Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-13
CENSURE THE SQUIRE
syRCLEps COUNSEL TALK PLAIN
Iy TO JUSTICE VINCENT.
DID NOT WANT COURT ADJOURNED.
wi,ne.se. for hs Dcscn,c Kept
av,ny from Their MorL-A Great
Deal OF Testimony Touching the
Question of Delay In Registering.

tSIhon OF MdSlHIdtc N4uNtht az Ah'
County Court yesterday and Walls OF
wrath were opened and poured out about
the head Of the unsuspecting magistrate.
Ills rulings Ia the case caused this and
during the entire day he was tanning the
excitement Of the counsel into a flame
which cvcntua,ed. when the court ad-
journed in scorching him.
Squire Vincent may have been actu-
ated by the best OF motives in his rulings.
bat counsel for the defence thought other
wise. and when he ignored their request
to continue with the case. and adjourned
the hearing over until to-day they turned
loose upon him and eNpresscdNheir opin-
ions Of him 10 most emphatic terms.
The case dragged along slowly throueh-
out yesterday morning. and but few wit
nesscs were examined. Mr.. Morgan Treat
was one Of the principal Witnesses, ana
after testifylng TO many things against
Syrcle. be finally admitted that he knew
nothing OF the case. whoreupon, Mr.
Beveridge left the courtroom. and in the
name Of Mr.. Syrcle entered suit in the
Circuit Court OF Henrico against Mr..
Treat, claiming $3.50 damages and all
leging malicious prosecution.
The case was resumed at II o'clock,
with Mr. Treat on the stand. and he vas
cross-examinei by counsel for the de-
fence No new light was thrown on the
case by him. and after having been SUBJ
iected for an hour or more 90 a series
Of questions calculated TO disconcert most
any witness. he said he knew nothing
about the case. and was told to stand
aside.
GAVE THE WHITES PREFERENCE.
Ben. Holmes (cOlOred) testified that Mr.
Syrcle IN registering voters mad shown
discrimination in favor of the white men.
He was succeeded by Jerry Page. another
negro. who corroborated his testimony
and testified that on two nights, when
Moss Jennings applied for registration.
he was refused. Jerry was closely cross
examined and was finally succeeded by
John II. Parham (coiOrcd). who testified
that the registrar had declined on two
occasions 10 register a friend OF witness S.
The witness also testified that AR Syrcle'a
actics on registrauon-day were dilatory.
but said, however, that If Moss Jennings
had not LETT the polls so early he would
probably have been registered.
Edward Cook. a Jackson Ward negro.
said he was at Smither's Precinct ali
day on the oath Of October and that the
most dllatOry tactics were pursued Dy
Syrce. The witness was evidently basel
and his animus cropped out when he
said he entered the voting booth at
Smithers as Republican challenger
ana was elected therefrOm. Ills tesu-
mony was 10 the effect that Mr.. Syrcle
had purposely delayed the registration,
and being taken in hand by Mr.. Justis
was severely cross-eXamined. Mr.. Justis
began questioning the witness as 10 the
proceedings In jackson ward and Mr.
GuigOn objected, saying that it was evil
IDENTIFY the purpose Of Mr.. Justis TO show
that he (Guisom was at one time a
challenger in jackson Ward. Il admit
said Mr.. GuigOn that j have done sucn
work; but 1 don't propose to have my
name dragged into this case. which relates
only TO Smither's Precinct"
TOO MANY QUESTIONS ASKED.
Cook was taken from the stand and
Mr.. Jonn W. Camp was called. He lives
IL Richmond, but was at Smither's on
IegistrstiOn-day. He testified that all
kinds Of irrelevant questions were asked
of applicants for registration. Being
questioned 10y counsel for the defence, he
admitted however. that he had himself
propOunded some questions TO the appli-
cants. but he thought he had a right 20
do so. His testimony was very much
weakened thereby. He said he didn'
challenge a single colOred vote, but did
challenge a white vote. lie admitted that
Ia was a paid worker AT the poll for the
National Democratic party, and when n,
was Intercepted on this point Mr. Cur
gon objected. and the magistrate, who
first refused TO admit the question. finally
consented TO its admission. The next
question asked with a view of showing
the witnesses partisanship was ruled out
by the Justice, who declined TO listen 10
argument on the point.
Mr. Camu. when taken in hand by -"f
Justis. testified that Jonathan and COOK
and Mr.. Morgan Treat all participate
in questioning applicants Tor registration
thereby showing that Mr. Syrcle was not
alone in delaying the registration i
delay really occurred
WANTED TO IAiPEACH HIM.
Mr. Beveridge asked Camp il he didn
ten Svrcle on Wednesday that he wa.
employed at a salary Of Sl5 per week u
ather evidence for the purpose or MAKING
n contest OF Captain Lambs seat
explaining that ne simply asked the ques
ton for the purpose Of impeachins lh'
witness.
Air Gulgon objected 20 the question
and considerable argument was evoked
The MAGISTRATE refused positively 10 "d
NIT the question. The defence gave vi
in despair. .
Mr. Randolph williams was placed on
the stand. and testified that he was d
Snlthers Precinct from $40 O'Clock un
III the polls closed. lie said mat wa
his FIRST experience at a precinct am
he was amazed at the dilatory lnahhe
I'm which the work was done, lie at giea
length detailed what occurred at IN
precinct during his presence there am
when he concluded the court took re
cess until to-day at II o'clock
SEVERE OK THE JUSTICE.
Then the fun really commenced, am
the vast deal OF abuse that fell upon IN
mead Of the Justice was enough 10 nav
sinred his few remaining locks. Coun
sci for the defence were opposed 10 al
adjournment because II inflicted hard
shin on their client and their witnesses
many OF whom were wage-earners, an
they said so. Notwithstanding this
when Mr.. Guigon moved an adjournment
MIR. Vincent agreed to H. and, amid mucl
tumult. adjourned the court. Then MI
Justit sprang TO his feet DO under
stand" he asked, that the court IS al
81 Il. sir" replied the Megistrate.
Then 1 purpose speaking my mind
said the attorney. and be began a TRAD
OF abuse
AT this iuncture Mr.. Beverfdge Span
on a chair and. in dramatic FohrneI
yelled after the now fleehnt Magistrate
"They say you were bought for 80, but
think your purchasers paid $3.50 10
much. They could have gotten you 10
% cents"
by this time Mr. Vincent was out O