The true Democrat., 1856-10-21
Contested EIec.ion in Crnvr,rd

The county court in Crawford have been an. gagged, for several days, in trying the contest between James M. Brown and Sutton F. Cot. treii, Tor the office of sheriff. According to the poll books returned to the clerks office, Brown appeared to be elected by eighty-nine votes.- me poll books of three townships, by the de- cisloh oi the clerk and justices, were rejected TOT the want of certificates, which gave small majority to Cottrell. Brown gave notice to contest upon the ground that he was elected bv majority of the qualified voters of the county. ne nrst day was consumed in the discussion of the right of Esqrs. Hathaway and Robinson to set on the trial. The court decided in their iaVor and the contestant proceeded to produce the poll books returned to the clerks office and moved to open the ballots which was on. posed by the counsel for Cottrell, but the court sustained the motion.
 On opening the ballots it appeared there was a difference between the ballots and returns in hiGhand and Jasper as follows:
 Tn Rlchland by the poll books it appeared 'hat od Brown had S6 votes ard Cottrell 23 votes ny tue oallots as counted out by the court D'C"n C".4li nao 61 votes. ocioH' AS '" lO9
 InJasper,by the returns Brown And Cottrel had, 7F a
 By the ballots as counted if
 appears that Brown had 49 u
 And Cottrell had 96
 The ballots in Mountain which had been re- tanned by one of the judges, corresponded with the returns. The court then opened, and counted all the ballots cast in the election, all of which came out right with the above excep- X np of tL luI1 court for Cottrel the printed name of Brown mad been erased, or scratched over by pencil mark, and Cottrell's name inserted. motion was made to send out for the voters, whose ballots appeared to have been altered and ex- anime them under oath, as to how they voted.
 Ihis motion was argued by Messrs. Turner O5den, Humphrles, and Clark against and William Walker, esq, for 1t. After argument and before the vote was taken. Mr Farmer moved the court to declare Sutton F. Cottrel elected, which was refused
 On Thursday the vote was taken upon the proposition to send out for the voters as before stated, eight justices voting for and three against.
 After the vote was taken Judge Collins, the presiding Judge, stated that he believed the course to be in violation of law, and that he
 NO'''H'HNS4i'Af lie stated his reasons at some length. and con- clnded by leaving the bench. After Judge Collins left the bench Mr. Soloman F. Clark. of this city, stated that he "could no longer after the decision appear as counsel in the case without degrading himself" "and retired; Messrs. Ogden and Humphries followed suit. Colonel Jesse Turner stated that the court had decided as they believed to be right, but as his associate counsel had abandoned the case, he did not know that he could do any good by himself.
 After Judge Collins and Esqrs. Howell, Dabb, (Winn having previously left,) vacated their seats; there being majority of the ius tees of the county ll attendance and remain ing, they continued to hold the court. A great deal ot interest and some excitement prevails in our sister county on this subject We forbear making any comments now. but will freely say that so far as we are informed we are satisfied that the decision of the major lty oI the court is correct The variauce be. tween the returns of the judges and clerks, and the number shown by counting the ballots, pre- sentS difficulty and suspicion, which the public generally wish to have unravelled. A great error or outrageous fraud has been perpc- trated, and in common with all others, we de- sire that condemnation may fall upon the gull ty, whether the sentence may doom our poli- ucal friends or not. 'Fiat justitia rUat celo. :" We hope our friends at Van Buren may furnish Us with the details of the further progress of the trial
 We understand that the contest for the clerk ship comes off to-day. Messrs. J. w. Vande- yer, and Ben. T. Duval, of this city, and Gen. Wilcox, ot Van Buren, appear for Mr. Talk lnSton, the contestant.-Ft. SnajM HeraM, Oct. F.