The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-03

IGNORANCE
OF INSPECTORS
Several Think Themselves
Courts and Refuse to
Register Men.

| added the names OF seven more ColOre
Republicans to the registration books, and
disqualified one. This makes q total
of thirteen men registered whom Demo-
cratic registrars refused to qualify on the
final day Of registration.
The cases. which arc attracting much
attention, have disclosed Ignorance Of the
law on the part Of officers, This was es.
pecially noticeable In the Second election
district of the Thirteenth represen tative
| district In this district, Frank Hickman
is registrar, and no tried to sit as court
to Judge whether tho voter had received
money with which to register. In several
cases OF this kind he placed the voters
name on the books, received his money.
administered the oath to the man to the
| effect that the money , not given to
him to register with, and then notified the
man that he must appear before Judge
Spruanoe, or he (Hickman) would scratch
the name from the book.
Judge Spruance told tho registrar that II
the man took the oath that the money
was not given to him and he qualified in
other ways, the applicant was qualified to
vote. The judge said even II the registrar
saw the man receive the money. he would
DO obliged to register him II he took the
oath that the money wassnot given or SEM
to him. The remedy In that case, he said,
would be to have him arrested for perjury
Judge Spruance stated further that 1t
had come to his knowledge that some Of
the registration officers were in the habit
of asking men who came to register where
they got the 81 reglstrationrse. The reg.
istration officers have no right to do this,
and tho voters asked this question should
reply that 1t was no business of the ques-
toner. SIT lisa dangerous thing" said
the judge ito let such questions be asked
and opens the door for fraud"
During tho hearing 1t was brought out
that some mons names were placed on the
books before the money WAS received.
Judge Sprunnce said II was a wrong pro.
ceeding, as the money should DO received
in every case first. Frequently the hear
ings had to DO stopped until the law could
DO read to the registration officers. they
being ignorant it.
The first case taken up In the afternoon
was hat of John W. Mercer of the fourth
Election district Of tho Thirteenth Repre-
sentative district who was disqualified be-
cause he refused to take the oath that he
had not received money with which to
register.
Some time afterwards Mercer came back
to the place OF registration and wanted to
swear the money that he would pay ms the
registration fee had not been sent to him.
He admitted receiving money through tho
mails. but said he did not know who sent
it to him. He was disqualified.
John f Mcdforl of the same district
was placed OH the books. The registration
officers rut down his name without get
ting his money on August 20, and when
he came to pay the fee on October 90 ro-
fused to take the money.
Frank Hickman, the registrar of the
Second election listrct Of the Thirteenth
Representative district, refused to regis
tcT \ HtEleS urHeE DeCdusG u6 TECelStu u
pension from no government under the
name OF Charles Lewis. The registrar al.
mitted that no WAS known in tho COM
munity as Turner Tho Judge ordered
his name placed on the books and read
the law to the register covering this point.
Levi II. Adams, George Washington
Sadder, John D. Hall. and Henry Brown,
all living In the same district, were placed
on the books by tho registrar and the reg
istration fee received. They were challeng-
cd as to where they received tho fee, and
sworo that It had been given to them The
Judge said tho whole proceeding was
wrong and ordered the names placed on
the looks.
Louis HILL colored, who had been refu:-
oil registration in the Fifty second district
in this city, was next called. w. P.Morrl-
son was registrar, and testified that Hill
had been refused registration because the
officers had doubts that he lived at tho
place hs said he did, Registrar Morrison
testified tn at they did not take Hills dol
lar, and did not swear him to testify to his
residence.
Hill. when called, testified that he lived
at No. IL Now street. and his landlady.
Mrs. Sarah Strauss, gave similar testimony
Registrar Morrison said that il such evil
dence had been produced before the regis
tration board, there would havo been no
complaint Judge Spruance ordered that
Hill shame no placed on the list. and ho
also said that 1t WAS tho registrars first
duty to collect the registration fec, before
examining an applicant as to his age, resi-
dence or color