The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-19

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matter, had very little to say.
1T was just what l expected" he re-
| marked They want to get rid OF me OF
! Mr.. Bailey one or the other, they don't
care which. The trouble is, they want II
| all. Let them get Mr.. Morrissey as a
| witness II they want to- they'll be sur
| prised at some of the things he has to
say"
The petition for the removal Of Mr..
| Johnson was filed with Judge FalHgant at
| his house shortly after o'clock last night.
| 1t is stated that there was no necessity In
! the first place Of filing the petition with
! the clerk of the court, az the law makes
the matter OF the board OF registrars rath-
| er a separate and distinct matter from
| the regular business of the court. The
time for hearing the petition has not been
| set, and Judge Fallgant has passed no
order whatever in the matter. 1t is likely
however, that something will be done with
regard to the petition this morning. The
petition in full is as follows:
Georgia, Chatham COunty-To the Hon
orable Robert Falligant, Judge of the SUI
perior Court OF Chatham County: The
petition Of the democratic executive com
mittee Of said county respectfully shows
unto your honor:
First That the board of registrars for
said county, as at present made up, con-
sists Of the following named citizens, to-
wit: Alexander A. Lawrence, represent
ing the democratic party; William =.
Bailey, representing the Liberal Club, an
independent organization, and T. f. John
son, ostensibly representing the republican
party.
Second Your petitioners show that the
purport and intention OF the statute which
gives to you the power of the appointment
of those registrars is to have said board
fairly and impartially made up, so that the
different conflicting political interests may
have equal and exact Justice.
Third. Your petitioners show that said
board of registrars Is unfairly made up.
for while il purports to contain a repre-
sentative Of the three political interests
heretofore named, in fact and in truth,
Mr.. Johnson does not, in his official ca
pacity. represent the republican party, but
is bitter partisan of the Liberal Club
20 bitter, in fact that he cannot give the
candidates OF the democratic party JUS
tice.
Fourth, Your petitioners show that the
allegation aforesaid, in reference to the
said T. F. Johnson, are based upon the
following:
(a) The said Mr.. T. F. johnson. during
the present year, about two or three
months ago, told Mr.. John 1.
Morrissey, citizen Of said
county, that he was bitterly hos
tile to the Citizens Club, and its candi-
dates, (they being now the candidates Of
the democratic parity, and that owing 10
his feeling he did not believe he would be
able to do them justice in his official ca
pacity as registrar.
An affidavit stating these facts is at
tached to this petition, marked exhibit
"a" This affidavit was handed TO Mr.
Morrissey by Mr.. r. j. Warrick, with the
request that he sign and swear to same
Mr.. Morrissey stated that the facts con-
tanned therein were true, but that owing
to his friendship for Mr.. Johnson, he did
not like to sign same. Mr.. Norrissey has
been put under subpoena 10 appear be-
fore your honor Tomorrow Saturday
morning, Sept. 49, 1896, at 10 o'clock a. m.
a which time he can be Intercepted by
your Honor under oath as to the facts
herein alleged
(b) Mr.. T. F. Johnson in a CONVERSE
tion with Mr. w. w. Osborne, about three
or four months ago, stated that he had
been unjustly and unfairly taxed by the
city of Savannah, through Its tax asses
sors and receivers, upon certain notes
held by him, and that unless he was Civ
en- relief from payment of the taxes. he did
not think he could do the Citizens Club
people, and their candidates now the
democratic candidates. Justice
See affidavit Of w. w Osborne, attach
ed hereto marked exhibit B.
(c) Mr.. T. F. Johnson stated to Mr.
4 HOttido Ndulblt On uANtIS QdyS TINS year,
Mr. Gamble having almost daily CONVERSE
ton with Mr.. Johnson, that he was Bit
terly hostile to the Citizens Club, and it's
candidates (now the democratic candi-
dates) his language and expressions be-
ing so vehement, and displaying so much
bitter prejudice, as to produce the i'm
preston upon the mind of Mr.. Gamble
that he was utterly unable in his official
capacity as registrar to deal fairly with
its candidates.
See affidavit OF Thomas Gamble hereto
attached and marked exhibit &C"
ID Not only does the democratic execu-
tive committee believe Mr.. Johnson so
bitterly prejudiced as that they are una
BILE to get Justice from him. bYt Liberal
Club leaders so express themselves.
Hon. A. ii. MacDonell, a prominent
leader and manager of the Liberal CLUB
stated on Thursday, Sept. IT, that when
the registrars came to consider the names
of voters, and their right to be on the reg
istration list, and where there was a
question of doubt, that Mr.. Johnson Zone
of the county registrars would give It
to the Citizens Club in the neck" mean
ing thereby that Mr.. Johnson was in his
opinion biased.
See affidavit OF Mr.. Alexander A. Law
renee, attached to this petition, marked
exhibit ID"
Fifth, Petitioners show that the law Civ
ing lhe appointment 10 your hOnOr, states
that only the conflicting political inter-
est shall be represented upon the board
of registrars. Petitioners show to your
honor that the republican party has no
state or local ticket or any kind in the
field. and are not entitled to any repre-
sentation on the board of registrars
Sixth, Petitioners state to your honor
that they do not believe that the demo-
cratic party, whom they represent, can
get justice before the board as al present
constituted. and they ask for the removal
OF Mr., Johnson and the substitution in
his place and stead OF some fair and i'm.
partial citizen who can and will give to
the Gemc cratic party fair treatment in all
matters that may come before the boa ID
OF registrars Respectfully submitted
w. w. Osborne,
Attorney for Democratic Executive Com
mittee of Chatham County.
Following the petition are four affidavits
to which reference is made. The first is
the affidavlt alleged to have been made by
Mr.. John l. Morrissey, but which has not
yet been signed by him. The second Is
the affidavit of Mr.. w. w. Osborne, the
third that of Mr.. Thomas Gamble, and
the fourth that of Mr.. Alexander A.
= nv.