The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-29
STRIKES AT THE ROOT.
JUDGE UELLFORD ON THE Sh u
MARER'S PRECINCT FRAUDS.
Brushed Aside All Legal ouibbles-The
Question Before Him Was to Ascertain
ifFraud Had Been Committed.

The action Of Judge Z. X. Ncllioro,
Of the city Circuit Court, in the Shu-
makers precinct case, which came be-
fore him on writ Of mandamus yes
,erdav. illustrated forcibly how Just
ana upright judge may refuse 10 pc
shackIed by forms and punctlo and
strike right at the root OF matter with
tho determination TO see that justice
,s speedily DONE and any wrong mat
NAV have been perpetrsted rishted'
AZ nrnted in yesterdays Times it was
discovered by a mere accident that the
,egistration-books at Shunaker pre-
o,,,ct near the western limits Of the city
bad neon purged Of number oI names,
81 th,t the affair had been cohcucleu
an - manner so much at variance VII"
a., v,thods prescribed by law mat 'he
,,r r,,tLa Of fraud were piiiii9 ]" q,
- In the absence of persons VINO
80 watching The polls IN the inter-
csts of honesty, and under lho cVNoi
% darkness, list OF the h'uhe' s'ii'N
an from the books was posted up III AZ
cordance with law, and then hasuiy 'o'"
down. - -..,,s,,,,.,,ors led
10 their detecbOH. " .. ..,rt
I'm down a portion of the upper P"'
49,, loft adhering to the tacks thdt ha"
80 t,o document in place, ana iheSc
fragments told tho story
M, matter was at once brought 10 1'is
o..e,tiop of Messrs. william j.. toyal'
and A. B. Guigon, who lost no ,'lno -,
taking legal steps TO ascertain pos o',' ,
| =, ,,orodventure tnat the wrong 10 Wl'iei'
overv indication pointed, had beeh p''
| pctrated ,,r.r,,-r-a,n
THE REGISTRAR REFUSED.
AZ soon as the indications Oh ~ an
| noted had been discovered, Mr' JONI y.
Small visited George W. fe.tu7, w. W.
,ho registrar at Shumaker's prec'hV''
I'D osked TO see the books. Pettus ue-
ei,nod to allow Mr. Small TO see tne
hool,s alleging that The names stricken
aes had been so much blotted that IL
ia no impossible 10 read them. re
80 declined 10 allow a copy 70 be hsue
of the hooks. although assured by MI
s,,,ou that he would bear the expense
of the work. .o,,oi,od
Rnf one remedy. therefore, remained
ord tbis was adopted yesterday Wheh ,no
following petition was addressed W ''''7'
| Wexford. QUE, .,,aoo of
tbe circuit Court Of the County Oh
Honrico: - Al
yonr petitioners. Allen Anthony Al
dison Lewis Lee Roano William ). hon-
| ireop Ananias Dandridgc. Lewis Dan
! ,o,- ond I &. Small. would Respectfully
| renrosont that they received inl"iil", ,l'i'
| on Inc 25tn aay Of October. ls''' that u
| large number OF names OF Not'i7 nav
| lcen unlawfully stricken from 'Ne i,7''
tration-book at Shumaker 1reclh'N u,
tho county Of Henrlco. Including sonn' VI
ON
- .oid dav they applied 90 George W.
.,,., Who IS the registrar at said
nrccinct for leave to inspect sara regis
| ,r,,iou-book that they might ascertain
| ,no names so stricken of, the list poa'eh
nm b,- said registrar having been t''"
| dr,vu and carried of That said registrar
refused TO allow your pctiuoner 10 liz
snect said book.
AVhorefore YOUR petitioners pray your
|, Honor TO award them writ oil mahua-
mus. commanding the said george w.
r.ttus. registrar, to allow your pettlon-
ers 10 inspect said resistralloh-pOoA'
Petitioners by counsel,
NM. l.. ROYALL,
K. 3. GUIGON, p. q.
EDGAR ALLEN,
LEGAL ADJUNCIs.
State Of Virginia, city OF Richmond to-
wit.
This day personally appeared before me
Il Dickinson. d notary public, IN and
for the said city and state, III my city
J. {. Small, and made oath that the
statements therein contained are true -
the best OF his knowledge ana belief.
Given under my hand this zitn day Oh
October, lsgo.
4. Il. DICKINSON, y. =.
To George W. Pettus, registrar OF snu-
makers precinct, Henricc county:
Take notice that 1 shall on the 18th day
! OF October, at l.. NJ. at the court-hOuse
in the county Of Henrico, apply 10 the
! Hon. h. Il. MelIord, judge or the circuit
| Court Of Henrico county, for man
damus TO compel you to permit me TO
inspect the registration book for shu-
makers precinct, IN Henrico county, IN
your custody as said registrar. copy
CT my said petition TO the said Hon. B.
! X. Wexford, judge, is attached hereto
| and made a part hereof.
Given under my hand in the city OF
| Richmond. this 9th day Of October, 1896.
WILLIAM ANTHONY,
ADDISON LEWIS,
LEE kOANE.
WM. J. ROBINSON,
j. G. SMALL. ETC.
state of Virginia, county Of Henrico' To-
wit:
l hereby certify that the above notice
was served by me on George W. Pettus.
registrar of Shumaker's precinct, in Hen
rico county, by the delivery of copy OF
| the same TO him in person. together with
I. copy Of the petition referred 10, and
| made a part of the said notice.
Given under my hand this 18th day oil
| October. 1896.
4. B. DICKINSON, y. J..
In accordance with the foregoing the
| little temporary quarters in which the
| County Court is held were tcleFahiy well
flled at 1 O'Clock yesterday afternoon by
witnesses for either side, counsel. the
registrar and his friends. and "A number
| OF curious spectators. Mr. William j..
| Rovall and Captain A. p. Guigon appeared
| in behalf Of the petitioners, while Messrs.
| Hi Montague and w. II. Beyeridge were
on hand. as usual, for the other side. and
| later On were reinforced by Major A. r..
| Courtney.
Mr.. Royal presented the court with
| the petition above recorded. as the initial
move In the case, and Mr.. Beyeridge, on
behalf of his client. demurred TO the same.
! Ills demurrer he said. was based, first.
upon the contention that the matter was
a question OF fact and therefore entitled
TO the consideration OF "A jury; and. Sec
ondly, that body OF men could not
apply by petition for 4 mandamus 10
| compel this registrar 20 open his books
10 their inspection. There should be. he
! continued, separate petition from each
| person.
4