Evening journal., 1916-05-24
BURRIS ON TRIAL
BEFORE JUDGES
Charged With Inducing e.
eCtion Officers to Close
Polling Place Before
Legal Time
COURT HEARS CASE
WITHOUT USUAL JURY

Levy Court Commissioner Samuel l..
Burris was placed on trial in the
Court Of General Sessions this morn
ing on the charge of attempting to
procure and cause the election officers
of the Sixth and Seventh districts of
the Second ward to violate their duty
at a primary election by closing ;h3
polls before tho legal time specified
for the closing. There is also 2 speci-
fed charge agains' him Of having
caused The election officers to violate
their duty by closing the election
polls, before the legal time.
The case is being heard by Asso-
ciate judges Conrad and Heisel, with
out jury.
Deputy Attorney General Chaytor
appeared for the State and David j.
Reinhardt represents Burris.
Burris admitted that Charles Vir-
den was inspector and Edward Sadler
and John Hoodeck judges at the pri-
mary election in TIE district.
The bail bond was admitted in eyi-
dence and an exception was noted
Mr.. Chaytor. reviewing the case,
said he would show that Burris told
( the election officers to close down the
window, as Democrats were. attempt
/ ing to vote at the primary election on
/ May Is. 1915. Burris was chairman
OF the Second ward Republican com
mittee. Il is alleged that the defend
ant had been solicited to open the
polls and refused to do so. II was a
! Republican primary election that was
being held.
James Green was the first witness
called by the State He testified he
saw Burris coming from the polls
and heard him say: Nothing but
| Democrats are voting" Later, he
( heard someone call out to shut down
/ the window and the polls were closed.
Richard Patterson was at the polls
about 100 o'clock and voted He
/ heard Burrls say: There will be no
/ more Democrats vote here today"
When one attempted to vote Burris
said. Put the window down" In
spcctor Charles Virden put the win
dow down. the witness stated Ac-
/ cording to the witness. there was no
disorder al the time and men were i'm
line to vote. He heard the chal-
/ lenger challenge the voter and the in
! spector attempt 20 qualify the voter.
Mr.. Reinhardt said part of tho de-
fense was that the election officers
closed down the window to prevent
disorder.
Charles Faulkner said he was al
the polls and saw them open for an
hour and half He heard Burri'
say. Close the window down." anC
. the inspector closed it The window
was opened for a time and agair
closed There were twelve or NJ
, teen men I'm line He could not re-
3 member the political complexion oil
. the men who wanted 10 vote. He did
not soc any ono drunk and saw no
disorder lie denied he eot the Demo
Gratis 10 come thcrc 10 vote for VIII
liam Cook 10 beat AttiX.
Lewis Faulkner said he was a com
o. mitteeman In the Sixth district, an'
was challenger for Cook He saiC
I'M heard Burrls say Charlie, clos'
The window Witness said no refus
cd to meet Burris. William WarroI
and John Thompson 10 consider th'
] question Of opening the polls. wit
' ness said Burris seemed anxious e
,, have the polls opened.
James Collins said he voted an,
stood at tho window OF the polling
place. He saw Eurris in tho allie.
, and heard him say: "That window
will be closed" Witness said th
window was closed.
Il stephen Coverdale said he got Il
tho polls az 100 o'clock but did no
vote He said he heard Burris Civ
an order and the window was closed
Mr.. Reinhardt asked the witness
the four men who wanted to vot