Jackson Advocate

HUMPHREYS SHERIFF REFUSES POLL TAX MONEY
Humphreys County Negro Citizens Move For Court Action After Sheriff Refuses To Take Poll Tax Money

JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 14 (DSN) A group of prominent Negro citizens of Belzoni, in Humphreys County, Mississippi were here this week conferring with local attorneys regarding action after the Humphreys County Sheriff and Tax Collector had refused to accept poll tax money from Negro citizens.

According to reports the group told a local attorney consulted regarding the case that they had presented their money to the sheriff and that after his refusal to accept the money they had appealed to the County Board, and (Continued on Page Six)
Humphreys.

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later had conferred with the attorney for the Board, but after all these steps had been taken the sheriff still refused to accept money for poll tax payment from Negro citizens.

Under Mississippi law, the poll tax, a prerequisite to voting must be paid during the month of January or on the first day of February each year.

In order to vote a citizen must have paid his poll tax for two consecutive years before he can vote, and it is held generally in the state that the poll tax must be paid in the same manner before a citizen is allowed to register as a voter.

According to report the group was advised that a mandamus suit to compel the sheriff to perform his duties as the sheriff and tax collector of the County would be their most effective action.

Further reports indicated that the mandamus suit would be filed before the end of the month unless there was a change in the attitude of the sheriff.

In the group which came here was a prominent Funeral Home owner, among the larger individual taxpayers of the County; several other business men and successful farmers and ministers of the County.