Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-14
EVIDENCE IS ALL IN.
TESTIMONY m THE syBcfE CASE
CONCLUDED YESTERDAY.
10 BIB ARGUED THIS MORNING.
Msny More witnesses Are Examined
for the Prosecution, Hat Only Ono
for the pefence--The Question of
Delay Discussed.

The evidence for both sides Ia now al
In in the syrcie csse. an4 this morning
at 10 o'clock the argument viii begin. 1T
is expected that Air. Syrcle viii be ac-
Quilted Of the charge OF rejecting Moss
Jennings. a negro, who applied TO him
for registration. as there has been no
evidence introduced to substantiate this
charge.
Yesterdays proceedings were rather
tame. The case was resumed at IL
O'Clock In Clerk waddin's private Office,
and Mr. Randolph Williams. who was on
the stand when the court adjourned
Thursday. was recalled, and subjected to
a rigid cross examination, though no new
facts were elected from him. He and
Messrs Montague and Justis had seye-
raj Tits. but the witness held his own
throughout.
Mr.. Hugh Antrim testified that Mr..
Syrcle had apparently delayed in every
way possible the registration Of voters
on the cath OF october. It transpired
IN the examination that witness was at
Smither's Precinct only a portion of the
day. and during his stay there Moss Jen-
nings, the complainant in the case, was
at the polls not more than twenty
minutes. Witness testified that the re-
gistrar did not delay the proceedings more
than other gentlemen in the precinct did.
He knew nothing TO show that the ale
cations in the warrant setting forth that
Moss Jennings was rejected by the re-
gistrar were true.
MIR. sYRCLE NOT AT FAULT.
Mr.. Walter Duggis was at Smither's
Precinct during The day of October oath,
and said the registration was very slow,
due almost exclusively TO the fact that
four gentlemen from the city interfered
with Mr. Syrcls, and questioned almost
every applicant for registration. During
the examination OF Mr.. Duggis an issue
as 10 their impressions arose between
Messrs Guigon and Montague, and both
gentlemen became rather excited Mu-
tual explanations were exchanged and
matters quieted down. Mr. Duggis. being
further questioned by Mr.. Montague.
said he knew nothing about the case Of
Moss Jennings or of his rejection.
j.. X. Pollard, a negro. who is hardly
old enough himself TO vote. said he saw
Moss Jennings at Smither's Precinct, and,
though Jennings remained in line some
time. he was not able TO get 10 the win
dow. This was due. he said. to the dila-
tory tactics practiced on the inside of
the booth, though Mr.. Syrcle was not,
according to his idea, alone at fault.
EVIDENCE FOR THE DEFENCE.
Upon the conclusion of Pollard's test-
mony the prosecution rested its case.
The question of dinner recess was dis
cussed, and it was decided TO go on for
awhile longer and Mr. Montague took
the stand for the defence He told Of
10
October the 2ith in order TO give his
construction Of tho law. II it should be
required. He rem aimed there continuous
iy from 8 a. NJ. until the poll closed.
lie could not say that any one purpose
~ delayed the registration, and thought
that Mr.. Syrcle wrote slowly naturally.
and. therefore. was not responsible for
the time consumed in writing the appeal
of Ben Daniel Mr.. Montague did not
think that Mr.. Syrcle had consumed more
time than he ought TO have done in regis
tering applicants.
Mr.. Montague. after dinner recess,
reiterated what he had said before din
per and being cross-examined by Mr..
Guigon, was asked TO testify as to many
points Of law. Mr.. Jusus objected TO
this line Of questioning and both he
and Mr.. Guigon argued the point at con-
siderable length The Magistrate per-
United Mr.. Guigon TO continue. Witness
said that there were a great many ques-
tons asked applicants for registration.
but that these questions were alike pro-
pounded by the challengers for the three
parties. Mr.. Montague expressed the
opinion that nine out of ten of the ne
groes who applied for registration should
have been challenged. This was OBJ
jected to by Mr.. Gugon and ruled out
and Mr.. Guigon asked If It was not
fact that practically all the negro APP
plicants were challenged. This was OBJ
Jected TO by Mr.. Justls and ruled out
and Mr.. Guigon supplemented it with
the question If IL was not a fact that
the challenging extended to every voter.
Mr. Montague thought not, and said that
he didn't think much time was consumed
IN registering at Smither's. Being asked
II the registration was conducted as de-
corously and promptly as possible, Mr..
Montague said he thought not. but that
Mr.. Syrce was not at fault, as the
crowd which thronged around the poll
very greatly interfered with him.
NOT AN EXPERIENCED MAN.
Mr.. Guigon pressed the witness for his
opinion as TO the time that should be
occupied In registering a negro. Mr..
Justis objected, and said that Mr.. Mon
tague hadn't had the advantage Of many
years education as a challenger in jack
son Ward, and was therefore not COM
petent TO answer Mr.. Guigon's question.
Mr. Guigon then withdrew his question,
and Mr. Wise took the witness in hand.
lie asked him but few questions, and,
concluding. the defence rested their case.
The court adjourned over until this
morning at 10 O'Clock. when the argument
will be begun.