Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-22
PARSONS TO CONTEST
Defeated Virginian Will Seek
Seat in Congress.
SAUNDERS IN DlSFAV0R
Democrats of Fifth District Now
Look to Swanson.
CAN GET ALL THE VOTES
Famous Duelist to Write Book of
Reminiscences-Neg Faces
Electric Chair-Notes.
special CORRESPONDENCE Of The Star

Special Correspondence Of The Star
RICHMOND, Va, November u, 1903
Friends of State Senator Parsons of
Grayson, defeated for Congress by Judge
E. w. Saunders, In the fifth district, de-
clare that he will certainly contest the
award of the seat to his democratic oppo- |
nent. There are to be several grounds
for this-one of the principal being that
the name Of man, Elliott Matthews. was
on the ticket. and that it injured to his
Parsons) injury. Matthews, however,
got only twelve votes, but Parsons will
contend that the names were so arranged
that the voters were confused and in that
way several votes were lost to him. Then
ne will allege that the ballots used in
Henry and Franklin counties were of
such a character that voters could not
use them with any degree of accuracy
The democrats alege that the ballots
were prepared by the various county |
boards, and that If they varied 1T was
because the law forbids any election Of
ticer giving any information as to prepa- |
ration of tickets. and that it was, there |
fore, impossible to obtain uniformity. and
that the democrats lost as heavily as the
republicans could have lost under the
conditions. The state board OF can |
vassers meet here Monday to go over
the returns and to make the awards of
certificates Of election; A.; At that nat, time me
counsel, Mr. Perkins Of Grayson and
former Governor Montague. and will
serve formal notice of contest.
Gentlemen who have to do with the
political affairs of the fifth district were |
here this week. and they did not hesitate !
to say that Judge Saunders will never |
again be the nominee. and that just as |
soon as Gov. Swanson completes his
! 49,, @Il will
be put up for the nomination as the only
means OF saving the district from the |
republicans. They contend that with !
the governor back in line he will be able |
to swing the district back into the demo- !
cratic column by a majority that will
show the esteem in which he is held. |
They claim that instead Of the county /
Of Pittsylvania giving democratic ma I
jority Of 500 1t will give the governor |
nearly five times that figure.
Royal Writing Book.
William L. Royal, one of the best
known lawyers of this city. has turned
his attention to writing "reminiscences.
He calls his latest effort Royals Me-
moirs" Mr. Royal is a soldier, a distin |
guished lawyer. has figured in many IA
nous duels, and was for a long time an
editor on the staff of the Times of this
city He is we'll known as a banker and in
late years he has figured In some of the
most famous cases In the annals of JuriS- |
prudence If he is noted for one thing 1t is
for the direct manner In which he states |
a case. He does not mince matters. In
his book he refers to matters which have
come under his observation, and in DIS
cusSing them he uses the names or the
principals, many of whom are awe AT
this time. He is noted for his rugged
honesty of purpose and the freedom with |,
which he criticises men of high and low
degree. Men high in the Judiciary, officers
of the Conferedate states army, politicians
and others are placed on the same loot
ing and where he finds thing to con- |
denim or to praise he does so without i
fear or favor. That his book will create |
stir in the state there is little DOUBT |
In discussing some of the famous dueiS
in which he figured he does not hesitate
to pay his respects to some of the men
who "side-stepped" when the time for
fighting drew nigh.
Relating Cases Monday.
w. r. Johnson, grain merchant, and
A. p Gilbert Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio are to face Judge Wadd.ll and
Jury in the United States district court
on Monday. They were indicted several
months ago for completely in the Chesa-
peake and Ohio rebating cases. The OFF,
GERS of the interstate commerce COM
mission were here about year ago, and
they had gotten much of the evidence
| they were in the city. Many of the
records from which to make up the cases
| have been burned, but the officers claim to
| have ample evidence on which to ask
| for a conviction. A member of the city
council is concerned In the affair, and
| it is believed that he is one of the men
who had knowledge of the violations of
the law. He is III. o. Gates. and last
| spring he was de1eated When he oHereu
! for reelection.
| Counsel for the accused men demurred
| to the Indictment several days ago. and
Judge Waddll overruled that and or
dered the cases set for a hearing. 1t Is
said that one of the railroads entering
this city was made to suffer heavily by
the system employed by rebatlng. and 1t
is also Std that other concerns In this
| city will be drawn into the controversy
before 1t has proceeded very far. john
son and Gilbert have been out on bail
for several months.
Arthur Lewis. the negro who has been
identified the assailant of Police
Sergt. G.. H. krouse, stands in fair
way to go to the electric chair He is
beieng held on three charges, at least
one of which-that of setting fire to a |
house and robbing and burning the place
will be sufficient to send him to his death. |
Lewis has been positively identified by |
his victim. the policeman declaring that
his size, his complexion and his voice
are those of the man who fired bullet |
at him while awaiting the arrival of the |
patrol wagon. Lewis tries to deny his |
guilt but the detectives have succeeded |
in working up case against him that |
leaves no question of his guilt Besides |
shooting the officer and burning the house. |
Lewis is being held on the charge of re- |
sisting an officer. and of late this has |
come to be pretty serious offense. The |
man is being held in the city Jail with
out bal. Sergt krouse is slowly re- |
covering and expects to be able to get |
out in a short time, though he will not
be fit for duty for some weeks.
Oyster Planters Disagree.
There is more politics in an oyster
than any other one thing in the world
has become a saying in this state. 1t
is proving true. There is a war on be-
tween the planters and the tOngers. The
people of that section of the state in
which the oyster industry is important
have for years been of the opinion that
the taxes levied and collected were I'M
just. Complaint has been made of depre-
dations, and Commissioner Lee of. the
board of fisheries, declares that the men
who are making the kicks are the ones
who are also engaged in wholesale viola
tons of the law. The board is here this
week compiling its annual report for
Gov Swanson. and with its coming there
is renewa' of the agitation of the ques-
ton of breaking the Baylor survey
The contention is that certain wealthy