Year: 1869

Twill try and give you brief history
of some of the acts and doings OF a
small squad of people in this county.


Through the strong solicitations OF
nearly all of the Republicans in this
county, agreed to be a candidate for
the Legislature. Capt. Putnam wished
to be elected again, and he soon found
out that if the people all got to vote
who were on the registrars books he
would be defeated. We soon found
him in secret convention with the Board
of Registration, (Which he has fully at
his control,) the result of which was
upwards of sixty of our best Union men
were noticed to come before the Board
of registration and prove their loyalty.
And a good many of them were men
who had dischar yes frem the United
States army, which produced quite an
excitement among the people. When
the day of trial came on, the
most OF the men appeared to
stand their trial. One of the Board
resigned and would not set, so two OF
them met, and after some time they
concluded that the men were not legal
ly noticed, and promised them that
their names should all remain upon the
registrars books uhtil they were all
legally noticed again. Captain Isaac
Brown, who was one of the sixty that
they had noticed, told the Board that II
his name was stricken from the regis


tra.'s books their scalps would pay for
it," The Board adjourned, and very
blittle was said about it by the Board or
the Putnam squad. Captain Putnam
would not as mach as say that he was a
candidate. He went OFF saying that he
was going to Charleston. About eight
or nine days before the election he re-
turned to Sumuersville and told that he
did not intend to be candidate. So 1T
was thought / was to have to have no
opposition. Five days before the cleo
tiou, Captain Putnam left Summers


Vile in the edirection of Webster county.
There was inquiry made where he was
lgone. The report was that he had gone
to Webster county. However, he trav-
eled but short distance in the direc-
ton of Webster, until he turned
and made his way through the
mountains to Clay county, and


reported there that he was the nominee
in Nicholas county. Samuel Spencer
also went to Clay county, Che is enc of


the Board of Registration in this coun-
w, } and he told in Clay county that my
name was stricken from the registrars


books and that they need not vote for
me. for if was elected / would not be
eligible to Office. SO Captain Putnam


got majority in Clay of q votes. On
our election day there WAS only one


registrars book completed in Nicholas
county, and that was sent into one


township where they expected to beat


me badly, and they did beat me four


votes in that township. The Supervisor
of Grant township went on two differ
ent days before the election to call


for the registrars books, but he
found the office locked and no one


there. Some of the voters met in three


townships W here they had no registrar


book furnished them and held their
elections and the inspectors of elections
said that they had let no man vote only


those that they knew were on the reg
istrars' book last year, and the inspect
ors of elections have been in the Office


for the last four years, and they know
tevery man who have been voters hereto
fore. got majority in the two counties
of3S votes, and on the day prescl ibed by


law for the Board of Supervisors to


meet and count the vote and declare
the result of the election, there was but
two of them who came together. the
other four said the election was not


legal and that they do not intend to pay
any attention to it, that the Board ot
registration was interrupted and threat
ered, and that they were afraid to make
out the registrars books; they were not


afraid to make one where they thought


the people would vote TO their notion.
l was not able to 90 to the election, but
my brother tells NE, when he went TO
Summersville on the election day, the
clerks office was locked, no clerk TO be
seen during the day, the sheriff also


was gone, and the Court House locked.
They got key, however, that fit the
Court House, and unlocked it and went
inand held their election. My brother


was one of the inspectors of election.


This is a brief outline of the proceed
ure of the monopoly few" in this
county. Although ] do not want the
Office, am determined to contest the
election, as the whole affair, is an out
rage on civil society. A. RAIDER.