The sun., 1898-11-03
APPEAL CASES HEARD.
Judge Spruance Orders Number
of Names Placed on
the List.

Judge Spruance made some interesting
decisions on the law in regard to he
registration Of voters yesterday afternoon
while nearing registration appeal cases,
The case of William Banks, colored, OF
the Third District of the Thirteenth Rep
resentative District, who had been chal-
lenged ON residence, which had been
taken up at the morning session, was
again under discussion when the court
convened in the afternoon.
The Judge Said that man, un-
less he owns a property, generally
claims residence with his employer il he
lives with him. II he has property lie
may have his home there. This man
had no property He was ordered t" BE-
qualified.
In the case of John W. Mercer, col
ored, OF the Fourth Election District uf
the Thirteenth Representative District,
Registrar CIR. Clayton said that etter,
which had been dropped by Mercer,
had been found, and when ne asked
Mercer if he would swear that he had
not received 81 through the mail to in
tluence him in registering, he refused.
Assistant Registrar J. w. Clayton said
Mercer refused to take oath after the
letter was produced. There was piece
OF blank yellow paper in the envelope.
The letter was pos'marked "Phlladel. .
phia." Clement A. Davidson testified
that he saw Mercer get the letter in the
post office the day before registration
day. There was a 81 bill and piece of
yellow paper in an envelope. He saw
the paper and envelope thrown
away He would not tell who picked
them up.
Mercer being sworn said he had lived
near Mt Pleasant for four years and got
money through the mail at different
times but never alone in letter without
any writing He works on a farm and
teaches vocal and instrumental music.
He expected money from daughter in
Philadelphia and at first thought the
dollar was from her. He said he went
back afterwards and wanted to swear a
dollar he had with him he had earned, but
vas refused.
The Judge said he had hoped this
question would never come before him to
pass upon. He remarked that if the man
took the oath provided for by the Con-
stitution and the Legislature that he lad
not received money TO influence him in
registering, the registration officers were
compelled to place him on the registrars
books. He was ordered to be registered
and paid over a silver dollar.
In the case Of John h. MedfOrd, col
oreG, OF tie Third Election District OF
the Thirteenth Representative District,
Registrar Huslebeck said the man had
been refused by reason of non payment
of fee. Medfurd said he did not know
he had to pay 81 to register ard APP
peared at the registrars office on August
~ and alter they had paced ls name,
etc, on a book, asked for dollar.
WHAT dollar" he exclaimed. H.
went to get it, but in the meantime had
to go to work. On the 25th OF October
he went again with dollar, tut Wa
told his case Was closed. The Judge
ORDER d him registered and he ''cOughed
up dollar. lie SAID, Il got collar
nUW.'
In the case Of Charles Turner, colored,
Of the Second Election District of the
Thirteenth Representative District, ii
WAS stated that he Mas refused because
he had two names. Turner is 10 wears
ul aye aud enlisted in he ciyi. war v hile
Oh d visit to PhiialeIpnia and took the
name Of Lewis and Is noH getting pen
SION under this nalMe. The Judge said
he should be registered as Charles
Turner, also known as Charles Lewis.
LII the case Of Isaiah tirrgy there was Il
question rs to whether the notice of the
appeal had been served within the three
lul days requned. 1t was postponed
tn tom rroM on account Of the absence
OF material witness.
In the case OF Lew Ii. Adams, coOrcd,
Of Second Election District ul tie Third
Representative District, Registrar HEX
man said he refused hlu because he had
ieason to suppose lie obtained 81 to reg
lister with. As Adams had taken the
oath the Judge ordered llm 10 be regis
tered.
The same thing held true in the case
OF George washington Sad!er, of the
same Representative D!stucl. The Judge
ordered him registered and sad the only
lnlng hat could be dome was they could
be indicted if they took money and
s"Ole tlleI ulull /.
Registrar Hickman said that he had
then done wrong in refusing these men
and could have ,nem all arrested The
Judge sad he should ho,d on and not
put Them on the books now. but do 1t
under order. He said the registrars
Nele not Judges sitting ON matters OF
bribery or prylng. Sader was born in
New Castle county 35 years ago and
lived here all his life. Lawyer Biggs
asked sadIer if he got money through
the mail.
The Judge refused to allow the matter
to be gone into, saying the court as sit
ting az present, could not try bribery
cases, and that Sadier was emitted to a
trial by jury on such Il charge. ile said
they, the registrars, had no right to ask
him where he got the money. If this
were done by the registrars it would
throw the door wide open ior fraud.
The Judge said the attorneys inter-
ested in the cases had right to examine
The registrars books and see the entries
made.
The only objection to John B. Hall
and Henry Brown, ,coioreu. was that thoy
"ere challenged on the ground Of receiv-
ing money through the mali. They were
ordered registered.
Fran Bonsal, colored, had changed
his residence and got a transfer, and was
challenged on residence. This case WAS
continued to Friday. He resided at 1Ol7