Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-23
TAKING EVIDENCE
In the Contested Congressional Elec- ton in This City and at
 Bessemer.

The investigation of the November elec- ton was begun in Birmingham yesterday in the office of J.. G. Crews, 2012b Second avenue. k. D. Thompson, special com- missioner, is conducting the investigation, and MT. Aldrich is represented by Attor- neys Won L. Thompson and Lewis H. Par sons. MT. Underwood is represented by Capt. NJ. A. Mason and Messrs. Powell and Blackburn.
 Three witnesses were examined yester- day, two negroes and one white man. They testified as to the number of deputy marsbais at the voting places where they cast their ballots.
 Captain Mason asked the court to enforce the rule as to witnesses. The court claimed that it did not have the authority to en- force the rule, and hence all witnesses re- maned in the room during the examina- tions.
 Will Alley, a white man, was the first witness. He said there were six deputy sheriffs at the Elyton box, at which place he voted, and that all but one were demo- crats. The politics of that one he did not know.
 He said negroes were challenged and re- quired to be identified by white men be- fore they could vote. Not every one, how. ever, he said, was required to be identified in this manner. He told of different men working for Mr. Aldrich and MT. Under
 
 1eged intimidation, but on cross-examina- tion his answers were not of such a charac- ter as to esta blish fraud in any particular. Two negroes testified in the afternoon, but there was nothing damaging to the democratic congressman elect in any state- ments made by them.
 The investigation will continue for sev- eral days.
 AT BEssEMER.
 The investigation is still in progress at Bessemer.
 It has been brought out by witnesses who have testified before the commissioner who Is conducting the investigation that when it became known that the box sent to Bes- semer contained only 126 ballots Messrs. Tillman and Carwile were sent to the pro- bate judge for additional ballots. the former by the democrats and the latter by the republicans.
 The tickets in the box gave out about 10 o'clock and for an hour or such matter voting was suspended, but on the arrival of more ballots every one was given a every one who desired to vote did so, or at least had the opportunity so to do. Some ofth witnesses stated that there was in- timidation at the box, but they were un- able to mention the name of any voter that was prevented fromv voting, or of any per son who attempted to prevent any one from voting. The election was held in the house where the fire department has its headquarters, and during the day an alarm of fire was given.
 Mir. Spencer, the Aldrich manager at the Bessemer box, stated on the stand that when the alarm or fire was sounded he was told that his house was on fire and that the reel ran over the booths. He refused to leave the voting place, saying he didn't care if his house did burn, he would stay and see that the election was fairly con- ducted.
 On ross-examination Mir. Spencer ad- mitted that a house within 200 feet of his was destroyed by fire, and that from where the election was being held it did look as though his house was burning.
 The democrats have brought out evidence tending to show that the republicans made an effort to prevent any election being held in Bessemer, in order that the cry of fraud might be set up.
 Each side charges the other with having extracted the ballots from the box before time for opening the election, but 10 far neither has been able to locate the party or parties who did the work.
 The investigation at Bessemer will con- tinue into next week.
 FAC SMILE OF BATCH's BILL.
 RALEIGH, N. O., Feb. 22.-6enator Moody's bill to prevent the adulteration