The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-03-21
THE ELECTION CONTEST.
non. J. b. AaNEw SEATED.

The following in regard to the con-
test which has so long sgitated the
public mind in Forest County, is taken
from the Harrisburg Telegraph of Fri
day last:
In the case of J. b. Aguew, coGtest-
ing the right Of S. II. Haslet, OF For.
est county, to a seat in the Heuse Of
Representatives, the Committee on
Elections decided last evening to re.
port in favor Of giving the seat to the
contestant, Mr.. Agnew. Mr. Haslet
was returned as elected by four major.
ity. His election was contested in the
county court on the ground.o pslpa-
bic mistake, or fraud, in the count.
But the court sustained the respond
ent's answer by excluding from the
count Barnett township, which had
given Agnew fifty majority, on the
ground that the election had not beea
held at the place designated by the
proper authorities, although the vot-
ers cast their ballots at the house
named in the Sheriff's proclamation,
aud which had been the undisputed
polling place for twenty years or more.
Notwithsta nding thesefacts the court
disfranchses the people Of this town.
ship on the plea that the Jaw must be
rigidly followed. Mr.. Agnew appeal
ed to the Legislature and the election
committee, having admitted the dis
trict excluded by the court, recounted
the boxes from three townships in
which errors sufficientto change Mr..
Haslets majority of four to nineteen
majority for Agnew were discovered.
On these facts the committee have
asked the House to seat Mr.. Agnew,
which will undoubtedly be doue.
The Pittsburgh Gazette. Commercial,
some days since, speaking of the threw.
ing out of tho vote of Barnett town.
ship, called attention to decision Of
the Supreme Court, which was to the
effect that the vote Of no township
could be thrown out ON other grounds
than fraud, and we presume that upon
this basis the decision of our court was
oyerruled by the committee. But
the turning Of the tide, itappears, was
due to Tionesta township, in which, in
the count which took place in Harris
burg, instead Of Agnew having two OF
majority, he had 20. Now this locks
like clear case Of fraud somewhere,
and the fraud is located by different
persons in different places. Having
to rely entirely on hearsay evidence,
We are rot prepared to express an
opinion, but the fraud, it is admitted
on all sides, must have been inten.
tional, wherever or by whoever it was
perpetrated. Those of the T:onesta
township election board who have been
interviewed, unqualifedly assert that
no such mistake occurred in their
count, and some even 60 SO far as to
intimate that tho votes were changed
at Harrisburg. We are not prepared
to believe that the Tionesta township
election board, or any member Of it
knowingly made false count, and it
is simply preposterOus to assert that
votes could be changed by commit
tee composed of members Of both par
tics. We, in common with every
voter in Forest County, would like to
see this matter probed to the bottom,
and if there has been an intentional
fraud committed anywhere or by any
body, let the guilty party or parties
suffer the extreme penalty of the law.
MI, L. Agnow showed us a telegram
from Hon. j. B. Agnewy Estarday,
which said the latter had been seated
and sworn in. With malice toward
none And charity for all, suppose We
now let up cn the contest for awhile.
We have received from Mr.. A.
McLaren, Importer and Breeder OF
Games aud Game Bantams, his circu-
lsrs AMI price list for 1861. His
speciality is game fowls, although he
deals in all other fancy breeds. From
mis- circulars we learn that on 131
coops shown at exhibitions in Pennsyl.
vania, New York and Chicago, during
the past year, he has been awarded 80
first premiums, SO second, 6 thirA and
81 special premiums. HiS Black
Breasted Red Game received the high
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