The news & observer., 1898-07-27
N0LO C0NTENDERE
@~-s~wa~~-~-ss--~-~~~~
How Republicans Carried the
Election in 1896.
BESlEGED TO VOTE
PREACHERS AND OTHER NEGRO
LEADERS PERSUADED MEN
TO VOTE ILLEGALLY.
THE SWORN STATEMENT or TWO
In BerIic County Negroes Swear that they Voted
Illegally 10 Prevent Social 0sIracsm
al the Behest of Leaders.

Illegally 10 Prevent Social Ostracism
al the Behest Of Leaders,
The secret of how North Carolina was
carried in 1896 for Russell and Repuh-
lican local ticket is leaking out every
day.
Decker, proved that Russell procured
his nomination Ivy fraud.
Negro voters under age and convicts
voted for him and that is the way North
Carolina was cursed with The Repuhl-
lean Governor and Republican Lcgis-
lature. Below we offer the aifidavitS of
two such voters in Bertie county. They
were indicted for illegal voting and en-
tered the regulation plea of nolO conten-
dere, which is severe indictment of the
negro leaders of that county.
North Carolina, Bertie County-Superior
Court.
State
jeff Williams.
Jeff Williams enters n plea that he is
unwilling to contend with the State upon
the Indictment preferred against him and
in justification of his offence if any he
has committed. he says.
That he was besieged by the leaders
of his race to register and vote i'll the
last election when he stated to them that
he was disfranchised, having been con
victed of crime and imprisoned. and thnt
they and among them one John {. Will
liamS. 4 minister of the Gospel and Il
registrar i'm the said election, stated to
this affiant that the law had been chang
cd and he could then register, and this
affiant sought Mr. L. ID. Winston, an
attorney 1T law. upon whose farm he
lives. to ask him if such change had been
made and Mr.. Winston was absent from
the county. and relying on the statement
of the leaders of his race made openly and
in public speeches this affiant ignorant of
the fact that he was violating the law did
register his name as voter in the town
ship in which he lived. and that he did
so in ignorance and with no intention of
violating the law.
JEFF (X) WILLIAMS.
mark.
Sworn and subscribed before me this
the Sth Nov, 1897. W. l.. LYON.
G.. s. G.
North Carolina, Bertie County Superior
Court.
State
Jno. j. Winston.
Jno. j. Winston pleads that he is un-
willing to contend with the State on the
Indictment preferred against him and In
extenuation of his conduct in the matter
for which he stands indicted he says:
That prior to the last election and
some months before registration time one
Samuel Duers Il man Of his own race.
in whom he had confidence and at whose
honsc he was a constant visitor stated TO
this affiant that he must vote in the com
ing election and this affiant stated that
he did not know his age and did not
know whether he was old enough to vote
when both Samuel Duers and his wife
both stated that they lived near the
mother of this affiant when he was born,
and that they knew him to be twenty-one
years old, that when the books for regis
tration were opened the SAID Samuel Du-
ers repeatedly urged this affiant to reg
ister and frequently stated to him that
changed and il affiant did not register
and vote he would be double taxed and
that unless alfiant registered and voted
that he the said atfiant must never visit
his house again, that these things were
repeated TO this affiant several times,
and that r. ]. Askew n leading man of
his race and Lenias Roulhac Il minister
Of the Gospel Of his race. both informed
a
ant urged by the solicitations of his race,
of those on whom he had II right to re-
ly and fearing the social Ostracsm to
follow n refusal to do SO. he went to the
registers with said Samuel Duers ana
after the said Ducrs had stated to the
registrars that he was more than twenty
one years of age this aifiant relying on
that statement took his oath and was
registered that the name Of this alfiant
was challenged and day set for the
hearing and the affiant declined to at-
tend the said hearing although notified so
to do and upon hearing thereof the said
challenge was not allowed and this aft.
ant remained on the registration book
and again he was importuncd by the said
Duers and others and told that his age
had been established by law and he then
voted. This aifiant is guiltlcss of any
intention or purpose to violate the law.
He relied upon those i'm whom he thought
he had n right TO rely and upon the as.
surance that the registrars or n majority
of them had ascertaincd that he was of
age. he voted. He implores the mercy
and clcmency Of this court He is IN IT,
norant man, and he asks the court not TO
punish him for the misdoings Of others.
His
j. j. (X) WINSTON.
mark.
Sworn and subscribed before me this
N.v 1907 w T. WON