The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-27
DEMOCRATS SHUT
OUT FROM VOTING.
Strong Proof That Treasurer
and Deputies Closed Or
fees and Left.
MANY SOUGHT TO PAY
Neither the Treasurer Nor His.
MANY SOUGHT TO PAY
Neither the Treasurer Nor His
Subordinatcs Could be Found
to Receive the Money.
tspccial 10 This Times Dispat CHI

.-----------&----.
Especial to The Times Dlspstch)
BIG STONE GAP, VA, May 2e.--As
your correspondent from this place, Z
wired you or May 9Th an account Of the
conduct OF the treasurer Of Wise coun-
~, and one OF his deputies. in the matter
OF tho payment Of poll taxes Dy Demo-
Gratis, In which local Democrats alleged
that the treasurer and his deputies
promised to be in their offices u receive
poll taxes on that day and in violation OF
these promises. 1t was alleged they had
lodged and could not be found BY the
majority OF those wanting TO pay their
poll taxes.
No denial OF the facts stated In that
telegram has come from the treasurer,
or his deputies until In the issue 81 inc
Bristol Herald, of May 25th tho treas
urer, Mr., Il. P. Barron. makes a pa rtial
denial for himself but none for his de-
putty.
. In order that this matter may BIO set
before the public In its true light. give
below the facts in detail:
A few days before May Gth, the local
Democratic Committee and workers had
obtained from the treasurer a list OF all
persons who hid been assessed with
taxes In this district, which list showed
those who had paid and those who had
not paid. The district embraces four
voting precincts, two OF which were IN.
!. the mining region. where voters often
change their locations and Tor those rca.--
sons they are more apt than N othe. J,
communities to miss the treasurer and
overlook paying their poll taxes and many
likewise were not assessed with taxes.
See the Voters.
The work OF seeing personally all Dem z
4 ocratic voters who had not been assessed
and arranging to have the proper ccrt1-
"a fcat tea issued by the clerk. and seeing
Mi who had not paid their poll taxes and
getting them either to visit the treasur-l
s er In person or send their money 70 pay
the taxes wns assigned TO various mem mem
bcrs OF the local committee. a nuHDer
OF voters paid their taxes IN Lie lew
days preceding May 9Th, but q larger
number arranged to pay them on the
6th. S rs a.,
s. Rlckley. his resident deputy both well
4 knew that#the Democratic workers we're
visiting the voters and arranging LOT
the payment OF large number OF these
holI taxes on May 9Th. Both were APP
nl,ed 90 TO know II they would be at the
treasurer's Office IN Big Stone Gap On
that day. Both stated that they would
be there. The deputy, in fact. had re-
uuested some voters to meet him mere
on that day for that purpose. The treas treas
. urer stated that he would be out OF town
during the forenoon. but would pc I; -
Ibis Office during the afternoon OF the the
9Th. 355ss t5s 5g3
Carried Off the Books.
When the morning Of the 9Th arrived TT V 4
the deputy took his books containing all
the tax tickets, and rode out OF town
about s o'clock, and did not return again
during the day.. Vigorous efforts were
made to locate him during the day. bu Z
no trace could be found Of him. The
treasurer was out OF town during the
forenoon collecting license taxes, and
Y did return about ~ o clock, and was IN
his Office for a few minutes not more
than ten or fifteen minutes. He then
locked up his office went home to dinner.
and left town Immediately, and did not
return again during the day TO his Office,
or certainly not until after nightfaL, and
there was no light in his office after
nightfall. a large number Of tax payers
visited his office q short intervals during
the whole OF this day,sand a number
likewise 'phoned to his residence. Efforts
were made during the afternoon to lo-4
cate him west OF town, In the direction
in which no was last seen going but
without avail. Mr.. Barron states that
4 he was in his office between the hours
OF 10 and IL in the forenoon. The fact
is. according to my information, he Was
there only about fifteen minutes. He
further states that In the afternoon he
went5dow below town. hardly outside of
the corporation limits. returning about 5
s o'clock. He would thus make the I'M
preston and have It Inferred that he
returned TO his Office at 5, and was there
ready to receive poll taxes. Such is not
the fact He did not return to his Office
at 8, or any other time during the after
noon or night of May 9th, and II he
returned to his home at and remained
there, the fact was concealed from those
who were trying to And him, All OF the
Z foregoing statements as to his where
abouts cnn be Abundantly proven by men
Of the highest integrity
Many Disappointed.
A great many voters OF tho district,
both those who reside In the town and
those from points out Of town. camo in
person to make their payment, and 9TH
ers sent their own money to the treas
urer for this purpose. it being known
that tic received money sent for this
( purpose by others than the voters.
When It became evident. as It did to
all those Interested In the matter, that
1t was a clear case Of an effort on the
part of the treasurer and his deputy to
give them the dodge, a list OF those de-
string to pay was 'phoned eighteen miles
to the courthouse to W. B. Fulton, the
cashier OF the Wise County Bank and
former member of the House OF Dele
gates OF Virginia. and at the request
OF the local committee, and upon their
assurance that the money involved had
been paid to them by the voters, and
would be handed to Mr.. Hamilton, a
deputy treasurer residing Mt Wise the
money to pay the taxes Of sixty-flye
voters was sent, and thisGmoney WAS re-
celyed by Mr., Hamilton after night on
the sixth and receipts issued therefor.
There was no campaign fund in exist
ence for this purpose. and none was
raised by the local committee; e, ),
vhe statement made by the Republican
q press that Hon. r. p, Bruce county
chairman, and Hon. ~ NJ, Fulton had
anything to do with this matter are an
solutely untrue y
ON tho list OF names referred 70 there
were six or seven cases OF double pay,
ment In these cases the voters had
friends to pay the treasurer, II found