The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-08-01
Voters Almost Without
Exception Tell for
Whom Voted.
ABOUT 4OOOF THEM
TESTIFIED FIR EELY.
First Jefferson and Second Lee
Precincts Completed - Voters
Of -Four Precincts Summoned
for To-day-The Results
Not Likely to Be
Changed.

The special grand Jury OF the Hastings
Court. which recently sat as a regular
Grand jury reassembled yesterday In
the court room and after receiving
stirring and specific charge from Judge
8. y. Witt. went to room IL on the third
floor OF the City Hall and began their,
inquisltion.
The nature OF the courts charge to the
grand Jurors and the advance announce \
ment Of the purpose OF the inquisition
made It known to all the world that tho
Jury would Investigate the recent NUM-
cipal and Legislative primary In all OF
the twcnty-three precincts Of the city,
or rather In twenty-five OF them, for
one Of them (Third Monroe) had already
been inquired into. 5
Tho jury was trifle late getting
down to the work. which It was known
they would undertakes: that is to say,
the examination Of voters Of two pre-
cincts, all OF whom had been summoned
Friday and Saturday While these were
Swaitlng their. turn to enter the cloSed
door. the deputy sergcants were busy
Bummoning voters from four other pre-
rincts all OF whom are expected to de-
* pose to-day. ~
The two precincts investigated yes
terday were the second OF Lee Ward
= and the first OF Jefferson Ward. The
number voting at the two precincts was
i. First Lee. 248; First Jefferson, .163 To-
q tall 416..s5l About eco OF b the Lee Ward
voters responded. the others failing to
& arrive In time for yesterdays inquiry.
In First Jefferson about 1866 OF the 1853
voters responded All OF these were
sworn and examined, their testimony re-
g quring but Il few seconds in eacl, case.
Il Tho entire Hat OF witnesses was COM
A scluded Iii little more than two hours,
including the time consumed In swear
81 ing the deponcnts About twenty sec.s
i onds was the average time per ca pita.
Told H oW They Voted. 5
1t is understood that the Investigation
covers only the vote for Commemorative
attorney and for city sergeant. Each
two questions: For whom did he vote for
sergeant and for Commonwcalth's at
torney. It was quick work. 80 quick In
deed that, the long line OF voters. drawn
up across and around the corridor was
constantly moving UP toward the closed
door. which at brief intervals opened
and then closed. admitting one man. ~.
4
known and will not be until the jury
reports There Is reason to believe that
the Jury is keeping tab on the answers
OF tho voters tcstifying. and that at the
conclusion OF all the precincts the totals
will be made up by wards and then
compared with the returns OF tho elec-
4 tion. Up. to this time nothing but the
n1onotony OF query and answer and a fgwt
touches OF humor here and there have
been heard
To-day Judge witt hopes to make
great progress with the work Of polling
the vote OF the city. He has caused to
be summoned for to-days inquiry the
entire list OF voters OF the second, third
and fourth precincts OF Jefferson Ward: :
the first precinct OF Leo Ward and the
fourth precinct Of Madison Ward. 1t
is confidently expected that by begin.
ming at 1880 a. NJ promptly and sitting
until 1890. and then reconvening about
4 and sitting until $40 or G. all this long
list Will be completed. Several OF those
precincts, whose voters will depose to-
4 day are small, and will bc quickly dis
posed Of
is expected that there Will be some
of the voters at all these precincts who
nre out OF town. or who cannot be To-
Gated by the deputies, but the great ma.
jorlty OF those summoned yesterday re-
sponded promp tly. and the same Is likely
to be true to day. In the event a voter
who receives his summons falls to re-
spond promptly or to give n valid rea-
son for his failure, Judge witt will issue
K a rule against him for contempt
The charge OF Judge Witt to the grand
jurors Is an impressive appeal for q
thorough investigation OF the entire
election, While the jury Is especially
charged to ascertain whether there has
been fraud and II so, to report the
same, they are also eniolncd to note
faithful service and to exonerlte the
honest and careful election officers from
even suspicion OF wrong-doin IT IS
not assumed that there has been any
wholesale fraud but tho jury Is spe;
Il officially charged to seek out any that
may have creDted IN, ssa
asi A Stirring Charge.
Here Is the charge OF the court to the
grand jury With ,he rycetlon Of the
election laws, which arc ncOrroruted IN
the charge for the instruction and guld-
ance Of the Jury, their omission being NJ
dcated by stars,
"Gentlemen Of the Grand Jury: The re-
port of the regular grand Jury made 20
this court last week, conce ming tbs
manner Of conducting the regent primary
electIpn held In the city OF Richmond
was OF such gross character that the
,ourt has deemed It proper to convene
you again, In special session,
"That investigation, SO fully and fear
essly conducted by you, has naturally
eft this community In state of unrest
md grave suspicion.
mo men are more suited to this task
han you, Your familiarity With the In
,estlgation UP TO tho point at which your
eport was made will the better At you
or the duty which Will he Imposed upon
Il iou. ,45 y, t (
'The honesty and fairness Of the elea-
lon returns is the sole question which
vii be the subject Of your Inquiry, I'd
II charge you. therefore, to give this
most Important matter your earnest ats
Continued on Seventh Pagel A,