Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-25
ALEXANDRIA COUNTY ELECTIONS.

ALEXANDRIA COUNTY ELECTIONS.
Testimony Showing the Brutal Sur
rOundings of the Polls.
In the contest proceedings at Alexandria
yesterday w. 8. Reed. one Of the judges OF
election at Four Mile Run, was the first wit
ness called to the stand. He was examined
upon the occurrences at Four Mile Run on
the day Of election, and his testimony ac-
corded very closely with that Of other wit
nesses previously examined. Witness would
have been afraid to do any work for Messrs
Hume and Douglass, or to have CHALLENGED
a voter, for fear of personal violence. VIM.
Duncan came into the room or the JUDGES
of election; whisky had also beeE brought
into the room. Witness was on the stano
about an hour.
at the Four Mile run precinct, was sworn
He testified that he arrested Butler ana
carried him before Justice Lane In the
grocery store nearby, and then went after
Sisson to prefer charges. but no charges
were preferred and Butler was allowed TO
go. Peverill was within the forty-foot
limit, and when Sisson ordered him out ne
turned and struck Sisson. Then Mr.. Saw
keep quiet, he was released. He corrobor-
ated other witnesses as to the disorder at
the polls.
The cross-examination failed to develop
timony. When Mr.. Sawyer had concluded,
Mr.. Frank Hume, was called TO the stand,
and gave an account of the causes that LED
to the trouble between Mr.. Duncan and
himself at the school house, just beyond
the caral, and what happened there. He
said he saw much evidence CT drinking
about the polls, especially in the afternoon.
Mr.. Hume's evidence in regard to the trou-
BILE at the Four Mile Run polls between the
negro Butler and Constable Sisson, and the
assault upon jSisson by Pevertll was the
same as had been given by the other Wit
nesses. .
more demonstrative. He saw Johnston
give slips to the voters. and saw the vot-
ers carry them into the polls. Witness mad
arranged to have challenges made, but was
condition of the crowd, who would have
done him personal injury. He had asked
to have all the race track mems votes chal-
lenged, but was disappointed in getting a
list of that sort of people, and did not
know them personally.
Afternoon Session Yesterday.
At the afternoon session in the contest
case at Alexandria Jackson E. sickles,
county surveyor, was called to the stand.
Mr. Sickles had heard violent threats
against Hume at the Four-mile Run polls
on the day of the election. Witness had
voted for Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Hume. He
had made no challenges, the crowd was too
turbulent and disorderly. MIR. johnson was
about the precinct and the witness had
had conversation with him. in which
Johnson had said he was satisfied that Mr.
S;sson had not Intentionally marked But
ler's ballot wrong. Many of those about
the polls were mad with drink and used
violent and threatening language.
Witness recollected carrying around the
petition for contest and getting signatures.
He could not recollect getting the sigma
lures of John and George Jones, both col
%I,& h. ~,
object of the petition was to stop Wash
ington people from coming over there and
voting.
Robert Walker, secretary of the electoral
board of the county, was sworn. and the
contestants started to prove by his read
ing from the minutes of the electoral board
that Mr.. Sisson had not been legally ap-
pointed constable for the May election.
Col. Smith objected, and after long ar
gument the judge sustained the objection
Mr.. Walker, as secretary of the electoral
board, had seen the printing Of the ballots,
and the type distributed after the tickets
were printed. He had also sworn the print
ers, Miss Lena House and Mr. r. W.
French. as required by law. All the bal
| lots turned over by him to the judges OF
| election had the proper stamp on them
Witness had signed the petition for a con-
| test without knowing that the petition con,
| tanned allegations that the tickets had not
| been stamped and the printer had not been
sworn.
w. H Palmer, the new sheriff, was sworn
| Mr.. Palmer was handed subpoenas of sew
| eral witnesses and identified them as being
| copies of those given him to serve. He and
| Mr.. Deuterman had made every effort tt
| find the men named in the papers, but Were
| unable to find any of them. Witness was
| at Four-mile Run and saw what took place
| between Sisson and Butler. He did moi
| see anyone interfered with, or anyone
| threatened or intimidated.
| On cross-examination he said he saw NJ
| liquor at the polls but saw some fifty mer
| who had been drinking. The election al
| Four-mile Run was as quiet as that of the
] Hume-Iee contest some years ago.
His opinion was that the cause of the dis
| turbance was that the voters feared tina
| they would not be allowed to vote. Witt
| Mr.. Palmer still on the stand the court ad
| journed about s o'clock.