The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-14
Mr.. Holton's Scheme to Permit
Wholesal, Registration.
THE WINSTON CASES HEARD
A Spiteful and Most Malicious
Prosecution.
TO BE FINALLY DECIDED TO-DAY
A Populist and Democrat Brought 1876
Miles on Charge of Attemp-
ting TO Prevent Unlaw-
ful Registration.

ful registration.
As bitter, obnoxious, partisan and
political blatherslIite Chairman Holton,
of the Republican party yesterday won
new laurels
The early train on the Southern Rail
way brought two mea from Winston,
Holton's home. They were plainly
dressed. That they were men in very
moderate circumstances could be seen
at glance. But they were men for
a. that. Their faces were furrowed
with care and toll, but the eye was
clear and steady and honesty was
stamped upon every feature. Their
| names were Il. L. Reed and u. o. Curtis,
Democratic and Populist registrars of
| the Fifth ward of Winston. They
were brought here, 1875 miles from
home, on their own expense, charged
with conspiracy to prevent the voters
of their precinct from registering. And
their accuser-was A. Il. Holton, the
dummy chairman of the Republican
| party--who is seeking to retaliate on
| the Populists of his county for fusing
with the Democrats rather than with
the Republicans.
1t was on last Friday that he swore
out the warrant which brought them
| here yesterday as criminals, with a
grave charge suspended as a menace
over their heads. And then later he
had the effrontery to appear in court,
| face the honest dumb faces of the
| accused and ask, through his attorney,
Maj. Graham, that they be branded
with y Judgment, made pay the cost,
| turned loose and sent back home to
| preside over an election of freemen.
L The nrflpvs -,
were brought here was issued by Judge
Montgomery on ex parte evidence last
Friday and was as follows:
1T is wherefore ordered that E. l..
Reed and r. o. Curtis, registrars at
Fifth wand precinct in Winston, ap-
| pear before me at Chambers in Raleigh
on Tuesday, October 18th, 1896, at 10
| O'Clock, a. m, and show cause why
| they should not register the persons
| applying to them for registration and
| refrain from any unnecessary eonsump-
tion of time or delay in the registra-
tion of voters and perform duties as
defined in this order and contemplated
in said act, and in the discharge of
their Duties as registrars allow all
persons who are residents of said Fifth
ward precinct of Winston and duly
names put on the registration book
of said precinct"
The hearing of the case came up be-
fore Judge Montgomery at Chambers
at 12 o'clock. The reading of the affi-
davits and argument of counsel con-
sumed nearly three hours.
Mag. j. w. Graham, of Hillsboro, ap-
peared for the plaintiff, Holton, and
Messrs. E. B. Jones, of Winston, and
+. Ill. Bus1bee and ex-Judge Shepherd,
of Raleigh, for the defendants.
In opening the case, Mr.. Jones said
the question before the court was as to
whether the registrars of the Fifth
ward of Winston had delayed the reg
istration, and the legal question aris-
ing therefrom as to the power and
jurisdiction of the Judge to punish.
He then read the affidavits of the de-
PENDANTS Reed and Curtis, setting forth
the circumstances on which the com
plant against them had been founded.
MIR. Reeds version of the trouble was as
follows:
MIR. REEDS AFFIDAVIT.
In the matter of the registrars for
Fifth ward precinct, Winston, n c.,
E. L. Reed being duly sworn says
That he is a resident of the Fifth
ward, Winston, N. c., and has been
for years and is Populist in prin-
ciple and believes in the principles set
forth they the Populist party. THAT
affiant never asked or sought the of
fee of the registrar for Fifth ward
which he now holds nor did he know
that he would be appointed And the
first atfiant heard of said appointment
was Ia day or two after said appoint
ment had been made; that some two or
three days before Goth day of Sept,
1896; affiant went to the Clerk of the
Court and was duly qualified and af-
terwards at the residence of affiant the
registrars met and, as they thought,
organized Iby electing affiant chair
man.
On the goth of September, the
registrars met on the grounds for bus
mess. Mr.. Hampton, the Republican
registrar, came up and stated that he
had not qualified. Affiant then told him
to go and qualify. About 9:3O o'clock
Hampton returned and they, by elect
ing afliant chairman, again organized
and were ready for business; that a
large crowd had assembled and all cleo
tors seemed anxious to register
dt Oitt. llltb diIlduO utu Itq tltSUeu Ule
sheriff to send a deputy to the poll
ing place in order to keep order if nee
essary, but not experimenting such
confusion and rush to register they
made no other arrangements and did
not until the next day place ropes and
form a pass way to and away from
the registrars. That if the registrars
had assembled on time and there had
not been such crowding and rushing
around the registrars with loud talking
and interference from bystanders,