Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1898-05-18
Did Not Attempt to Bnlldoze MT. Henry but Simply Asserted His Legal Right
 to See to Poll Books.
Turn on the Search Light of Truth on All
 Dark Places.

l wish to call the attention of the public to the affidavits of J. M. Henry and F. Broadus, published in the last issue of the Press Eagle. l unhesitatingly deny and declare as untruethe hestatement of J M. Henry to the effect that Mir. Toney and myself on the morning of May 12, 1898, went into his store and stated that we wanted the poll book of Barraque township, which was retained by him as one of the judges of the pri- mary election held on the 7th day of May, 1898, or that we came up after it and that we were going to have 1t. l went with Mir. Toney to Mir. Henry and in the presence of Sam Jones and John Mingea, both residing at Redfield, and requested of Mr. Henry to let mo SEE the poll book. MT. Henry refused to do this. I then stated to him that all 1 wanted was to get 6 copy of the names on the poll book and that l DID NOT WANT TT N MY HAND. Mir. Henry then stated that he wanted to telephone to Judge Elliott in regard to the matter. Later he informed us that the party to whom he had tele- phoned told him not to let me see it |. 1 before this read to him section 2666, Sandals & Hills Digest, which is to the following effect: And the poll books thus sealed and directed, shall be conveyed by one of the judges. determined bS lot, if they cannot l otherwise agree, to the clerk of the county court, within three days after the close of the polls, and the other l poll book shall be retained by one of the judges, FREE FOR THE INSPECTION OF ALL PERSONS" According to the resolution of the central committee by which the primary elections were l legalized, l understand that the poll books were to be kept and the elec- tion held in the same manner as general elections. 1 did not attempt to bulldoze Mir Henry in any way whatever, but Mr. Henry as one of the judges of said election. through the influence of certain parties Who were trying to perpetrate a fraud upon the ballot of Jefferson county. saw proper to deny me of a plain legal right. called his attention to section 2667 of Sandals x Hili's Di- gest, which in substance provides that If any judge of election shall fail to perform any of his duties prescribed by the election law, he shall forfeit two hundred dollars, to be recovered by indictment" 1 am at loss to know why Mir. Henry and abettors should attempt to deny me plain right that the law guarantees to me and every other citizen, unless he, as we'll as they, knew the fact that fraude had been perpetrated at the polls in Barraque township, and they were fearful that production of the poll book would enable me and other candidates for sheriff to uncover such fraud. At the time I made this demand on Mir. Henry took the affidavit of Mir. Jones and Mingea as to the nature of the de- maDd that I made on him and my object in making it. Mir. Toney and m yself are ready to verify the truth of this statement.
 As to the affidaylt of E. Broadus, one of the judges of election in Melton township as to the purpor- ted statement that Vince Rogers told Broadus that Henry Winters