The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-28
REGISTRATION FRAUDS.
ms TIME Ar SHUMACHER' PRE-
CINCT, HENRICO.
A Large Number Of Lawful Voters >ecre''y
and FrauduIcntIy stricken on-"o"
1t Was Donc--A Felony.

The desperation OF the Chicagoists was
made manifest yesterday by another out
rage upon the dignity. the honor ana
the laws OF Virginia. 1t was accidentally
discovered that the registrar AT shu-
hackers precinct, IN Henrico county III
tue western eGge or tins Guy, hau' WIN
out any autntTity Ol Jaw Whatever, sli'eh-
en- from his registration BOOKS thc NAMES
Ci "a large number OF lawiul qu"h'Icu
voters. 70 as 10 prevent their voting next
Tlcsdnv. Inc tracks OF the cOnsplrat0rs
show very plainly the order OF procedure
in the case.
The law provides that any five qualified
voters may, nfteen days before regis
tratlon day, post a written notice AT not
less than three places IN the election DIS
trict. Of the names OF such persons as
they allege TO be Improperly Oh Inc lcs-
istratiOn books OF their district. ms
notice Is to be signed 10y these i've pei
sons on the registration day, the reg
istrar Is 10 hear evidence III support OF
the notice, and in behalf OF the right or
the parties 20 be on the registration book.
To "a person who was sent to inyes tigate
this matter yesterday, the registrar, who
is George W. Pettus stated that Robert
Jones. Morris Ferriter, and his father,
Charles Hcinlcin, and John ;. Healy
were the FIVE citizens who had posted a
notice in this case, and he said that lie
had stricken of about two hundred names
according TO the notice.
in point Of fact. not a voter at the
precinct has ever heard of any notice
being posted. and IL Is safe to say that
none has been. The discovery Of this
outrage was made thus: Apprehending
that some such trick rs this would Ice
attempted. the Republicans kept two
wcl,-knoWn and respected white men at
the precinct all day last Saturday, which
was the last registration day. These in
dividuals will testify that the subject
matter OF striking names from the lists
was never brought up during the entire
day. as they stood there all day, watch
ing for some such thing to occur. About
$3.50 o'clock at night, supposing that the
whole business was ended. they went 10
a nearby restaurant TO get some supper.
They were gone about a half hour and.
when they returned their attention was
attracted by two white sheets that had
been posted up in their absence. They
examined these and found one contained
the names of the white men registered
during the day. and the other contained
the names Of the negroes registered dur
ing the day, which had been posted by the
registrar as the law directs. While maxi
ii- Aui1 tAhillHdlipu lltlI NiitUIltN WAS
attracted TO a fragment Of paper nailed
up. This they secured. and h. now IN
safe custody. II is the remaining part
Of five sheets Of ordinary blank-book
paper, pinned together. The first sheet
has on 1t the following words:
to wit:
List OF persons stricken from
the registration book OF Shu-
makers Election District I'm pur
Section Sc. c.
All the sheets were torn off from right
10 left. leaving the right-hand corner an
inch wide, and the left-hand corner some
two inches and half wide. Under the
language quoted. on the first page, the
names. Anthony ---" and Add --"
appear in the same handwriting. the
name Addison being evidently torn i'm
two. The other names left on the other
sheets are Lewis Rawlings. Lee Rome
Mark Davis. Monta cambridge Lewis
Dabney Thomas DickorsOn. Robert
James, Sam. Kelley, J. II. Webcy. g.
Williams. John Wormley, Thomas Wood
James Williams. J. II. Woodin. 4 num-
Der OF these are well-known colored
voters living almost within a stones
throw OF Shumakers precinct. and per-
fectly well known TO the registrar as
lawful voters at the precinct. When the
individual VINO ascertained these facts
talked with tho registrar he asked 10 be
allowed 10 inspect the registration book
but Pettus refused TO allow him 20 do it,
upon the ground that he had blotted
them so thoroughly with ink that they
could not be read.
Competent lawyers say that the erasure
Of these names from the registration
book with a fraudulent intent is a forgery
of a public record, under section 1888 OF
the Code Of Virginia. and that. II there is
any law left in Virginia. the parties TO
it stand a good chance TO be sent to the
penitentiary for not less than two nor
more than ten years.
Prompt steps will be taken 10 have this
wrong corrected and the offender pun
ished.