The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-12-08
The Election Trials Ended.
GRAND FIZZLE.

These contested election cases which
were commenced some four weeks ago,
with sweeping vary of charges of
frauds in Democratic districts, have
come to sudden termination. Com
missioner A. A. Chase, Esq. who was
appointed two weeks ago to take testi-
mony in these cases, and to make his
report on the 9th instant, appeared in
court at that date, and stated that the
contestants had not appeared before him
for the purpose of taking evidence to
establish their complaint, although
they had been duly notified of his sit.
tings and of his readiness to proceed
with the duties of his appointment and
as q matter of course could make no
further report for tho consideration of
the court.
Mr.. Rhone, as attorney for the re-
spondents, then asked that the cases be
dismissed aud the costs to follow the
suits.
Mr.. Palmer, as attorney for the con-
testants, explained the cause for their
failure to appear before the commiss.
ioner as required TO do, and assigned
the delay tothe inability of Mr.. X etch.
um, the chief counsel, to give his at.
tention to the business.
Without waiting for further excuses
or arguments Hon. Thomas Collins, one
Of the associates, remarked, that the
court would dispose of the cases by dis.
missing them and directing the contes.
tants to pay the costs; and handed the
clerk the following paper for filing:
On the matter ofcontested election of
Aaron Whitaker, Sheriff. ID. X. Morss
| Associate Judge and j. =. Weller, Coun-
ty Surveyor, of Luzprne county.
| Now, 9th, Nov. 1871, it appearing to
the Court on the report Of A. A. Chase,
Esq, Commissioner, that the contes
tants did not appear before said Com.
missioner for the purpose of establish.
ing their complaint, although full op.
| pOrtunity was given them to do so,
therefore the petitions in the above
stated cases are dismissed at the costs of
j. w. Emo, John NJ. Poor and Abram
Nesbitt, contestants, and the said Aaron
Whitaker is declared duly elected Sher-
if of Luzerne county, and the said ID.
*. Morss is declared duly elected Asso-
clate Judge of Luzerne county, and the
said j. p. Weller is declared duly elect
ed County Surveyor of Luzerne county.
| THos. COLLINS, Associate Judge.
| B. F. PRoUTs, Associate Judge.
SO stands the record of these three
contested cases, and the public will not
be little surprised to learn that the
petitioners or plaintiffs, have backed
square out Of the contest, and are will.
ing to pay forfeit, to the amount of the
costs, rather than risk the final issue of
thorough test of the relative rascality
between the two political parties in the
county. We intended to publish a gen.
eral review Of these cases, and an i'm.
partial contrast between the frauds and
tricks of the leading Democratic and
Republican politicians of this locality,
but the trials have closed so abruptly,
that we have not the testimony of wit.
nesses to make good our expectations.
One thing is settled, however, that the
Radicals have in some way met with
disappointment. They either intended
to play q bluff game, and frightened
the democrats into compromise or a
division of the offices, and to humbug
the people into the belief that all of the
election frauds are committed in demo-
cratic districts or they intended to Sc.
cure the appointment of a partzan
commissioners to receive or reject such
testimony as would "whitewash, their
own acts, and serve as good enough evi.
dence at Harrisburg to Justify the Rad
lcal majority of the Senate, in voting
Collins out and giving his seat to Mr..
Parrish.
If one or both of these purposes, was
not at the bottom of these trials, then
the offer of the respondents to prove
the making and using of forged "Coffee
Colored" Naturalization papers, by the
contestants and their friends, was too
much like business and too truthful for
their comfort and safety. Discretion
was their better part of valor, for they
appreciated the fact that
"When valor preys on reason,
1t eats the sword it fights with.n