Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-06-08

other book.
These men arrested were allunmar-
RED
Plain it is notl All. my friend. it
was all because they voted the wrong
ticket.
Do you know in some places it is
an unpardonahle sin to vote the Re-
publican ticket? Bitiust vote the Dem
ocratic ticket ard Ole ST. Peter will
surely let you in the gate.
Well, the ever to be remembered
Nov. 6, 1894, rolls around. The
Democrats were determined TO carrythe
precinct at all hazards, aud as stated
in the Shepherdstown Register the
following week: when the polls
closed, six men were under ar
rest for illegal voting, the others who
intended to vote were driven back to
the quarry. and the Old Democratic
banner fioated in triumph over the
schoolhouse at Kearneysville.
Tremendous achievement Over
whelming victory Raj for Wilson!
No Niger in ours!
But on with the farce The colored
men presented themselves and offered
to vote. But bear in mind first that
one of the Democratic commissioners.
was silent throughout the whole trans.
action; he took no part in it; said
nothing and did nothing The other
Democratic commissioner took it all
upon himself; he felt no doubt equal
to the occasion. He acted as if he
knew beforehand what he intended
to do and was ready with his letter
from Charles Town. and his affidavit
from the assessor. Well, the men
present themselves. Up jumped
this Democratic commissioner; he
casts glance at the Democratic chal.
leuger, as if to say, get ready. come
on with the documents. What your
name. (The man gives his name.
81 don't know you. Does anybody
know this fellow" ~ know him, "
says the Republican commissioner in
clear lucid tones. "Where do you
liveP "Keaineysville." was the
answer. care you 81 years old ?"
Eyes, sir" Single or married? ?"
Single" he replies. Have you
been in the State year and the couu-
ty sixty days, and do you claim this
as your home, and can you make aft.
davit to this?" "Yes. sir" says the
voter. ~ challenge that vote, and il
he votes here will have him arrest.
ed, says the Democratic challenger.
II don't see why the man is not en-
titled to vote" says the Republican
commissioner. "l.et him make aft
davit and vote" Then. up jumps
the Democratic commissioner. with
look at the Democratic challenger
as if to say. Look out, | am going
0 shoot her oil " well, sir, it is
ny duty to read the law to you. sir "
THE other Democratic commission
er is as silent as the grave). 1T is
my duty to tell you that if you vote
here today. and any qualified voter
gets up and swears that you are not
legal voter. it is my duty to have
you arrested and semitic Charles Towr
Jail, This frightened the poor
low. With trembling lips.
sw eat coursing down his honest cheeks.
he says, Boss. | don't want to gel
into any trouble; claim this place as
my home; have been in the State
eight years. in this county three OF
four months or longer. and / thought
| had right to vote" He takes
his hat and leaves the room. In a
few minutes he returns, offers his al.
tidavit, and the commissioners receive
his vote and put it in the box. Then
the Democratic challenger gets up
fills out an affidavit that this man
was not legal voter. and then this
Democratic commissioner Qhe Other
still silent leaves the election room
Deputies three constables. sends fol
the sheriff, and orders the arrest OIL
the voter When he returns Demo
crat who had been in the State not as
long as the man arrested and working
for this same Stone and Lime Co. un.
der similar conditions to the mar
that was arrested, is allowed to vote
without being challenged or disturbed
Whilst preparations were being made
for the arrest of the Republican voter.
the Republican commissioner and
challenger protested in vain at the
injustice and illegality Of the whole
transaction. In the course of an hour
the other men came and voted and
were also arrested in form and man.
ner similar to the first. the Republi-
can commissioner protesting with all
his vigor but of course was powerless.
When the polls closed these men were
arraigned before magistrate johnson.
OF Leetown, who required them to give
bail for their appearance before the
grand jury. Thus ended the frs,
chapter Of the farce.
The grand jury found true bill {
course, as they were all Democrats
Then follows the trial in our circuit
court. Messrs. U. S. Grant Pitzer and
ID. Nelson Wisner, OF Martins5urg
were engaged as their counsel, ant
after brilliant and able effort, five o
these men were finally acquitted; jus
tice and right triumphed. and FIVE in
nocent men possessing every right o
an American citizen guaranteed By
the Constitution Of the United States
citizens Of West Virginia. entitled t.
every local right and obeying every
statute of our State Constitution. thes.
innocent men. having proven thai