Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-04
THE VOTE In HENRlCO
MANY DEMOCRATS SHUT OUT AT
sMrTuER's PRECINCT.
SOUTHWARK ARRESTED AT HARDINS.
He Was Intimidnting Negroes, Hut
the Judges Turned Him Loosc--A
cinct-Narked the Ballots.

The vote cast in HenrIco was not so
large as II might have been. as delays
occurred at almost every precinct
throughout the entire day. but the voters
were out In great force from sunrise to
> sunset and a vast number OF them were
shut out when the doors Of the voting
places closed. So far as could be ascer-
tained. there was no discrimination shown
by the elections officers. and the rule
first come. first served, was strictly OBJ
served. and Democrats. as well as Re
publcans and Boltocrais. were shut out
All Jared alike, and there were many
disgruntled voters OF all political com
plexions.
AZ Smither's Precinct. situated just
north of venable street, the most excite
ment prevailed. and all day long the
street in front Of the voting place was
thronged with electors. both white and
colored, who scrambled over each other
and fought like so many Kilkenny cats
for positions in the line The negroes
were separated from the whites and APP
preached the window from different sides
of the house. but occasionally they would
get mixed up and then trouble would en-
sue. though quiet was always quickly
4. restored by the county policemen.
Mr.. j. r. Syrcle was the only Demo
cratic judge at this precinct and he was
hampered by the Republican judge and
Mr.. W. j. Binford. a Chesapeake and
Ohio Bolter who worked as hard as il
was possible TO vote the negroes for Nc
Kinley. He frequently went into the
booth with the negros ballot while the
darby stood on the outside. totally OBJ
liyious Of what MIR. Binford was doing
with II on the inside and after marking
II folded Il up without even showing II 10
the negro. and himself deposited it in the
box. Objections 10 this mode Of procedure
were frequently made by the Democratic
voters who stood around and watched
Mr.. Binford. but ne paid no attention 20
them and continued his work until the
polls closed.
TORE THE BOOTHS DOWN.
At about a quarter TO O'Clock the
voters who had been kept from voting by
the dilatory tactics OF the Boilers showed
anger. and they pushed forward TO the
voting-place and tore down the booths.
They demanded TO be voted in a manner
that admitted of no denial. and many
who would not otherwise have been al
lowed to do so succeeded thereby in get
ting their votes in. Only $40 ballots
We're cast at the precinct all day. and
when the polls closed the Republicans
and Boilers We're ordered 10 report at
Bozes Hall and vote. a young man.
who said he was working under instruc-
tons from Judge Waddll, took their
ballots and made a record Of how they
would have voted but there were not
many voters who awaited themselves of
the opportunity OF showing the Repub-
leans how they would have voted, as the
majority OF those shut out were Demo
Gratis.
AT Joness Precinct no disorder oc-
CURED. but the Democrats announced
that they would contest the vote. on the
ground that the clerk Of the precinct.
instead Of one of the judges. scratched
the ballots Of illiterate voters. Mr.. Jo-
seph Bryan was one of the judges. and
Mr. Harry Beattie. another gold man,
was the Clerk. who did the scratching.
SOUTHWARK ARRESTED.
Some little excitement occurred at
Hardin's Shop early in the day. The
Democratic judges (Messrs. w. T. Holds
worth and John Voegler. together with
the Republican Judge issued warrant
for the arrest OF j. Wilbur Southwark.
who was attempting to intimidate negro
voters and he was arrested by Police
man LOnnie Jones He showed fight
and said that the officer should not take
him away. except by force, and a num-
Der OF negroes crowded around and
threatened TO release the eX-Sherif The
policeman. however remand firm in his
purpose to arrest the offending Republi-
can. but before carrying him to jail Mr.
Jones carried him before the judges
Southwark made a blur. threatening 10
sue the officers. and the judges. after
conference. finally ordered the officer to
release him.
NO DISORDER AT SHUMAKER'S.
Absolutely no disorder occurred at
ShumaSer's Precinct. There the vote
was somewhat slow, but when the pol :
closed there were very few electors pres
ent who hadn't cast their ballot. There
was some delay early in the day, owing
10 the immense crowd which thronged
the space in front Of the voting place
but as soon as possible the conges;ed
condition OF things was relieved, and the
work Of voting was carried on as prompt
ly as could have been desired. The space
for a hundred feet in front of this pre-
cinct was roped off. and no one was al
lowed TO put foot within the rope. except
the challengers and the election officers,
and the men who were engaged In pre-
pairing and casting their ballots.