The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-29
MAYNARD FRIEND
VOTED ABSENT MAN
Resident of Portsmouth Tells
of Plain Case Of Illegal
Voting
WATSON EXPLAINS THAT
1T WAS ALL A JOKE
Indignantly Refused and Appear
ed ON Stand to Tell What He
Had Observed--Maynard
Denies Charges.
IN JOHN II. MATTHEWS.
tStaff Correspondence

NORFOLK, VA, September az
Easily the most sensational testimony
vet adduoed before the primary in
sestigating committee was given this
morning when J. NJ. DAVIS. a resident
NJ Portsmouth, manager FOR the Regal
shoe Store, Norfolk, swore on the
stand that John l.. Watson, one OF the
leading citizens of Portsmouth and
close personal friend of Congressman
Maynard, cast ballot at the First
precinct OF the Fifth ward for George
II. Abb. who was absent from the
city on primary day and that Carroll
Myers. and James WeIlner, the judges
present. offered no objection to Wat
ions action. the witness said.
The incident occurred. he said,
about Ii A. ID. when he went to the
polls to vote and cast his ballot i'm
nediateiy after Maynard had voted.
Watson was present, said Witness
and on emerging from the polls Wat
son asked witness II George Tabb had
voted and when told that Tabb was
out OF town Watson remarked; Well,
Ill vote for him. There Will be a
thousand such votes cast In Norfolk
o-day'
Watson then asked the witness. the
latter testified, to cast ballot for
lawrence. Mack Jack, who was also
out OF the city. II Indignantly re-
fused to comply with such q request
and left the polls" said the witness.
On REORGANIZATION the witness
adhered to his statement that neither
Judge at the polls protested against
he Illegal voting.
The witness gave his testimony In
4 cool, positive manner and was I'M
shaken by questions put to- him. He
declared that he knew Watson per-
sonafiy and 1t was because OF the in
suit offered that he appeared TO give
testimony. Witness said his business
relatives with Watson had always been
pleasant and he had no feeling toward
aim.
s~s sExpiara*isr BY Matscr.
Al few moments later John l.. Wat
son went on the stand at his own re-
uaesf. He proceeded TO give his aide
OF alleged Illegal voting at the Fifth
ward precinct, Portsmouth. as related
j. NJ. Davis. He denied that he cast
the vote for George Tahh. as alleged.
He stated that he had known Davis
for three years and was on Joking
terms with him. When ! met MIR
Davis at the polls" declared Watson,
The remarked that Charles Syer was
out of town and | believe III vote for
him. Then | said would vote for MIR.
was q mistake. however. that I put a
ballot In the box for Tabb. The whole
affair Was a joke and pure hddnage
Testing was begun by Davis. and /
am positive he perverted the facts"
Prior to making his statement in de-
TAIL Watson denounced Davis charge
as absolutely and unaualfedly false
The examination Of the poll books
showed that A. Mex. Jack was voted
shout the time OF the incident, hut no
record of Tabbs name was found In
the books. Watson corrected the state
ment about the mention OF Syers
name. saying that Davis called the
name of Jack instead. Watson denied
that he was In any way responsible
For Jacks name getting on the books
Absent Voting,
Goodrich Hatton. a SON n-law of
Judge Leigh II. Watts. of Portsmouth.
and his law partner. testified that
We was at White sulphur Springs. on
primary day although he was voted
In Portsmouth. He said he was pair
td with James w. Brown. but released
the latter from obligation shortly be-
fore the primary Hatton did not
know he had voted until he saw
his name in a paper recently.
r. M. Maxey. pastor of Central
Methodist church. Portsmouth, who
T was voted at Court house precinct in
that city, denied that he cast a ballot
Az well as he remembered. he was in
Norfolk county on primary day.
Lawrence Trout of Portsmouth. gave
testimony as to the demise OF several
dead men who voted for Maynard.
These men were NJ. j. Dodson, c.. E.
Ertedlin. r.. 8. Dew. J. V. Shea
M T. Dodson, insurance man, of
Norfolk, testified that ne was a nephew
Of Al. j.. Dodson. and he was positive
the latter died several years ago.
Rev. DIR. r. B. Garrett. pastor of
Court Street Baptist church. Ports
mouth. testified that he was on a fish
Ing trip In Essex county in primary
\ day. He was voted at Court house
precinct In Portsmouth.
All these witnesses were put on by
counsel for the citizens. without OBJ
lection from either Young or Maynard.
Did Not Vote.
=. J. Clark. q resident of Sixth ward,
Norfolk. testified that he did not vote
u the recent primary. although re-
corded a. doing so in that ward. C..
ii. Mcdonald, resident of First
u EArd, also denied that he voted. He
NnS recorded as voting in the first
precinct hrst ward.
Howard l.. Atkinson swore he voted
Tor Maynard at Courthouse precinct.
Norfolk r. J. Leatherburg gave
pfmilar testimony. winston Parrish,
attorney of Portsmouth, testified that
DT. Hugh Parrish, his brother, a
qualified voter, was out OF the city
o. primary day. although he was
yOtod In the Second ward. Ports
n mouth. II. b. Tucker. of Norfolk son
81 Bishop Tucker, stated on the stand
Il 1lak he was properly qualified to vote
IA the primary despite the fact that
Z his name was in the list of disquali-
aed voterS filed by Maynard. Rev. DR..
f7arrett on being recalled to the
tkaud stated that he was positive Rev,
y ---7--7 ffsOn1fnuad on Fourth Para1