The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-17
SEVENTH DISTRICTS CONTEST.
Looks as If ex-Justice King Has a
strong Case.

Looks as If ex-Justice King Has a
Strong Case.
Justice Cleary, ex-ohicio magistrate of
the Seventh district, took the testimony
yesterday morning of a dozen witnesses
that had been subpoenaed for ex-Justice
King in his contest against Justice-elect
Mcintosh.
These witnesses testimony is thought to
be sufficient TO substantiate the claim
of ex-Justice King that Mcintosh, the ne
gro who won the recent election in that
district, did so by the aid of fraudulent
votes.
Ex-Justice King notified Mcintosh sew
eral days ago that the contest would be
made. Robert Mcintosh polled Is votes in
the election to Kings II. The latter based
his contest on the ground of some of Nc
Intosh's supporters having been disqual-
fed to vote on account of their not having
paid their taxes for 1896 A further claim
was advanced that Mcintosh himself could
not hold the Office, as the law governing
it's incumbency pointedly states that the
magistrate should be qualified as a voter
for the members of the general assembly.
This qualification Mcintosh himself, it
is said, does not hold, as, by reason of
his having failed to pay his taxes for GER
tain years since 1886, he Is not on the reg
istration lists.
The claim that certain of the successful
candidates supporters were disqualified
seems to be borne out by the affidavits of
several of those examined Some seven
or eight of them testified to their not be-
ing on the registration lists, yet their
votes were received.
One negro had to be forced to give his
testimony. He seemed to know absolute-
ly nothing about the questions that were
asked him. until the contestants attor-
ney, Mr.. John Seasons, appealed to the
justice. On the matter taking this turn,
the deponent decided to talk. To such
questions as how old he was, when he
was married, how many children he had,
how many were living and how many
dead, he was as silent as the sphinx until
the justice compelled him to get more
communicative. He seemed to fear that
he would get himself into a box by giving
the details of a history that raised his
reputation for mendacity to the top notcn
in the opinion of those that were listening.
The absence of several essential wilt
nesses made a postponement of the ex-
animation of ex-Justice Kings witnesses
necessary.
The day set for a resumption of the hear
ing was Jan. 2S, though that date was
made subject TO the acquiescence of the
attorneys Of both parties. Mr.. George w.
owens represents Mcintosh. If Jan. % Is
accepted as the day for the conclusion of
the evidence, taking in Kings side, Nc
lHlosH Will nave ten udyS from lndt GATE
in which to adduce his evidence in rebuff
tai.
Allowing for postponements incident
sometimes to such cases, II will probably
be quite while before all the steps of a
contest are taken, and the incumbency of
the elective Office in the Seventh deter
mined.
In the First district w. f. Thee has sum-
moned three witnesses, all policemen
They are officers Mock, farrell and Blum
berg. His other witnesses, II is said, he
will bring with him to the examination
that is held before Justice Bevans at IL
o'clock.
Thee expects to prove, by his witnesses,
that intimidation, fraud and the rejection
of his chosen representative among the
freeholder managers of the election caus-
ed his defeat An opinion In generally ex-
pressed that he forfeited possible grounds
Of contest when he announced to several,
early on the day OF the election, that he
had withdrawn from the race. Those TAX
ing this view of the matter say that he
should not have Withdrawn his name.