Smyrna times., 1911-07-12
POWELL ACQUITTED OF The
CHARGE OF VOTE BUYING
SMYRNA CASE TRIED AT COURT
ATTRACTS MUCH ATTENTION
Number of SmYrnians Appear as Char
acter Witnesses-C. H. Powell
Puts Up An Unique Defense.

Number of SmYrnians Appear as Char
acter Witnesses-C. Il. Powell
Puts Up An Unique Defense.
Charles H. Powell, Democrat, who
worked in Smyrna at the last cleo
ton to detect vote bying, was last
week tried himself for attempting
70 bribe Thomas ]. Johnson, an
elderly voter, to vote the Democratic |
ticket. Powell was acquitted. 1t
was the second time in the State
that a Democrat has been tried for
attempting to buy votes, in violation
of the strict Article 5, of the State
constitution, which not only pre-
scribes Imprisonment but a ten years
disfranchisement for even the at
tempt to debaueh the electorate.
Johnson swore that Powell approach
ed him on election day at the -Four
Corners in Smyrna and asked:
"Have you voted?" "No, " replied
Johnson. "Wel, I'll give you ff-
teen dollars if you go vote. "
"'Vote what?'' "The Democratic
ticket. The Democrats have. got
me hired and I've got the money" "
Subsequent conversations between
Powell and johnson in the presence
of ]. N. Scott were shown by Deputy
Attorney General W. W. Harrington
for the State, in which Powell ad-
mitted he had made such an offer to
Johnson. All these Powell denied
and the defence also produced Walter
McClain to deny that at these sub
seuuent conversations, Powell hac
ever admitted that he offered johnson
money to vote. The witness, Nc
Claim, was present at one converse
tion, according to JOhnson's testi
mony.
Powell Puts up an Unique Defence
powell's defence was rather uniqu
in the history Of these election cases
He swore that he was employed t
detect vote buying in SmS Srna an
that when Johnson asked him
what's doing?" in an undertoLe
&c replied, "Well, there's a ma
over there" (pointing to Thoms
Davis, Republican wOrker), "wf
will give you fifteen dollars for yor
vote. Powell swore then th'
johnson answered. "That's nothing
I'm offered twenty dollars to vo
the Democratic ticket. " "Wl
offers YOU that?" Powell swore
asked. "Never mind, he told me
went ana voted as soon as l g
back to my wagon there would
twenty dollars under a cabbage he
on my seat Powell then swo
that he went to the Office of the n
who were employing him and call
for H. Corbit Jones whom heltook
once to Johnson, and said: He
isa man who says he has be
offered twenty dollars to vote
Democratic ticket. p" Jones tool
note and walked off, as Johnson 81
'See here, Powell, what trouble
you trying to get me into" AT
many arguments between couns
the court declined to admit this
ter testimony. The defence
peatedly tried to get it in by me-
of other witnesses and Mr.. 10
himself, claiming that the very I
that johnson referred to "troub
showed he was not innocent.
ProminentMen as Character Witnes
A. M. DAILY and John B. Hut
for the defence produced Walter
Claim who swore' that Powell ne
admitted that he had offered Johr
money to vote the Democratic tiel
in his presence as johnson
sworn. The defence also prodr
Corbit Jones, Harvey Jones, John
Armstrong, Denney Goldsboroug
prove Johnson's bad reputat
The State called Charles H. 10
Charles E. Bitter and Edgar Sprut
to show it was good. AS to Pow
good reputation on two points, [
and vera ,ity and as to peace,
order and observance OF the law,
defence produced Senator Edwar
Walls, Harry G. Johnson, R. Ho
Smith, Councilman Harry Grit
Corbit Jones, John H. Armstr
Policeman B. H. Turner and ID
Boyer. For the State, Postm
Thomas jefferson, W. M. Broad
! Edgar spruance Henry Albers,
liam Swartz, Richard E. Long
that Powells reputation for trut
M veracity was bad.