The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-05
ELECTION FRAUDS.
Amdavits are Presented to the Solici-
tor With Request to Prosecute.
SPECIFIC INSTANCES GIVEN.

SPECIFIC INSTANCES GIVEN.
Citizens Of Charleston Urge Solici-
tor Hildebrana to Prosecute
Frauds in the Primary and
Give Him the I'actS.
The Charleston Post says the agita-
tion made by the press Of Charleston
and by the good citizens generally for
punishment Of the frauds enacted il
the late Democratic primaries has
borne fruit and the next term Of the
Court of Sessions will bear on its cal
endar cases against some Of the oilen-
ders against right and the purity Of
the ballot who were so conspicuous in
their defiance Of public sentiment aud
all standards Of good citizenship in
the recent political contests.
Afhdavits, especially setting forth
instances Of fraud and making direct
accusations Of persons committing
them, have been sent to Solicitor Hi
debrand, enclosed in a letter from
prominent citizens Of this city, with
out any partisan Or personal motive
but merely in the general Interest OF
good citizenship and with desire to
protect the ballot box against future
deflement. The letter was mailed
Thursday morning and its text is as
follows:
Charleston, S. c.. Oct. 2S, 1902.
P. T. Hildebrand, Esq, Solicitor,
First judicial Circuit Of South Car
olina, Orapgeburg, S. c.
Sir: The general impression OF frau
dulent practice in the recent Demo
cratic primaries in Charleston county
is so extensive and the report of it in
the newspapers so detailed that
scandal Of large proportions has fast
.ened upon the community, which
should not 60 without effort to re-
move. The press of the city is united
in demanding that prompt and vigof-
Gus prosecution be made Of the charges
in which have been laid and it is
stated in the public prints and by
numbers of reputable citizens that
evidence which will convict the prep
arations Of the frauds can be put into
your hands.
For the good name Of the conmu-
nifty and for the protection of the bal
lot in future elections, it is our opin-
ion and earnest wish that prosecutions
should be pressed against all offenders
and we respectfully call upon you to
take the matter vigorously in hand
and have justice administered.
We would suggest that you make a
pubic call for evidence, as We are as
sured that such request would meet
with full response.
f. Q. O'NeiH,
Jno. 3. Adger.
VIM. Henry Parker Jr.,
G. Walter McIrer.
J. H. Thayer,
z. H. GadSden.
Montague Trie>t.
0. E. johnson.
+. II. McNaSler.
Henry \. VI. Smith.
Philip E. Chazal.
c. i. Northrop,
w. H. Welch.
Alex w. Marshall,
Chas. +. Middleton.
Henry BUST,
Julian a. BarrOt,
Walter G. Green.
J. c. Simmons.
The atfidavitS which were enclosed
leave nothing to be dOEe but The arrest
OF the accused and their presentation
to the grand jury. 1t is expected that
Solicitor lI,l1ebrand viii come to
Charleston at once and have warrants
issued and that these will be executed
Immediately ard the cases be present
ed to the grand jury at the coE2lDS
term Of court. The a;idavitS. it is
understood, set forth all the circum-
stances in ca n case and name the
witnesses who can testify to the Of
Sences. 1t is said that the cases are
absolutely clear and convincing and
true bills on them are almost certain
to be returned by the grand jury.
Solicitor Hildebrand has declared that
&c is prepared to move in the matter
as soon as evidence is placed in his
hands. and with the attidavits before
him bis course is clearly marked out.
It has been thought by some people
that the agitation which was made
by the newspapers Immediately after
the recent primaries and The general
demand Of citizens for prosecution OF
the frauds has SubS.ded and that
nothing would be done il the way OF
bringing the offenders 20 justice.
Some of these offenders have even
made sport Of the whole matter and
considered it all a good joke on those
they regard as puristS and supersenSl-
tive citizens. They are likely to take
q different view of the situation when
Solicitor Hilderbrand gets after them
and will probably not show IN the
court the impudent front they pre-
:sented at the polls.
The names CT those accused in the
.atidaYits were not given out by the
citizens who had secured the evidence.
it being thought best to leave SOlici-
tor Hildebrand unhampered by any
publication which might put the Of
Tenders on their guard or give them
warning which would perhaps permit
of their escape. 1t is expected that
the first intimation the Individual
perpetrators of the frauds will have
that they have been caught in the
meshes Of the law will be when the