The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-12
M'INTIRE IS ALL RIGHT.
The Charges Against Him Proven
Without Foundation.


tires Answer a Strong One-The
Case Submitted on Evidence and no
Arguments Were made-Nothing
Wrong in Urging Friend to Come
and Register-The Book in Question
Was Not Part of the Registration
Records.
The charges preferred against Registrar
]. w McIntire by the Citizens Club were
dismissed by the registration commission
yesterday afternoon on the testimony of
Mr. McIntire's colleague in office, Mr.. A.
n. Manucy.
There were only three witnesses called
to the stand, Mr.. Manucy being the last,
and after his examination, Mr.. T. d.
Rockwell, who appeared for the Citizens
Club, announced that he did not wish to
introduce any more witnesses. 1t was
supposed that one or two others were to
be called to give testimony in support of
the charge.
Mr. Rockwell stated that he had no ar
gument to make, and Mr.. J. r. Saussy,
who, with Mr.. NJ. A. O'Byrne, appeared
for Mr.. McIntire, stated that he would
submit the case to the commission on the
rebuttal to the charges contained in the
respondents answer. Then came the de-
cision at once dismissing the charges.
The COURT CONVENED.
The commissioners court convened
promptly at o'clock This is the first
time the registration commission has ever
held such a court The three judges filed
into the superior court room, which was
crowded with interested spectators, anx-
ious to witness the proceedings Judge
MacDonell sat on the right, and Judge
Ferrill on the left of Judge Falligant.
Through the courtesy of Deputy Sheriff
Goldman, Sheriff Blois, of the city court,
occupied the sherih's chair on the judges
stand.
Judge Falligant announced that the
registration commission was ready to pro-
coed with the hearing of the charges. A
minute or two later MIR. McIntire ap-
peared in the court room with his attor-
neys, Messrs. Saussy and O'Byrne. Mr.
Rockwell then read the charges preferred
by the Citizens Club, which have been
published.
MR.. M'INTIRE's ANSWER.
Mr.. J. r. Saussy read Registrar Nc
Intyre's answer to the charges which is
as follows:
In the Matter OF Charges Against J. w. Nc
lntire, One Of the Registrars:
And now comes the said James w. McIn-
tire, and in answer TO the said charges spe-
officially answers to each OF them as follows:
To the general charges he answers;
That he has faithfully performed the duties
Of registrar, and has not in any manner
whatever hindered or Distracted the registra-
tion of any citizen lawfully entitled to regis
ter, nor has he knowingly permitted any per-
son to register Illegally
And he denies the general charges against
him, which, il intended as matter of objec-
tion TO him other than as contained in the
specific charges he cannot otherwise answer.
as il is too vague and indefinite TO be more
specifically answered.
10 the special charges he answers:
l, The first special charge is erroneous and
In its description of the book taken by him
out Of the tax collectors ONCE is inaccurate
and untrue. In this first, that the book does
not contain list OF the white voters for the
year 1894, or those who are qualified to vote
after being registered" But on the contrary
the book contains a list Of such white persons
resident in Chatham county subject to poll
tax who have paid the same for the year 1893
up to Dec. 20, 1898 Your respondent re-
spectfully calls the attention of your honors
to the law that all persons who pay poll tax
are not entitled to register, and that many
persons are entitled 10 register who are not
subject to poll tax.
10 the 0rSi charge he further answers,
:. That II is not true that this respondent
TOOK the said book from the office OF the tax
collector without his knowledge or consent
ON the contrary, this respondent plainly and
distinctly stated to a clerk IN the Office OF
said tax collector that he wanted the Look
conta -.ing the list OF persons who had paid
poll tax for the year 1893, and the book was
handed to him by said clerk without any OH
lection or dissent. That the tax collector
was present in his office and made no obiec-
ton and has made no complaint against this
respondent because he did take the said hook
from his office,
TO the second special charge he answers:
). That the book referred to is not a com
plete list of the registered voters OF the
county, for the reasons stated in paragraph
LIST Of this answer, There must be many
names on the registration books that are not
on the look In question voters who are not
liable 10 poll tax by reason of age-i e. being
either over 10, or who will arrive at
majority after registration and before
the day Of election. And if the check
indication of who have registered, such in
formation was already known to
the respondent-and the book had
no value or use 10 him for this purpose hut
only as a memorandum OF persons who had
paid their poll tax for the year named in the
book, information which is public in its
character and accessible to any person de-
string such information. II the checking Of
the name OF any Terson in said book as
having reg stored was improper it was
mistake entered into innOcently by every
registrar under the act engaged in the nres
ent registration. But this respondent re-
specuully shows that the mere fact of being
registered is not secret to be preserved nor
tact TO be concealed from any one The
registration book contains other and impor.
tant details for the purposes Of identification
and TO prevent 4 audulent impersonation of n
registered voter which is not contained in
the mere checking Of the name OF anv uerson
on distinct and separate list as registered
person.
To the third special charge he answers:
nat ne denies that the said book was n
part OF the registration looks Of the county.
which, under the law. must be kept In the
office Of the ordinary. Ihe stltlte providing
for registration particularly describc S
the books of registration that are
TO he kept in the office of
the ordtnary-and no other hooks are re-.
qutred so TO be kept The took IN question
was compiled by the tax collector for mis- own
convenience, and is his private property. and
was loaned by him TO the registrars TO fanil.
itate them in ascertaining whether Doll tai rs
had teen paid by applicants for registration
and was open to the inspection OF any person
70 whom the tax collector chose TO submit IL
The book in question has never been hereto.
lore sealed with the books of registration
by the registrars, and if it should have cen
which this respondent does not admit a fail.
ure to DO so is not a violation of the law
chargeable solely 10 this respondent SO as 10
olsQualify him any more than the other regis.
trars. e'9
4 o the fourth special charge he answers.
That he had the right TO take the book and
10 examine the same with as careful scrutiny
as possible. That he is required to ascertain
hnf hos