Evening journal., 1901-02-01
BITTER FIGHT AGAINST BILL
REPEATING ANTI-SCREEN LAW
Bishop Coleman and Other Influential Citizens Appear
Before the Senate to Urge the Killing
Of the Measure

OF Lno
plaint at this time II the election was
delayed the men there had the right TO
choose officers from their own number
and proceed. Such has always been the
law Of this State and is to-day
Mr.. Whiteman tncn quoted the law ~
support OF his contention. lie asked that
the case be dismissed and dangerous
precedent avoided.
Mr.. Hayes replied and said that Mr..
Ross did not approach the board as a
partisan body but with the belief that he
could convince il that he was entitled TO
seat in the Senate. lie held that the
law quoted by Mr. Whitemnn did not ap
ply TO this case.
Chairman Knox snid the committee
would accept the ahidnvts as q matter of
evidence, though not as ballots at this
time.
Mr. Whitcmnn asked permission to ex-
anime the alidayiis, which request was
granted.
Mr.. Whiteman then presented numer-
Gus nfidaviis of his side of the case. One
set stated that they were unable ON ac-
count of fight started uy colorcd peo-
pie, and ahetted by certain white men,
who were Republicans, and that had they
been permitted 90 vote they would have
voted Tor Francis j. McNulty.
MIR. ROSS SWORN.
Howard, ID. oRss. then being sworn.
testified that he Is 2S years of age and
had resided in Delaware "a years Daniel
Ross father of the contestant, corrobor-
ated his sons statement. and produced
diary showing the date OF his sons
birth.
Clerk Of the Peace Winfield S. Quigley
testified TO having re -istration books for
the district IN dispute IN his custody, ard
produced them.
patrolman Robert Serson was next
called and testified 10 incidents that oc-
CURED during election day.
He said neople had formed a line when
he arrived shortly after o'clock. There
were from sixty 20 seventy-fve colored
men in It, He saw the election officers
there about $50 o'clock and then Messrs.
Duean and Biggms went 10 the Liberty
engine house The polls opened about
( $50 o'clock after Dugan and Blggius
| |NiNN AARlAl AAtN fAANNNAh N'NNNF ANN'A "t't
Biggns were both election officers. lt
was 1926 when they came from t..e LIB
crty engine house.
After a while" said Mr.. Serson,
trouble occurred and we ran over. The
crowd gathered around and we saw Du-
gan coming ont over some ones head.
He said about 100 men We're about the
polls at the time. After the disturbance
| the pois were closed and did not open
until 2.30 o'clock in the afternoon.
Patrolman Scrson said at first there
was but one line in front Of the polling
place. but when tne polling place re-
opened there were two lines.
Colonel Chaytor was the first election
officer TO arrive" said Serson, "and he
snid III two lines were not formed not
a man would be allowed "a
vote"
The witness said one line was composed
OF white and one of colored men. Iw,
whites were voted for each colored man.
There was no further disturbance after
! the polling place opened. In the after
noon Dugan was taken in and Mr.. Cur.
rem was placed in Dugan's place.
On cross examination Officer Sersor
said he did not know what time the first
ballots were cast and that he did not Sc,
Dugan or higgins have any election para
phemalia when they went TO the engin'
house.
Jacob H. Lewis, foreman for the Dia
mond State Steel Company, said tina
the polls were not opened at 9.45 o'clock
The witness said he made a demand tha
the polling place be opened, and was ask
ed "What il was his -- busncssF Mel
!, would 90 into vote and they would driv'
them out. The trouble did not last lonl
after IT started.
FRANK JONES' STATEMENT.
Frank r. Jones. who lives in the dis
trict, and was challenger at the election
was the next witness. He went TO th
, polling place at s O'Clock and all the oiii
GERS We're there. Dugan left few min
? utes after the witness arrived. Dough
erty, the driver FOR the Liberty, came AM
I called Dugan TO the telephone.
"Dugan and higgins went out, sal
the witness, "and returned after
o'clock. When they returned they bega
10 get ready for the election. The poll
, could not be opened while Dugan wa
/ away. because he had 70 break the seals.
, In answer to questions the witness sal
5 people came in to vote, and Dugan sal
/ he would open them when he got ~
! good and ready, and if they did not %
out he would call an officer and hay
them put out. Finally the crowd rushe
in. Some one hit at the witness and b
went down. When he got up the ROOF
2 was clear Of all except Biggins an
] Welsh Biggins took the books and Du
5 gan took the ballots and locked them
! selves in a back room upstairs. The
e came down afterward but did not brin
the ballots They denied having then
d The witness offered Hyland Gaynor s.
e find the ballots for him. Gaynor pointe
= them ont under bookcase covered wit
I Innn .nrinin. Irhn witness InnE IlnI