Ballot-Box Stuffers Convicted
July 28, 1894
Summary
Men are convicted of electoral fraud in precincts in Henrico county, and receive a fine of $10 and one day in jail.
Transcription
The trial of the white men, charged man charged with Alexa in Smith pre Henry on Friday 20th inst, and resulted in the conviction of the accused.
The evidence was conclusive and barring quibbles upon some technical law points, it was considered by even the defense that no other result could have been reached.
By agreement a verdict of $10 fine and one day in jail was rented.
The convicted criminals were James Holleran, William Wilson, BF Ashby, WP Woodson, and BW Brauer.
This was due to the agitation by the Richmond, VA, Times in favor of honest elections. It was proven that there were more names up on the registration books of this Precinct then there were voted it was proven that dead man had been voted, and that the dishonest election officials who had begun by robbing colored men, when this element in politics have been removed practice upon white men as well.
Capt. AB Guion,The Fearless console in the case has done his duty well, and despite adverse criticism, the loss of personal friends and the condemnation by party leaders performed unflinchingly a disagreeable task, and his efforts have been crowned with success. He is a Democrat, but will yet find as the years pass by that no grantor service could be performed then to place the political organization to which he belongs above the plane of the bummer, the, and the man who would not hesitate to commit murder to carry a point. The punishment secured is entirely inadequate but it will do.
It will be a warning to Democrats and 10 to clear are elections of the stains which have so long rested upon them.
There are few persons who believed that a jury could have been obtained that would have rendered even such a nominal verdict we are pleased to find it as it is and we hope are the next batch of criminals are brought to trial that the situation will have improved sufficiently to guarantee their incarceration in the Virginia Penitentiary where hard work May tend to produce an atonement for their mauy sins...
The evidence was conclusive and barring quibbles upon some technical law points, it was considered by even the defense that no other result could have been reached.
By agreement a verdict of $10 fine and one day in jail was rented.
The convicted criminals were James Holleran, William Wilson, BF Ashby, WP Woodson, and BW Brauer.
This was due to the agitation by the Richmond, VA, Times in favor of honest elections. It was proven that there were more names up on the registration books of this Precinct then there were voted it was proven that dead man had been voted, and that the dishonest election officials who had begun by robbing colored men, when this element in politics have been removed practice upon white men as well.
Capt. AB Guion,The Fearless console in the case has done his duty well, and despite adverse criticism, the loss of personal friends and the condemnation by party leaders performed unflinchingly a disagreeable task, and his efforts have been crowned with success. He is a Democrat, but will yet find as the years pass by that no grantor service could be performed then to place the political organization to which he belongs above the plane of the bummer, the, and the man who would not hesitate to commit murder to carry a point. The punishment secured is entirely inadequate but it will do.
It will be a warning to Democrats and 10 to clear are elections of the stains which have so long rested upon them.
There are few persons who believed that a jury could have been obtained that would have rendered even such a nominal verdict we are pleased to find it as it is and we hope are the next batch of criminals are brought to trial that the situation will have improved sufficiently to guarantee their incarceration in the Virginia Penitentiary where hard work May tend to produce an atonement for their mauy sins...
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Carlos Serrano
Citation
“Ballot-Box Stuffers Convicted,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed June 17, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/1512.