Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1907-02-20
QUALIFYING NEGROES
THAT THEY MAY VOTE.
That is The Story Told From The Witness Stand
in The Poll Tax Cases in County Court
Great Interest Manifested.

When the county court met yester-
day afternoon, and after n motion to
quash the venire of twenty men. from
which to select a jury, had been over
ruled by the court, jury was selected
before which the case of the State of
Texas VS.. Geo, w. Harris was to be
tried. This is one OF the cases where
in certain defendants are charged
with illegally furnishing money with
which to pay the poll taxes of negroes,
thus qualifying said negroes as voters
at the approaching city election.
The first witness placed on the stand
was n. ]. Dobbs, furniture dealer.
Mr.. Dobbs to questions propounded
said he lived in Palestine, and was in
the furniture business. Said he knows
Geo. Harris, the defendant in the case.
Had a conversation with him in Janu-
airy: the latter part of January. Said
Harris expressed the wish to have him
(Dobbs) help him in the approaching
city campaign; wanted him to help
handle the negro voters. Talked about
the negroes paying their poll taxes.
Said he did not give Harris an answer
as to whether he would help him, and
told him % come back TO his store the
AIT morning ~ o'cioo- -
'Dobbs said he did not agree to pay
poll taxes for any one. Had long con-
versation about the political situation
Harris asked him il he was going to
support Bowers in approaching cleo
ton; answered he always had. Asked
If he knew whether the Hearne side
was paying poll taxes for negroes:
said he did not know.
On cross-examination said Harris
came to his place and talked to him
about buying chairs or stools for his
eating house at Valley Junction; after
wards talked about the election. Said
Mayor Bowers came in later; about
half an hour after Harris had been
there. Said they did not talk about
the poll tax matter after Bowers join
ed them. Said Harris did not como
back the next morning. Said a negro
man working for him asked Harris to
give him money with which to pay
his poll tax; Harris answered, No"
Adam Schnoor was the next witness.
Lives at Palestine; knows Geo. w.
Harris. Schnoor said he was an ex-
locomotive engineer but was not work
ing now. Had conversation with Geo
Harris. Harris wanted him to Join
his club" Harris told him that Ed.
Hudson, O'F1ynn, Maier, himself CHar.
ris), belonged to the club Schnoor |
said he told the defendant, Harris. |
that he was going to Rockdale to go
10 work Said Harris said to him /.
that IF I offer you more money than .
you can make at Rockdale. will you .
stay and help us. and keep your mouth (
shut?" Asked If he was not an enemy f.
Of Bowers. he answered. no. Asked if .
he was not mad at Bowers. he answer. (
ed, no.
On cross-eXamination said Harris /
did not ask him to do any dirty work;
did not tell him what he wanted him
10 do.
Said he saw his brother, Jake
Schnoor, talking With Harris after.
wards, and that be warned Jake to
have nothing 10 do with Harris and
his schemes, as Harris would get him
in trouble. Said Harris did not tell
him the purposes OF his club"
Jim Hill. colorei, was the third wit
ness. Said he lived in Palestine: ran
a beer joint on Spring street. two