The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-26
J. b Fraser and W. G. Baskerville. CLERKS

The following Is part OF the testimony
given In the contested election case by
A. G. Butterwalt, n citizen OF Dinwiddie.
who votes at Darvill's precinct
ing the Judges of elections theie'
O. DO you know OF any changes ,n'..
have been made IN the Darvilis Ple'''~
election board IN the last SIX yea -.
A. | know they have changer J'ui -
I'm the last six years, during WIFI 80,
they have relieved }. i. h', ,,. ga
6 ~ Rowers. Republican judge. During
the,r terms as Judges Of election the Re
,,nl,cana Of Darvilrs precinct were sa'is-
aed az heinz fairly dealt with. 1ne aroVe
t,dges vvere relieved by the county elec
,orsi hoard and W. Y. Harrison ana
rhomnson baskerville, Democratic JUDGES
and T'inan Dickerson. Republican judge,
were appointed to MI their places 10y SN-u r
board. since which time the rep uD'ieai's
Of said precinct feel that they nave hO'
been fairly dealt with. IN o,.o va
o. Was not Robert blackwell also re-
moved as Judge?
A. He was.
O. who was first appointed by the elec-
toral board TO serve 10 Biackwells pace
as the Republican Judge In that precihcl'
4. Samuel Morgan.
O what do you know OF Samuel Nor
gan as 10 his character and qualifications
for the Office OF judge Of election!
4. His character IS not good. Mr. \.
G. Beyille Of NottOway, had his smoke
house broken open and lot OF meat
stolen therefrom. and found the meat III
Samuel Morgans possession. SAID MOT
gan went of and stayed quite a while
and returned home. and soon thereafter
..f..4 al 81 81
Wits precinct by the county electoral
board. lie can neither read nor write.
Q. Have you known Robert Blackwell.
the Judge who was removed for long
time. and do YOU know him well?
a. ! have known him fifteen years
His character is good. so far as / know.
His qualifications for Judge OF election
are good. as he can read and write.
Q Tell what You know Of +. A. Wells
and J. -. Whittemore's characters and
qualifications FOR judges OF election?
a. / have known them for many years.
Their characters are good MS far rs +
know. and qualifications for judges Of
election are good.
Q state n the Republican party had
a representative upon the election board
at Darvill's precinct az the last election.
II so. were his qualifications such as 90
render him competent judge Of election
for that party?
\. They had one Tilman Di,kerson.
] do not consider him proper representa-
tive Of any party lie is not dual fed FOR
any clerical work. 7 don't think he can
write his name leg'hlv and besides lis
character renders him unfit for such a
duty"
The aforementioned Robert Blackwell
vas examined as witness. and he tesu-
fed as follows:
Q. Did you live at Darvilrs pre-
cinct at the election Of Nobember, 1892
A. Yes sir, l voted there. All the
Republicans there were united IN their
support Of Thorp l was a judge of cleo
ton at Darvilrs precinct for TWO or three
wears.
Q. II IS reported that an effort was
made to persuade you rot to attend the
Congressional election of 1SSs and serve as
JUDGE on that occasion?- Is there any
truth in that rfport2
A. There is some truth in st. A gem
tlemaa came to ne on the cay before tha
election and said To me if ] would go
TO his house 10 dress lumber On the day
OF election the money would De cash at
night, no matter what / charged. ] told
him i didn't do business that way thar I
was judge OF election az Darviils He
said to me 1t didn't make any difference
about that. lie said if one judge came
up absent, the other two had power 10
appoint one ] told him 1 would not give
him any chance 20 appoint one IN my
place would be there by sun-up. I
was at my place the next morning. at
Darvils.
Q. Did anything occur during the day
I'm the poll-ioom thot you felt it your
duty TO protest against?
A. Just before the poles closed The
same gentleman that proposed 90 me 10
stay away. came ln the room and said.
some OF you wouldn't judge here any more
after the sun had set and the polls were
closed 1 think he called out every
clerk and judge except me. one at time,
and had q private convention with him.
After that was over, they came IN ana
counted the tickets. 1 helped them.
@. You said the same gentleman that
proposed to you 20 stay away, came in
the room and said "some Of you wouldn't
fudge here any more" Please icll v hat
YOU understood him 70 mean by saying
that?
A. / didn't know at the time what he
meant. but AZ the next election 1 was
out and another man was In my place.
G.. VIII you give TIE name OF the party
who offered you any price you would
name 10 neglect the performance on your
duty as Judge OF election and dress lum-
her for him on elcction-day?
A. Yes sir. It was Mr. John G. Chant
hers. the man who just left here.
Mr. NcKcnney did not examine a single
witness to disprove any Of these state
ments. We are bound. therefore.
TO conclude shat he know them
to be true. It IS not sur
pris,ar that with this sort Of procedure, %
republican n ajority Of l-5 at this precinct
was turned into a Democratic majority
Of 20.
Procedure Of this sort IS not holding
elections. 1t is stunng ballot-boxes. Does
any man believe that a party organiza-
ton. resting upon such a rotten fabric
can continue to control this State? We
DO not.