely the
methods that pertained TO the election
on the part Of the election officers:
that the judges Of election would fire.
duently leave the voting place during
election day and come out on the ground;
that the managing judge Of election,
Frank Ruff, was lot a voter nor resi-
dent Of Newport News, as he told the
afIiant that he, RUIZ, lived in Richmond.
that he once lived in Newport News.
hut had moved away. This man while
Judge OF election kept the ballot box
hidden from view and he, the ailiant.
objected 10 IL after when he moved to
one side hut kept the ticket hidden by
his hand so that he could not see the
ticket 90 into The box. During the day
he saw carriage drive up TO the polls
containing a Iarty Of three persons. one
OF the three being police officer named
Fuller. who was In uniform; that they
took from the carriage demijohn which
they esrried TO the voting place and
passed the demijohn with glass through
the door 10 the election officers Inside;