The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-09-11


We go on this morning with extracts
from the record Of the contested election
case Of Thorp -. Mckinney.
At the courthouse election precinct in
Nottoway county it was proved that Nc
Kenney was credited with 1913 votes.
Thorp with 70 and Sc ballots were rejected
as improperly marked. IL WAS further
proved that tho Democratic party poll
cd a remarkably small number OF votes,
ono witness. r.. i. Guy, tesufying that
1T was the smallest number ever voted
there since have been a man. IN a State
or congressional election" Another Wit
ness. II. II. Dyson. formerly Second Au-
ditor OF the State Of Virginia testified.
II am confident that there were not
more than 70, probably less votes cast FOR
Mckinney at that precinct" The Off
GERS OF election were an wcll-ku;wn
Democrats Zone. T. T.. Epps. being the
postmaster at Nottoway) except Morris
Vaughan, who was a colored man eighty
years old, of defective eyesight. and not
regarded as a Republican. 1t was also
proved that there are q number Of Re
publicans at this precinct. both white
and colored, who are qualified in all
respects to be judges Of election.
1t was further proved that on the day
Of election voters who actually voted
had their names recorded by tho keeper
Of tally list as having voted for Thorp.
Tho tally list with the names Of these
voters Is filed in tho record. 10 was also
proved that the colored voters were all
In favor Of the election Of Thorn, and
largely exceeded the number OF white
voters at shat precinrt: that without
warrant OF law the election officers
caused two lines Of voters TO be formed.
n white lire and a colored line. and re.
received voters alternately from these
hnes' by which misconduct forty-four
Republicans, whose names were taken
down and arc filed in the record. were
IN line when the voting ceased. but were
unable 10 vote on account OF the clos
ing Of tho polls.
Yet under all Of these facts. Thorn
was given only sevcnty-three votes. while
Mckcnney was given 20.
A. Jehress' Store precinct in this coyn-
n.y. Mckinney WAS given seyeuty-seren
votes, Thorp thirtymx.
There was very large turn out Of the
Republican voters al this precinct and a
very small turnout or the Democrat,
voters. One hundred and twenty-seven
electors are Recorded on the pon-bool, as
having voted. ard ninety-tno ~ these
were colored voters. who claimed on M.
day Of election. and as soon az thew had
voted, that they bad cast their ballots
for Thorp and they had their names
recorded with the keeper OF q taur-llet
as having voted for Thorp. Yet Thorn
was given only thiry-sIx votes wbDo
McNenney was almost trcblod TO seventy
seven. Proceedings OF this sort arc not
elections. They are nothing but measures
by which set Of election officers. ana
pointed TO produce n certain result nrt
ballots into the boxes that will brine o,it
that result and then declare that result
TO be the result OF the election. such
pretended elections are simply farce
Ihe voters had just as wei stay at homo
as to 80 TO The polls. What is the good
Of their voting, f. after the election is
over. a set of erootfon om...s 49,.
10 make It what they des.r, it 70 b,
without any regard whatever to what the
voters wished it TO be-?
Ana remember an that We havs
been quoting i'm regard TO lh.s eloo-
ton is from the record. and Com
gresham William A. Jones. Of Viz
einia' who was one Of the committee
that passed on this case, could not say
one word in opposition 20 what we have
produced from The record. lie had to
sit silent ana admit that an Of f, was
proved We shall go ON with extracts
from this record from day TO day.