The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-30
LEGAL FIGHT IN LEXINGTON.
Prohibitionists Allege Irregularities i'm
Registration Of Votes i'm Lexington
County.

Lexington, Aug. 26.-With two
stenographers-Miss Elizabeth Kill
liam of Columbia and Miss ZuIa Meetz
of LeXington-the former represent
ing the side of prohibition and the
latter taking the testimony for the
board of canvassers, the election com,
missiOners today began to hear testi-
mony on the petition of protest and
grounds of contest filed by the prohi-
btiOnists in the election held on the
diSpensary or no dispensary
week ago today, which resulted in
favor of the dispensary by majority
of Sc, according to the returns Of
the managers of the several voting
precincts.
When the commissioners uet this
morning they proceeded to count the
returns as sent in by the managers,
but no result has been declared, the
prohibitionists indicating that they
were ready for contest An adjourn
ment was taken until after the noon
hour. When the commissioners met
b. *. Kyzer. chairman of the board
announced tnat he overruled, in adj
vance, the protest on every ground
and said that he did not care TO hear
any evidence. 4. II. Rawl, another
member of the board, took the floor
and suggested that the commission
send for an attorney. n. F. Shipp,
clerk of the board, was delegated to
go out and hunt for an attorney, and
he returned in short while w;:h
George Bell Zimmerman. Mr. Tim
norman at first stated that he had no.
been employed in the case. but that
he would give the commissioners ad.
vice on Pny point at issue upon which
they desired any information. d. w.
Robinson of Columbia, representing
the contestants, stated that he would
be glad for the commissioners to Sc
cure counsel. Then the question arose
as to who and how the testimony
should be taken. Miss Killian of
Columbia was on hand to take the
testimony, she having been brought
here by Mr.. Robinson. Mr.. Kyzer
chairman of the board, again objected
to the shorthand method, saying that
he would not hear to any testimony
that was not submitted in writing.
Then II was suggested that the COM
missoners secure Stenographer
also, and Miss Meetze was sent for.
The first witness who took the stand
was NJ. +. George. secretary of the
county board of registration. Attor-
ncy Robinson questioned the witness
as to the manner of registration, and
as to how many certificates the board
had issued at different intervals. and
especially as to how many certificates
had been issued during the last few
months, and more especially on the
first Monday in July. The witness
stated that many certificates had been
issued, but most OF them were re-
ncwals and in this case those who
wanted renewals were not questioned
as to their qualifications. Mr.. George
said that some certificates were is
sued upon request of persons others
than the Individuals; but in most
instances the men were known by at
least one member of the board The
witness WAS cross examined by AIr
Zimmerman, who sought To show that
it had been a long established custom
tu issue certificates i'm the manner that
the present board ISSUES them, and ia
this Mr.. George agreed
Many witnesses were placed on the
stand who testified aS To he irregu-
larities and to specific instances where
men had been allowed to vote without