The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-10
REGISTRAR ROGERS REMOVED.
THE COMMISSION HEARD SEVERAL
COMPLAINTS AGAINST HIM.

gard TO Thomas COrr-The Case al
Chas. Herde similar to That al
SneIIings which the COmn,issio n
Observation-Disclosures Case Also
Passed Upon-Another Complaint
10 BE Brought Up To-day and Many
others Are Likely to Follow From
Both sides.
At the conclusion of an Investigation
lasting about two hours yesterday after
noon. Judge Robert Falligant chairman
of the registration commission, announced
that Mr. B. o. Rogers, registrar, repre-
senting the Citizens Club in the Sixth pre-
cinct, had been removed for cause and
that the commission would appoint new
registrar at once
The investigation was brought up on
petition from Thomas Corr, "A years old,
who lives al South Broad and McAllis-
ter streets. who said he went to register
Tuesday. Dec s. and that Rogers refused
to allow him TO register. demanding of
him the production of his citizenship pa
pers.
He explained that his papers had been
taken out in 1851 at Hartford, Conn, that
he had lost Them and he offered to sub
scribe to an oath or make affidavit to the
fact of his citizenship. The registrar he
stated, refused to allow him to make any
affidavit. and said that nothing short of
an exhibition of these papers would en-,
able him to be registered. He stated that
he was a duly naturalized citizen, that he
had paid all taxes due by him, that he has
hae in,
than forty years, and that his name as a
duly qualified voter appears upon the
county registration list for the year 1896
The sixth paragraph of the petition al
legged that Registrar Rogers was an often
sive partisan of the faction known as the
Citizens Club, and because of his bias ard
prejudice he said he was incompetent TO
discharge the duties of a registrar He
also called attention to the fact that Mr..
Rogers is an empioye of the city, appoint
ed under the present administration, and
said he was directly concerned with and
interested in the result of the coming cleo
ton. 1t was also minated that he re-
ceived his salary as a city employe and
also as registrar on the days on which he
was occupied with the registration.
The petition was filed with the commits
sion by Messrs. Kenan & Hartridge rep
resenting Corr, and Mr.. M. A. OByrne also
appeared in his behalf. President ]. Fer
ris Cam of the Citizens Club, Mr.. Joseph
M. Dreyer and Mr.. A. A. Lawrence APP
peared in behalf of Rogers.
The hearing opened with the testimony
of Mr. Corr, who stated substantially the
facts as set forth in his petition. Then
there were three other cases presented by
aIafu af oil vtrl4f n11rl
were made against Mr.. Rogers. The first
was that of Charles G. Herde, a negro %
years old, who stated that he had pre-
scented his tax receipts for 1896, his name
was on the county registration books for
this year, he offered to swear that he
was only p years old, and also brought up
witnesses as to his identity. Mr.. Rogers,
he said, refused to register him because
he did not believe his statement as to his
age
Another case was that of Joseph f.
Forehand, who presented his tax receipt
for 1885, and whose name was on the reg
istration list When Mr.. Rogers asked him
where he lived he said at Az McDonough
street. His residence on the printed list
was given as 80 McDonough street, and as
he said he had been living at the former
place for quite a while, Mr.. Rogers re-
fused to register him.
The fourth case was that of William d.
Crutcher, colored, who went to the regis
tration precinct with all of his tax re-
ceipts but one. His name was also on the
county list for the current year. At first
Registrar Lacy, representing the Liberal
Club, it is stated, refused to register him.
Crutcher then went away, and returned
shortly, after which Registrar Lacy
agreed to register him. but Registrar Rog-
ers refused to do so. Crutcher had his tax
receipt for 1896.
These were substantially the facts put
before the commission by the witnesses.
Registrar Rogers was then placed on the
stand. With regard to Corr s case he
stated that Registrar Lacy had turned
down Mr.. D. Hecht and also Mr.. George
Rankin because they did not bring their
citizenship papers with Them and that
was the reason he had required the citi-
zenship papers from Mr.. Corr, he said
Mr.. Rogers said Mr.. Corr offered to take
an oath as to his citizenship, but he told
him he would rather have the papers
themselves
did you turn Mr.. Corr down before or
after Lacy turned down the two you mem
toned?" Mr.. O'Byrne asked.
don't remember now just how it was
was the reply.
But you stated you turned Corr down
because Lacy turned down the other two.
Now did they. come before or after Mr..
CORR" said Mr.. O'Byrne.
Il don't remember just how it was now, -
Mr.. Rogers was questioned closely with
regard to list said to have been furnish
ed him from headquarters, upon which
were names which he had orders not Ia
register under any circums tances. lie
did not care to say anything about the
list. He fnally stated. however, that in
formation had been furnished him with
regard to one name. The court with re.
gard to this matter, held that ii was per.
fecty proper for a registrar 70 get infor.
nation wherever he could with regard tc
parties presenting themselves for regis
tration.
Mr.. Rogers was also questioned as tC
whether he was in the employ of tn,
city. He said he was and that he helt
the position of superintendent of the o
L. NJ. department. He was asked if h,
was docked by the city for the DAYS OF
which he attended to the registration. a,
he was paid for that, too. He said he die
not know whether he was or not. II
reply TO question he said he had never
been locked that he remembered
MIR. Rogers then made a statement witt
regard to the Herde case \ large mum
hpr nf Harlsiaa rIa fpnfpor 10 ho s,,,1,. %