Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-12-06
FLORIDA,

The Florida Board of Canvassers recon
yened at ten on the morning of the 2Sth
As the opening of the sealed packages was
proceeded with the Republicans gave notice
that they would contest the vote in nineteen
counties, and the Democrats gave notice of
contest in nine counties. The result of the
returns show Republican majorities of 400
and Democratic majorities of 7,4lS. Dade
County was not yet in The Democrats
claimed twenty three omitted votes in Clay
County, which appeared on the face of the
r.turn from that county, but were not added
up in the general result because it was not
in evidence that the inspectors and clerk
were sworn. The Democrats had certified
copy OF the returns from Baker County,
which gave them ajority of ninety-four,
but new return was read by the Board,
which, by throwing out several Democratic
precincts, gave forty-one Republican ma
jority. At the evening session Mr.. Pasco,
for the Democrats, demanded to know if the
Board had not received another return
from Baker County than the one which
had been read. He charged that the returns
from that county had been suppressed,
and others substituted therefor. The
Secretary subsequently read the returns,
which the Associated Press report says were
signed by the Clerk and Justice and prop
criy attested, and which gave Democratic
majority of ninety-fve. 1t appears that two
returns, one signed as above and another
signed by the Judge and Sheriff and Justice
were sent up. With the first return ad
mitted the Tilden Electors would have rs
majority. With both returns, held subject
to future decision, the Democrats had two
Electors by five majority, one by tiree ma
jorlty, and the Republicans have one
Elcctor by one majority.
Several atlidayits were presented by the
Democrats before the Board of Canvassers
on the 22d ult in support of their claim OF
| fraud III Archer precinct in Alachua County.
! The returns show 53S votes cast while the
/ afidayts are that only 3l9 ballots were
/ deposited in that precinct. The Repub-
! licans introduced counter atlidavts from
four of the parties Moore and Dukes
(two inspectors), and Bolton and Webster
1.-TWO members OF the County Canvassing
Board who had given the Democratic atii-
dayits, to the effect that such former aifi-
davitS were made under duress, fear or APP
prehension, and were false. The Democrats
introduced a third affidavit from Bolton
stating that If he gave any second affidavit
he was not responsible or in his true mind
when he did so. He reatiirmed in mis- third
| affidavit the assertions made in his first.
Other atidavits from citizens OF GAINESVILLE
were presented to the effect that Bolton was
drunk during the whole day on which the
second affidavit was delivered. Relative to
Baker County, the Democrats pro-
duced an affidavit from the Clerk
OF the Court certifyiu. that the re-
turn which gives the Democrats niuety-tye
majority was the true aud only return from
the county of Baker, that il was the only
one that he had been called on to certify to,
or that was filed in his office; that he had no
knowledge of any other canvass having
been made than the one by which the
true return was made up, and that
he had never been notified that such Il
canvass was going TO be held, or asked to
participate in it, as the law required he
should be, that no return had been h"nded
10 him with the request that he forward II 10
the Secretary of State, rs the law required
he should do. Further certified copies Of
each Of the precinct returns in the county
were presented, signed by the inspector,
which footed up ninety-hVe Democratic ma
jority.
On the 30th ult Moore and Dukes were
introduced 10y the Democrats. Moore swore
that all points in his affidavit of the 23d
were true; that he had stated the facts
therein contained openly time and again;
that be was inspect at Archer, and
onty $40 votes were east or counted, that 5S5
votes were not cast; that he signed the cleo
uou certificate in blank, not thinking there
could be any dispute; that he was approached
the other day Ivy Barnes, q Republican,
Sheriff OF the county, who offered him 800
il he would sign paper. He asked il he
had 10 swear 10 H. He was told he would
not. He then signed il, and received the
money. This paper was the one produced
ny the Court as counter-atiidavit Floyd