Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-12
THE CASE OF SYRCLE.
sMrrHEa's PRECINCT REGISTRAR
on TRIAL BEFoRE A JUSTICE.
DEFENCE OBJECT TOSQUlRE VINCENT.
An Amdavit FILED Charging THAT
He Received Money from the holt
ers or Republicans-vcry slow
Progress Being Made.

hundred or more negroes who were con-
gregated within the small Clubhouse used
by the Henrico authorities as tempo
rary courtroom.
Absolutely no dignity was maintained
by the Squire. who sat silently and help
lessly by while the lawyers on both sides
ran things to suit themselves. But little
evidence was taken. the bulk Of the time
being consumed by the attorneys, who in
sulged i'm frequent lights Of oratory over
eontroverted points.
Messrs. A. =. Gulgon and Barton II.
Wise appeared as counsel for the prose-
eution. ana Nessrs. Hill Montague, W.
~ Justls. and w. H. Beveridge defended
Registrar J. r.. syrcle. Of smither's Pre-
cinct. who is charged with having re-
fused to register Moss Jennings, negro,
who applied for registration at Mr. Syr-
ole's precinct.
In the outset a most interesting and
unusual event occurred. and Magistrate
Vincent was accused of being biased, and
asked 20 withdraw from the case, which
he refused most positively to 90.
The entire force Of the Times news
paper was summoned to appear, and, as
Mr.. Justis stated that the case would pro-
baby consume many hours, Mr.. Gugon
suggested that It would be highly unjust
10 the paper 10 keep its employees away
from their business Tor any great length
of time Mr. Beveridge replied that he
mad already excused several Of the en-
pioyees Of the Times.
THE CHARGE AGAINST VINCENT.
The case was Immediately gone into,
and, as soon as Magistrate Vincent took
bis seat Mr.. Montague asked that he re-
quest some other justice TO sit for him,
and expressing the pain that It gave him
10 do So read the following affidavit as
grounds for his request:
state OF Virginia, County of Henrico-
TO wit:
This cay personally appeared before
me l.. j. Pierce. a justice OF the peace
for the county aforesaid. in the State
Of Virginia, J. r. Syrcle. ard made oath
that he is informed, believes, and charges
that q. G.. Vincent. a justice of the peace
Tor the county aforesaid, now sitting I'm
trial In tho case OF the Commonwealth
vs. j. r. Syrcle. has been recently in
the employment Of the Republican party
or the party known as the National
Democratic party" end has received for
AiiN 0'i NANtTf III Oilt instance Inc sum on
80, and that before and since the Is
suance Of this warrant the said Vincent
has repeatedly been in conference and
communication with the managers of the
Republican and sO-called National DEM
ocratic party whom your af1ant believes
are the prosecutors in said case. Your
afiiant believes and charges that the said
vincent IS biased, and that, owing 10
his animation and employment by the
party, as aforesaid, cannot, and will not,
give this respondent a fair and impartial
trial. And. therefore. he asks that the
said G.. c. Vincent allow some other ma
gistrate or the county OF Henrico 10
hear this case; whereby this respondent
may have fair and impartial trial. and
feel assured that justice may be done
him.
Given under my hand. this, 18th. day of
November 1870 l.. j. PIERCE.
MOVED THAT VINCENT RETIRE.
Mr.. Montague in commenting on the
aiiidavit, said it was only just TO himself
that Mr.. Vincent should retire from the
case, and he made a motion to that effect
Justice Vincent said the affidavit was
so at variance with law that he would
have TO take the matter under considera-
ton.
Mr.. Montague suggested that by that
plan much time would be lost, and asked
that the Magistrate retire at once.
Whereupon, Mr.. Vincent. becoming an
serei, oyerruled the motion, and said
that in his seventeen years Of service on
the bench no such motion had ever been
made before him before.
Mr.. Guigon at this juncture took a hand
In the proceedings. and said that so far
as he knew. Mr.. Vincent had not received
money from either the Republicans or Ma
finpal n.ff4nrr9tfr i sr
VincenO was satisfied. whether the allie
cations be true or false. he could give
an unbiased decision IN the case, he was
perfectly competent 10 hear the case.
Mr.. Justis expressed his regrets that IT
had become necessary TO present such
an AFFIDAVIT or TO make such q motion.
and dweit on the fact that the paper
alleged that money had been paid the
Justice. He said that a similar charge
had never before been made against a
judge in this land. and then severely ar
raigned the Magistrate, and accentuated
the specifications In the affidavit.
Mr.. Guigon. replying TO Mr.. Justis.
said that that gentleman had
stated the charges very differently from
what he understood them, and he, there
fore. demanded that a pause be made
IN order that the charges might be in
vestgated, and that he and his asso-
ciate would not be party 10 any prose-
cution tainted with fraud.
Mr.. Montague thought. even were the
allegations set forth I'm the affidavit false,
the Justice owed II TO himself TO retire
from the case.
THE MAGISTRATE SATISFIED.
81 am satisfied from my own feelings"
replied the Magistrate, that l can give
the defendant a fair trial and we had
better proceed with the case"
This ended the discussion, and the wit
nesses for both sides were called and
excluded from the room.
Mr.. Henry Perkins OF the Times news
paper, was the first witness 10 take the
stand. and he testified that he was at
SmIther's Precinct for some hours on
registratioD-day. and that the tactics
pursued by the registrar were dilatory
In the extreme The average time taken 10
register he said. was ten, fifteen, or
twenty minutes per man. great many
questions were. asked the applicants. and
a number OF them struck the witness as
being frivolous. and not at all pertinent
The testimony that Mr. Perkins gave
was considered by the defence TO be some
what at variance with the report he made
In the Times Of the registration on the
day subsequent thereto. and he was very
closely cross questioned.
JONATHAN GOT MAD.
IT, +. Jonathan was the next witness
called, and said that he and Edward Cook
ali