Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1858-08-27
TO THE PEOPLE OF HARRISON
' COUNTY:

Y fg7l Fa = L. Il -
As you are already aware, q special
election is about to be held for Clerk o
our County Court The frauds and ille>
galities practiced at the last election to
6ll that Office, were so palpable as to lead
to contest Of that election. by eighteen
of the qualified voters of this county. in
the manner prescribed by law. The
County Court-the tribunal fxedsby law
for the trial Of such cases, after a faithful
and impartial hearing of all the evidence
brought before it, ordered new election
to be held On Thursday, the ed day OF
September next.
AS the facts ascertained by the Court.
in the trial of this cause, have been mis-
represented throughout the length and
breadth of this county, It is due to truth
and justice that the case should be fairly
stated. Mr.. Moore. my Know Nothing
competitor, claims, in his circular of the
l 18th inst, that he was fairly and legally
elected at the last election, and, in a
bombastic tone, announces himself can
didate for re.elsction. He publishes. as
an evidence Of the truth Of this assertion,
statement by three of the magistrates
who sat upon.the trial OF the case, that on
Thursday evening he "had the largest
number of votes, countihg tie iShinnston
ponj'" but. unfortunately for the position
he attempts to prove, the statement goes
on to say that "the result aoas CHANGED by
the setting aside of the Shinnston poll;"
and, of course, If he had the majority of
votes cat that time" and "Me result sOas
CHANGED" afterwards, it left me "ths
largest number of votes." 1t places him
precisely in the position of candidate
having the largest number of votes at 10
o'clock in the morning. and getting badly
beaten at the closing of the polls in the
evening.
But Notwithstanding Mr.. Moore's own
statement shows that got the largest
number of legal votes at the last election.
it is SO ingeniously and cunningly worded
that it is well calculated to deceive the
public mind and create the impression
that he had beaten me. To put this ques.
ton beyond controversy. give the fol-
lowing certificate in regard to this and
other matters out of which my opponents
sfe endeayoring to manufacture political
capital against me.
We hereby certify that at the trial OF the
contested election case of Cooper, &c. .. Moore,
in Harrison County Court, at its July term,
1883, W, presided as three of the Justices who
composed said Court. And as we now believe,
w. E. Lyon, on Tuesday, the I'd day of the
Court, suggested that the question touching the
legality of the Shinnston poll bs taken up and
considered, as it might possibly save the neces-
sity Of an examination Of the legality of votes,
but by the acquiescence and concurrence of
the counsel for both Moore and Cooper, that
question was deferred until later day in the
term, and on Friday, 1t was by consent of par
ties taken up and disposed of.
And we further certify. that on day, and
before the question OF the Shinnston poll had
been inquired into, the attorneys for Moore pro-
posed to inquire into and consider the question
touching the legality of the poll taken at Ro-
mines Mills, because the same had not been ia
ken at the house of Israel Davis, the place fixed
by law And thereupon Andrew Radcliff, one
Of the said Justices, stated that IL was unneces-
sary to debate that question, as the county court
had heretofore changed the place of taking said
poll from the house of said Davis to the Mill
under an act of the Legislature, aud vote ta-
ken in pursuance thereoc-whereupon the at
torneys for Moore abandoned that question.
And we further certify, that said CooPER had
majority Of the notes legally cast at The last elec-
ton.
We further certify, that during the term of
said Court there were 80 Orders made-that
said Court, according to the classification pre-
viously made, consisted Of three Justices, but at
the instance of the Court, and against The cypress
s0ish Of Col. CoOper's counsel, and in accordance
with a wish expressed by the counsel for Moore,
the next class were called, consisting of D. Bas-
sci and S. M. Ogden. Ogden being absent, w.
E. Lyon was called, and he and Basel were as
sociated with the regular Court for the trial of
said contest. Col. Cooper and his counsel event.
ually acquIescing therein.
E.W. PATTON,
]. B. WEST,
A. RADCLIFFE.