Witnesses testify in Wilkinson County case
Published Saturday, February 16, 2008
Editor’s Note: The story below was published in Saturday’s edition with an incorrect headline, and several errors within the story. Dennis Horn is the attorney for candidate Jessie Stewart. Henry Woods testimony was not allowed by the judge. Robert Marshall did not testify under immunity. Reginald Jackson is the current sheriff. And the defendants are currently presenting their case. The plaintiffs will have their turn next week. The story below is corrected. We regret the errors and are h
Woodville — Seven witnesses took the stand Friday in Wilkinson County to testify to whether they were either bribed, engaged in voter fraud or participated in other illegal infringements.
The results of the 2007 primary election have been contested since August. The races in question are circuit clerk, sheriff and District 2 Supervisor.
Elected were Reginald Jackson, sheriff; Mon Cre Allen, circuit clerk; and Richard Hollins, District 2 supervisor. Challengers in the election were Jessie Stewart, Jeanette Lynn Tolliver Delaney and Kirk Smith.
Terrence Stanwood, a Woodville resident, said he was given $1 and a hamburger after he voted. Stanwood said he did not consider the money or food payment for a vote.
Lawrence McDonald was questioned by attorney Dennis Horn as to whether he was offered and paid $20 for his vote by Jackson.
McDonald vehemently denied the allegation.
“He did not offer me anything,” McDonald said. “I didn’t receive a dime from him.”
Sherman Carter, a Woodville resident, testified under immunity that he voted absentee.
Carter said he was picked up by President of the Board of Supervisors Robert Morgan and taken to the Woodville Courthouse to vote by an absentee ballot.
Carter’s inability to read and write led to a “heavy-set woman” in Allen’s office filling out the ballot for him. Carter said he did not sign anything when he voted, nor was the ballot placed and sealed in an envelope afterwards.
Voter Robert Marshall also testified, saying after he filled out his absentee ballot, the envelope was not sealed.
Voter Tyrone Green testified about the delivery of emergency notices of a hearing to Allen, Morgan, Hollins and Richardson. The hearing was on an election contest that included sheriff candidate Jessie Stuart, circuit clerk candidate Lynn Delaney and supervisor candidate Kirk Smith, Horn said.
The legal issue dealt with the timeliness of the notification. With the defendants near the resting point, the plaintiffs are expected to begin to bring their witnesses to stand around the middle of next week. The case continues Monday.
