The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-10-09
They Declined TO Register
Some Negroes.
COURT AT GREENSBORO
Butler is Said to Have Prepared the
Indictments.
THE DEFENDANTS HAVE ABLE COUNSEL
The Evidence viii Show That the Reg lslrars
Refused TO Register Oily These About
Whose Right TO Vote There
Was Doubt.
Especial to News and Observer.)

tSJNNAN
Greensboro, n. c., Oct. THE trial OF
the six registrars indicted fer refusing
to register negroes III the August cIec-
lions has been set ior next Monday ~
the Federal Court. The men indicted
are:
J. T, THOMPSON, Of Forsyth, charged
with refusing to register tWenty-fo9r
negroes.
HUNTER J.. WALL, of Forsyth, charged
with refusing to regisg-e r twelve negroes.
". l.. ROPER, Of Montgomery county,
charged with refusing TO register four
negroes.
r. O. FRY, CT Montgomery county,
charged with refusing to register seven
negroes.
]. A. PERRY, of Burke, charged with
refusing to register seven negroes.
VIM. POWELL, of Burke, charged with
refusing to register nin negroes.
The bill of Indictment contains twenty
four pages of printed matter. The iEdlct-
mcnts are ali alike, in printed form, and
are said to have been prepared by Marlon
Butler.
The indictments set forth that Oh the
first Thursday IN August, 1900, an cleo
ton for Governor and other State officers
and for members OF the General Assem-
DIV WAS ltll &c tctl Wins 1NNhhN -
North Carolina, and that the registrars
unIawfully and wilfully refused to allow
the persons named in the bill to register
for the said election.
Not oaIy have the negroes WHO claim
to have been denied the right to yc.e
been brought here, but many other
negroes, and they make q dark cloud Ct
witnesses.
State Chairman Simmons is here aEj
Will arrange with the leaders in thI
counties to secure the best legal -2!cn'
to defend the registrars who are belns
subjected to persecution. They did the!
duty honestly and faithfu:ly," lie aait
tonight. ''aad viii have il their defeIsJ
the best talent the State aIGrGs. TIL
party is scliGiy at their back" Re VII
be here tomorrow in consultation VIII
Messrs. C. B. Watson, r. p. Glenn an
the ether counsel for the defense. II
wired tonight TO Secretary Fearsall, Q
Raleigh. to see Judge Shepherd, Cci. Z
~. Argo and Colonel HiGsdale ard re
quest them 70 come 70 Greensboro to de
fonG the registrars in the trial.
From the day that Judge Boyd de
liycred his charge to the grand jury, i
which he devoted much time TO 'f2i
elections and the right Ct the negro
vote. it has been expected that IL
machinery of the court would be invoke
TO secure true bills against registrars i
the Eighth Congressional District. Tn
counties CT Burke and Forsyth weT
selected because it was in these count
that the Democrats made large gain
and the eighth District was chosen &c
Cause in that district Spencer blackburn
United States assistant district a%ttorne,
is tho Republican candidate for Congress
1t is believed that the persecution W
help elcc% Spencer to Congress. That
the milk in the cocoanut.
There are those who are surprised til;
Judge Boyd should lend himself as
party to this political persecution
should permit n rush trial for Blacl
burns benefit during q heated polite
campaign. Others thiGk that he will S
the ~imEropriety OF the matter and rot |
Uolton and Blackburn rush a prosecute
intended wholly fer B~lackburp's benefit.
The friends Of the indicted r~egistra.
90 not doubt their acquittal. They actt
as honest officials, exercised the discr
ton as seemed to them right, and we.
guilty of no discrimination against Il
negroes. The evidence viii show all thi
though, of course, il a partisan ju,
should be secured and should believe Il
tales of the negroes, there might
trouble. But there is 10 room to dou
that this political persecution viii pro
q boomerang to Holton and Blackbu,
and their political allies.