The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-03-26
BELMONl's CONTEST.
Judge Okey's Action In the Record
ership Case Talked Over.

ST. CLAIRSVILLk, March 70.
Your correspondent at this place mas
already intimsted through your columns
the state of feeling throughout this coun-
" in regard to Judge Okey's decision in
the contested election case of Barnes Us.
Wright for the office of county recorder.
But your reporter here has failed TO give
you any of the reasons for the popular
Indignation, for it does Iot exist in the
Democratic party alone but pervsdes
the Republican party to great extent.
l am glad 10 observe that we
have SO many Republicans whose sense of
Justice and fairness will not permit them
TO endorse such fragrant wrong as has,
through the forms of law, been COM
mitted in this case. shall undertake
briefly to enlighten your readers on
few points, which will serve to illustrate
the righteousness of the Courts decision.
Take the Hendrysburg case, for instance.
In that precinct the clerk of the election,
whose duty it was to preserve the ball
lots, neglected to do go. The box re-
manned unlocked and was placed where
his children and others had free access
to it. The result of this carelessness was
that the tickets became scattered about,
and when the clerk finally gathered them
up to make recount preparatory to the
contest he found that three of the tickets
were missing. Afterwards Mr.. Wesley,
the Clerk, found ticket which he sup
posed was one Of the missing ones, he
wasn't sure Of it, thought and replaced
| it in the box. In this state the box was
produced in court and there opened,
when Mr.. Wesley declined to swear that
they were the same ballots that were cast
at the election. The tickets were again
recounted, Judge Okey at the same time
remarking that the recount could not be
used as testimony. This remark was
proper enough, and was acquiesced in
By both sides, as the ballots had undouot-
eddy been tempered with. This recount
showed three votes less for Wright than
were given him by the official returns.
Wright was we'll fortified with evidence
to establish his right to the three votes
which, by the careIessness of the clerk,
had been lost, but the Judge having
already decided to not go behind the
original return, the defense supposed 1t
unnecessary to contest the Hendrysburg
case. Judge of the establishment Of every
one in that crowded court room when
Judge Okey rejected the original and
official returns and rendered his decision
in accordance with the recount Of the
tempered ballots. Thus was the grossest
injustice done Mr.. Wright. Words can
not describe the wrath of Mr.. Wrights
friends at the bad faith of Judge Okey,
who went back on his own word, and
then hung his head and refused TO say a
word in explanation when the defend
ants counsel desired to know why they
had been victimzed in that manner.
la Union township comparison OF
the tally-sheets and poll books showed
that there was ole vote more in the bal
lot box than names of voters on the poll
book The evidence was absolute and
overwhelming that there was double
Republican vote there, 1. E. two Republi-
can tickets folded together and voted by
one person. The law very plainly makes
1t the duty OF the judges of election TO
reject double ballots. But Judge Okey
counted this double vote for Barnes. Mr..
Barnes attorneys tried to break the force
of the evidence in relation TO this double
vote by attempting to show that Mr.. q.
McKelvey, Democrat, voted twice, but
they made an utter failure OF this and
could prove nothing OF the kind. And
now l ask, is it any wonder that the
Democrats and Mr.. Wright's Republican
friends, Of whom be has many, are
righteously indignant at these arbitrary
decisions of the Court of Common Pleas
But my object IN writing this article
for the REGEsTEK, is TO call public At
tention to some things that seem to have
escaped the attention OF the Democratic
newspapers OF this county. What l am
about TO relate is known 10 limited
number OF persons here, aud l think
every citizen OF Belmont county should
have q knowledge Of al the facts con-
nected with this unsccountsble decision
Of Judge Okey. 1t seems Incompetent.
sible that man occupying the high po-
sitlon that Judge Okey docs, should per-
NIT himself to be placed in the unenyia-
Bile position which he now occupies.
Let US 90 back to the memorable
campaign OF 1876, when Judge Okey
and Judge Chambers were candidates for
Judge of the Common Pleas Court
Both candidates were Democrats. One
of Okey's principal hackers in that cam
psign was Mr.. T. N. Thompson, then an
attorney in this place, but now resident
OF Illinois. Messrs. 0key and Thomp.
son csnvassed q portion OF tho county
togither' They stopped one day at the
town Of Belmont, and, while Mr.. Okey
remained at the house OF o Republican
friend, Mr.. Thompson WAS sent around
TO call upon the leading Democrats OF
the place, and, it possible, TO press them
into the support Of Okey. Among those
visited by Thompson was Mr.. Louis q.
Wright. In reply to Thompson's lnqui.
ries and solicitations, Wright stated that
he was supporter of Chambers and
meant to vote tor that gentlemen. Find.
ing cosxing 10 vain, Thompson threat
ened. He informed Wright that should
he Wright) ever become q candidate
for Office he would be remembered for
his refusal to support Okey. ave will
spot yon, fellows" was the significant
language used by Thompson 10 Wright.
This threat was repeated, but failed 10
swerve Mr.. Wright from his support OF
Chambers. Afterwards Mr.. Wright be.
csme Democratic nominee Tor recorder
Of the county, and, as we claim, was
elected. Dat OF that election grew the
present contest. In view OF recent
events, some people are 90 inquisltive as
TO want 10 know whether the spotting
has begun.
From the beginning Of this contest It
has been known that Mr.. james A.
Barnes, the Republican contestant for
the Recorders Office, was rather averse
10 making the contest. He was urged
and prevailed upon TO contest the eec.
ton Of Mr.. Wright by his brothers 1T
Columbus-Secretary of State Barnes,
and Frank Barnes, Assistant Clerk in
the Secretary's Office. From first 10 last
these brothers have apparently taken q
greater interest in the contest than the