Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-28
rALrArERno on CArLErr.
The Dispatch Correspondent sum-
marixcs the Judgeshfp Cnse.

1 mariZcn the Ju0ResnIp
GLOUCESTER COURTHOUSE. VA.
November N.-(speciaL)-Th Gloucester
judgeship contest continues to be dis
cussed and many erroneous statements
have been made which ought to be cor
| rected.
There are fifteen members OF the Coun-
ty Committee. including Senator Stubs.
who declined to have anything to do with
this matter, but promises to stand by the
action OF the committee.
| On November 18th there were present
| at the meeting OF the committee j. ID.
| Pointer, c. T. Newbill. C. II. Muse. Rex
| Hinkle, T. l.. Benson, j. l.. Philpotts. u.
| 7. Gray, r. NJ. Page. George Taliaferro,
| w. ID. Bristow. J. r. Clayton, and w. c.
| Aherron. OF these, the seven Il t-named
| supported Mr.. Catlett the next four sup
ported Mr.. Taiiaferro. while Mr.. Aherron
voted for neither. The committee re-
fused 10 allow the two absent members
s. B. Pointer and George r. Hayes-both
Taliaferro men, to be represented by
proxies.
After stormy meeting the four ITALIA
ferro men and Mr.. Aherron withdrew. AS
there was no one to call a quorum the
seven remaining members finished the
canvass Of the vote and awarded the
ron. after telling your correspondent that
he was sorry to have been obliged to leave
the meeting on business, made the fol-
lowing statement:
IL did not vote for either Taliaferro or
Catlett. 1 am entirely without preju-
dice or Partially as member Of the
committee. / am obliged to endorse the
man who got a majority OF the Demo- |
cratic votes. Mr.. Catlett certainly got |
the majority of the Democratic votes. |
and he certainly ought to be elected |
Judge"
1t thus appears that eight out Of fif-
teen of the members OF the committee
declare that Mr.. Catlett got the ma
jorty OF the Democratic votes. AS the
chairman. Senator Stubs. does not take
sides, it is impossible for Mr.. Talla-
ferro to be endorsed by more than six
Some of Mr. Taliaferro's
friends claim that the primary was an
election, and they thus justify the Re-
publican votes cast Others claim that |
the voting Of the Democratic ticket by
negro Republicans entitled them to vote
In the primary. Others say that Mr.. Cat
lett agreed that all who voted the
straight Democratic ticket might vote
IN the primary. 1t is also said that the
retained Republican votes for
Catlett and cast them out for ITALIA
'erro. Some say that money was used
by Mr.. Catlett in Guinea.
Mr.. Catlett maintains that the COM
nittee alone could decide who had a
light to vote He says the election. in !
,luding the printing of posters, pay OF t
judges, purchase of poll-books. hire of |
wagons and teams. and expense OF tele-
,hone messages, cost him about 80.
Mr.. Taliaferro claims that where there
vas any doubt as TO n voters politics, a
Ie could not vote in the primary, unless O
lie had voted the straight Democratic | Z
icket The returns OF the regular cleo
ion prove that the negroes did not vote T
he Democratic ticket The ballots at O
Gloucester Courthouse were marked in b
very possible way. Mr.. Tyler got only n
ID votes. while Mr.. Taliaferro got 1l6, a
nd Mr.. Catlett got Al. every one Of which
,as beyond question. Mr. Taliaferro g
OF about 60 votes. beyond question. There f
'ere not more than 100 straight Demo- n
ratio tickets. Nine or ten men who did r
OF vote in the regular election voted for 81
IT. Taliaferro.
Considering all these things, II is clear
nat between forty and fifty Of the ne
roes who claimed to have voted the
raight Democratic ticket at Gloucester
courthouse did not do so. Many of them II
lid they were Republicans but wanted "
vote the Democratic ticket, in order
vote in the primary. A great many
;ked for Blakey's name, and made no II
fort to vote for any one else. Having
zen present when nine out of ten pre- II
nets were canvassed, your correspondent Sc
lows that the doubtful votes for ITALIA
rro were counted, while those for Cat
tt were thrown out. II