The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-03
:DOCEBRY Us BELLAMY
DISPOSITIONS BEING TAKEN FOX
THE CONTEST

EPOSITIONS Being FOh
THE CONTEST
The Hardware Men are Being Quizxed
by Doekery's Lawyer-He IL Trying
To Find Out How Many Guns Were
Sold During the Campaign Two
Judges Who Rule To the Contrary
Progress Of the Proceedings
The taking Of dispositions in the case
OF Colonel Oliver H. Dockery, republic
al of Richmond county, who is con-
testing the sea Of the Hon. John ..
Bellamy, of this city, democratic-con-
gressman-elect from this, the Sixth
Congressional district, began yesterday
morning in the United States court
room, in this city.
Mr.. T. E. Wallace, who is a repub-
can, n Geo. H. Howell, Esq, who is
a democrat, sat As notaries public to
hear the testimony. Miss Lizzie Struth-
ers was in attendance as typewriter
for Colonel Dockery and Miss Estelle
Shrier is making a stenographic re-
port Of the testimony for Mr.. Bellamy.
Mr.. Wallace opened the proceedings,
and asked if the counsel were ready
to proceed. Both sides answered in the
affirmative.
Assistant United States District At
torney Oscar J.. Spears was in attend
ance as counsel for Colonel Dockery,
and Colonel Thomas w. Strange and
Messrs. Junius Davis, Frank Mcneil,
W. 3. McKoy and George L. Peschau
were representing Mr.. Bellamy. Mr..
Bellamy was present.
Mr.. Spears for the contestant, Dock
cry, called the following witnesses:
Messrs. j. W. Murchison, w. E. Per-
due, ]. n. jacob, NJ. w. jacob, Owen
er, c. D. Foard n Colonel F. w.
Kerchner. All these witnesses are
hardware dealers of our city.
MIR. jacob TESTIFIES.
Mr.. Spears examined Mr.. jacob,
first asking him his age, place of res
idence, and business. He answered
these. He stated that he had been o
nected with the N. Jacob Hardware
Company for thirteen years as an en-
ploye and a member of the firm.
The following questions were then
asked and the given as be-
low:
How many employees has your firm?
Answer: Nine.
' How many employees did you have in
October and November, 1898?
Answer: The same number, to the
best of my knowledge.
How many republican employees did
you have in October and November?
Answer: I don't know. We never ask
an employee about his politics or reli-
gion when we employ them.
Fol- whom did you vote for congress
in the Sixth Congressional district at
the last election-Dockery or Bellamy?
Answer: I voted for Bellamy.
Whom did you support during the
campaign?
Answer: 1 am not a politician and
did not canvass, but I used by inf1u-
ence for Bellamy.
Mr.. jacob, do o know whether
there were colored republicans in the
employ of your company during the
mOntS Of October, 1898? If SO, how
many and what were their names?
Answer: We had in our employ three
negroes, and I presume they were re-
publicans. One was named Richard
Joslin, one was a minor named John,
and the third one was Henry Bowen.
Dc o know whether these men
were advised by yourself of other
members of the firm that if they regis
tered to vote in the election in No
vember, their services would be no
longer needed?
Messrs. Davis and Peschau objected
to the question as incompetent, but
after the question had been discussed,
Mr.. jacob was allowed to answer.
Mr.. jacob answered: Yes. They
were told that they would not De re-
o~1~1oxy0I - Io 49, ~ fIoir -
that the condition under republican
rule was such that it vas becoming IN
bearable and we could not possibly
think of employing people who voted
against US n every one Of our inter
ests.
Mr.. jacob, your business is that Of
hardware?
Answer: Yes. General hardware,
paints, doors, sash, blinds, etc.
Do you sell firearms?
Answer: Yes.
Are you prepared to state definitely
the number of rifles, pistols and shot
guns sold by YOU firm at retail dur
ing h month of October and the first
week in November, 1898?
Answer: I am not, sir.
Can you approximate the number Of
sales of such weapons, made during
h term mentioned?
answer. l. cannot, sir.
Are o prepared to say whether
they were in excess of the usual sales
Of such goods for a like period?
Answer: Yes; they were in excess.
Were they greatly in excess?
Answer: In answer to that question
I would state that the sales of weapons
during election years have always beer
larger than during IN other years
During the time mentioned (October
and November) there was no exception
to the rule-we sold quite a number 81
firearms.
Were the sales for the time mention
ed far in excess of those or any pre-
vious election yea or not?
Answer I suppose they were. AS q
matter of fact n figures, 1 can't SAP
To whom were those sales generally
made, to democrats or republicans?
Answer: They were made to whit
people.
What is the population of Whining
ton?
Answer: 1t is v~ariously estimated a
25, 900 to 3d. 600.