The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-14


register. This was often done, the
negroes trying to keep the Populists
and Democrats from registering.
Deputy Sheriff Wrenn said Holton did
more to delay registration than any
body else; that he severely questioned
white men, but insisted on negroes
being registered ait once and without
question.
When Mr. Jones had concluded the
reading of his affidavits Mai. Graham
read a statement of W. 2. Olmsley, of
Salem, settling forth that he had stood
by ON the day complained of and the
time consumed in registering voter
was from 21s to 6 minutes and in one
case 16 minutes.
In reply TO this Mr.. Jones submitted
an affidavit from another citizen say
ing that in conversation with Olmsley
he had stated that the registrars could
not have proceeded with much greater
rapidity under the circumstances.
ARGUMENT OF COUNSEL.
In his argument Mr.. Jones de-
nounced the conduct of Holton and
Stewart and said that had the officers
done their duty both of them would
have been promptly marched off to
Jail. The negroes were ignorant, he
said, and led by bad men; they were
urged on by paI'tisans and ought not
to be blamed; they were told that
they would never be allowed to regis
ter and were crazed with fear of losing
their votes. 1T was the men who led
them that were responsible for the
trouble.
He said a registrar was a sworn of
ficer, and even Holton, Though a State
chairman, had no right to dictate to
them as to their duty. It's the regis
trars oath that is at stake-not Hol-
toms. The only way he can get the
necessary information is by question
ing the electorate law says he shall
question him.
The speakers denunciation of Hol-
ton for his action was something ter
rible, and Holton quailed and covered
under it. His description of the ig-
norant crowd of human cattle, urged
on 10y the fear that their suffrages
were in danger, melted by HoIton and
his henchmen from all parts of the
county, was enough to make the blood
of every self-respecting Anglo-SaXon
boil with indignation. He told how
men stood around, with watches in
their hands, crying fraud, and said the
only wonder was that there was con-
fusion and not riot and even blood
shed.
He contended that the registrar I'M
der THE law had right to ask such
questions as he might deem proper, as
safeguard against fraud. He said
that the affidavits set forth that there
was only about % or 80 more voters
in the ward to register, and that this
in itself was enough to prove that the
registrars had done their duty.
Maj. Graham for the plaintiff, Hol-
ton, said the fact THAT there were so
few now to register was due to heavy
registration of last Saturday after the
order had been issued.
Mr.. Jones here interrupted him to
say that the warrant was not served
till about the time the registration
was closed, and his clients knew moth
ing of it till then, and called on Mr.,
Curtis to know if that was true. Both
Curtis and Reed said it was.
But Graham insisted that they did
know it, openly impeaching the state
ment of the defendants. Jones chal-
lenged him to prove 1T. ''0h, we'll" he
safd. everybody else in Winston knew
it. They saw it in the morning papers
of the city"
Being reminded that there were no
morning papers in Winston, he grew
red in the face and proceeded, saying
that he did not claim that the men
should forfeit their office, but that the
Judge had right to issue the order
and that it was a question whether
the rule should be continued or dis
charged on payment of the cost, with
with charge to them to hereafter
justly and fairly enforce the law.
He talked of election frauds and said
the time had come to stop them, and
when al man came to register it was
to be presumed regular until it was
shown to be false, and even on the day
of challenge this presumption was
continued. He asked that the regis
trars be made to pay the cost of the
case and that the order be continued
over until next Saturday or that they
be ordered Ito register all who come.
MFR. Busbee, in behalf of the defend
ants, said the question was whether the
stigma of unfaithfulness should be
placed upon these men or not. Even
the imposition of costs would be equal
to Judgment of unfaith fulness in the
performance of their duties. The reg
istrars were ordered to show cause
why they had not discharged their
duties. The affidavfts, he said, proved
absolutely that they had discharged
their duties fairly and fully, and every
solitary interference had come from
men who were interested ON the other
side The affidavits that were read set
out fully that they have been
faithful; it lis shown by men of
all PARTIES, he said. No men in the
city of Winston stand amy higher for
honesty, truth and probity than these
men. Even on the plaintiff's own af-
fdayits the average time consum-
ed was about minutes for each voter,
and that too when they selected the
longest time taken up, and when even
Holton and mis- henchmen were there
questioning the electors and delaying
the registration. He said Mai Graham
admitted that the Judge had no power
to punish, and ITO issue an order that
III. n. - f..& ~