The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-11-25
TL.EY WERE ALL SICK
GOVERNOR ANsEL DISMISSED
THE CASE AGAINST

IE1h StASS taOtAAI054
The Berkeley Registration Board for
Not Meeting to Register or Change
Voters.
Governor Ansel on Monday dis
missed the charge agaisnt the mem
bers of the Berkeley county regis
tration board after a hearing. at
which were present c. B. Davis. OF
Bethera, and Il. B. Jackson, of Holly
Hill. Mr.. d. W. Cross, the third
member of the board, was not pres
ent, he being Ill at an inirmsry In
Charleston.
The charge was that the members
had not attended three successive
sessions of the board and the plea
of illness was made, which was sub
stantiated by certificates from physic-
ians. All of the members. according
to their statements, were either Ill
or some member of their family was
on the days for the board to meet
during the past three months.
Governor Ansel after looking over
the affidayits from the physicians and
hearing the arguments of the two
members deciAed to dismiss the
charge and asked Messrs. Davis and
Jackson to notify him in time to
make another appointment, should
they be unable to attend the next
meeting of the registration board.
1t was a singular coincidence that
all three members of the board were
kept away from the meeting for three
successive times and each promised
to notify the Governor should they
be unable to attend the next meet
ing so that an appointment might
be made.
A letter written to Governor Ansel
by Major Glaze stated that every eff
fort had been made to have super
visors meet and change the certi-
ficates of the voters who reside In
the part of Berkeley which it Is pro-
posed to annex to Orangeburg. but
who registered to vote at a precinct
located in a part to Berkeley not in
cluded in the portion to be annexed
to Orangeburg." 1t was slso stated
that the board had not met for three
months as required by law and that
the wish of him and others was to
have the people qualified to vote.
The a;davits of Thomas l.. Con-
nor, resident of Berkeley, in that por-
ton proposed to be annexed, was
appended. This affidavit set out that
there are thirty citizens of Berkeley
who reside in that portion who are
registered to vote at Calamus Pond
precinct, which is outside of the pro-
posed territory. These voters, it is
set out, wish to change their voting
place to Eutawville, which is within
that portion proposed to be annexed.
That deponent has applied to the
board of registration to hold meet
ing, but this board has failed, re-
fused and neglected" to meet or to
change the certificates so that the
voters may vote in the approaching
election.
There is an election to be held at
an early day when the report of the
commissioners in this matter is eX-
| pected.
Mr.. Jackson and Mr.. Davis were
questioned closely by Governor Ansel
at the hearing as to why they had
not attended the meetings of the
board for three consecutive months.
Mr.. Jackson said that on the day
of the meeting in September he was
kept away by the illness of his wife.
In October he will i'll and confined
to his bed. On the day for the last
meeting he had started to the court
house to attend the session when
he was overtaken by a runner and
was notified Of the death Of his
sister and that he turned back.
Mr. Davis reasons for not attend
ing were that while on his way to
attend the September meeting he had
been struck with appendicitis, that
he was confined at his home, at the
time of the October meeting with
the same trouble, and that on the
day of the November meeting. while
on his way to Monck's Corner, he
was taken seriously Ill, and had to
return home.
An affidavit was submitted to the
effect that Mr.. D. w. Cross has been
i'll during the past three months. and
that he Is at present in an infirnary
at Charleston.