From the Richmond Whig, 11/22/1867, p. 3, c. 1

THE ROSE TRIAL. – The court of enquiry in this case met again yesterday – General Stoneman presiding, and Major Layton as Judge Advocate. All of the other members of the court were present. – The first witness called for the prosecution, Mr. Flegheimer, testified that on election day he accompanied Berry Amos to the Monroe Ward polls at 12 M. A young man named Fitchett was on a table or platform, he could not tell which, nor did he know whether it was the property of Fitchett. Amos took position there. Fitchett announced to Colonel Rose that Amos was distributing false tickets. Amos offered to show them. He was forced to leave by Colonel Rose. Neither the witness nor Amos was a voter in Monroe War, nor was Fitchett.

Isaac W. Walker was next called, and stated that he was a voter in Madison Ward, and at the instance of the Central Committee of the Conservative party of this city, called upon Colonel Rose on the morning of the election to ascertain if he would allow two white men to be placed within the polls to supervise the voting of the negroes, with the understanding that two negroes or white Radicals could be detailed to supervise the voting of the whites. To this Colonel Rose replied “No, sir-ee.” He then asked if it could be shown that there had been fraud practiced in registration would he permit the arrangement proposed, when Colonel Rose replied, “By God, no sir; you white men may go to hell, all of you.” He was on horseback, and in front of City Hall. I reside on Grace street, and am now a clerk by occupation. I was formerly, for ten years, said Mr. Walker, Deputy Sheriff of the city of Richmond. No one was present when the conversation between myself and Colonel Rose took place.

William J. Epps, the next witness called, stated that he is a registered voter of Monroe ward; he was at the polls all day on the 24th of October, when he heard Colonel Rose remark substantially to a crowd: “Every damned one of you go home; if you do not, I’ll give you a home.” He saw a gentleman, who said he was going to the polls to vote, driven down Second street by a sentinel who was armed with a musket; he flanked the guard, however, and by going through an alley between a framed house and a blacksmith shop, reached the polls, and he added, I think he voted, as I saw him there.

The witness further stated that himself and from seventy five to a hundred others were driven a half square down Grace street by the military; he did not know whether any colored persons were driven from the polls, as he was not where he could see them; he saw a sentinel on the northwest corner of Grace and Second streets, also another on the opposite corner; there were two more on Grace street, near the polls, and one-half was on the square towards Third street. On his cross-examination, he said that he did not know the name of the voter alluded to, but heard him tell the sentinel that he was a voter; he subsequently saw him at the polls, and thought he voted.

The court will meet again to-day at 11 o’clock, when the evidence for the prosecution will be resumed.

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