The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-06-28
NOVEL QUESTION
BEFORE THE COURT.
Hebrew Denied Registration.
Gould Not Write
English.
Drew Denied Registration.
CONTENTION OF THE STATE


Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l
PETERSBURG VA, June 27.-A very
interesting franchise question was ar
Ngued before Judge ]. NJ. Mullen in the
Hastings Court this morning, when
the case of Abram Levy against S. a.
Gentry, registrar for Third Ward, was
heard. Mr.. Levy, who was represented
by D. Hamilton WILCOX, Of the law
firm of WILCOX {; Wilcox, stated in
his petition that he was refused regis
'tration because he could not write his
application in English, but that he
was prepared to write 1t in Hebrew
to which the registrar replied that no
offer was made to write 1t in Hebrew,
but that the application would have
!. been refused If so written The plain
tiff testified that he told the registrar
he could not write, and that nothing
was said about writing the application
in Hebrew, thus reducing the case to
a question of voting qualifications.
Mr.. WILCOX argued that the State
Constitution did not specify the writ
ing of the application in the English
language as requisite to registration;
Y that his client was a law-abiding, re-
spected merchant and property owner,
who paid his taxes, and was qualified
to vote, and was one of class whom
he did not believe that the law in
tended to disfranchise,
Commonwealth's Attorney r. IL.
Mann replied that in his opinion the
election laws placed an applicant for
registration who could not mark his
ballot in the language of the American
people in the position of an illiterate.
and cited authorities in support Of his
argument.
Judge Mullen reserved decision, but
stated that he was inclined to the
opinion that an application for regis
tration should be written in English,
rs no man can be naturalized unless
he can speake the English language.
The judge said that the franchise Is
not an inherent right, the privilege of
voting being obtained by complying
with certain legal requirements. The
case has aroused a very general inter-
est. and is the subject Of much dis
cussion, the opinion being expressed
that it may go to the Court of Ap-
peals. i
4, Nine Butchers Fined.
Nine Petersburg butchers We're fined
So each in the Mayors Court this
morning for violation of a city ordi-
nance prohibiting the establishment OF
slaughter-house within two hundred
yards of a residence. The fines were
RENTED in the cases of John Belchel
ana ltODcIt f-uuNloii, NhpSI SibuSsitti
pens are on the riverside, the cit,
health officer expressing the opinio,
that the riverside was proper loCa
ton for them.
Mortality Record.
The report of the city health officer
DR. r. "A. Martin, for the month end
ing June Goth, shows total of I
deaths. of which 13 We're among tn
whites. SO among the colorcd-a rat
of mortality OF 2l.77 per thousand pc
Rnnum for the whole population. TIL
mortality rate among the negroes
S2.46; whites, lll4. The births ag
gregated s0--whites, 10; colored, 80.
billiard Company Incorporated.
The certificate of incorporation {
the w. z. billiard Manufacturing Con
pany was recorded here to-day In IL
office of the clerk of the courts. III
nanufacturc and sale of saw handle
spikes. and like implements, and Il
buying and selling of timber land
are the purposes of the corporate
which is 10 have capital stock OF NJ
more than $4,000 nor less than $1,000
The principal office is to be in III
city, and the officers are: Presiden
We. billiard; Vice President. c. Fish,
Collier; Secretary and Treasurer, y
o. Dillard; Directors w, y, pillar
G. Fisher Collier and Cara T. Dillard
Other Matters.
Petersburg Council, knights OF G
lumpus, initiated six new members Ia
night. Dir. David Coleman and N
David Powers. of the Richmond Cou
ell attended the meeting,
The Norfolk and Western "cann'
Ball" train, from Norfolk To iichmon
which Is scheduled 10 leave Peter
burg at 6:2e, was delayed an hour al
half this evening by the bfeakil
down of the engine,
--~--------------
President Cannot Come
ROANOKE VA June 97.-I'residf