Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-12-27
FLAGRANT
FRAUDS IN
M|NGg,c0.
Evidence in .est Shows
that Over Negro Re
peaters of Mcdowell
Voted
REGISTRATION
WAS PADDED
Taking of Dispositions Will
Probably Occupy the
Next Ten Days
REGISTRATION
WAS PADDED

Williamson, Dec. 27.-(SpeciaD- In
the contest for the office OF number OF
the House of Delegates from Mingo
county. now pending between G.. r.
G. Wiles and Well Goodykoontz. the
depositicns OF thirteen witnesses have
been taken relative to the election as
held and conducted at Matewan pre-
cinct In this county.
This evidence shows that from sixty
to seventy negroes were brought to
Matewan on Saturday night preced-
ing the election and that on the fol
lowing Monday night thirty or forty
more. These negroes were kept, fed
an housed by the Matewan Liquor
company. composed of Charlie -Har-
mon of Keystone, in Mcdowell County
and J. +. Crawford of Alatewan, the
last named being a member of the
Matewan Common Council. On cleo
Ntion day. these negroes were taken
TO the polls under guards and voted,
some of them as many az, eight tifiies.
George r. Buskirk, the Democratic
commissioner OF election at Mhtewan
precinct. protested against these ne
groes being allowed to vote and TO
identify them as they came in, chalk
marked their coats, and afterwards
pointed out to the Republican commits.
sioners the chalk marks showing that
the negroes had voted before on that
day, but his objections were overrul.
ed and these negroes were permit
ted to vote so as to give a Republi.
can majority at this precinct of 2SS
votes. 1t was further shown that moi
more than sixty-five legal votes were
cast at this precinct, and of that mum.
Der thirty-four voted the Democratic
ticket. The evidence shows that there
are not more than from four to six
legal voters in AIatewan precinct;
that these negroes who were brought
prior to that time and were shipped
away to Mcdowell county on the
evening of election and have not beer
seen since. Some of the witnesses
ed that the negroes told them thai
they had come to Matewan from Key
stone, and other points i'm Mcdowell
county for the purpose Of voting ami
that Charlie Harmon promised to pay
them all for their time and trouble
II .is further shown that these re
groes we're voted under names takor
from the padded registration list. tn,
name OF the negro having been giycr
to- him on a slip Of paper or hikynamc
called out by the worker on the out
side TO the Republican officer in from
Of the polling place and the negroes
having been voted under the nam,
thus given without any opportunit.
TO the Democratic officers TO cha
Ienge or to inquire as 20 where N.
lived and came from; that numbe
of legal voters were prevented from
voting on account of the crowd of ne
groes in front of the polling place
that certain Republican workers o
an evil reputation marched about tn,
polling place armed with WIncheste
rides and that some of the Republi
can election officers on the inside O
the polling place openly exhibited re
volvers with which they were armed
None of these negroes who applied
was refused the right to vote an
was permitted to vote as often \
he chose.
The evidence Of the Democrats
clerk and commissioner, who assiste
in conducting this election, have no
yet been taken, but when taken vii
show even more glaring and ope
frauds
There was no attempt on the par
of the persons having these negroe
in their charge and voting them a
this precinct, TO conceal the fact tbs
they we're not legal voters, or tha