Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-16


servetive Committee met this nornlaS nnf
suan. to djournment to take into consae'a'i ~
the protest from the First Ward regarding :aSt
THURSDAYS meeting. There were Yresent
Messrs. L1tham. WASHINGTON, r'ck'p, Heho
field, Cation Rudd and Erwin.
After private session at the Treasurer =
Office. the Committee proceeded to ihs Sue
Enpinc House, whore Mr.. Latham calledit to
order, and the resolution passed on Friday, was
read.
Mr.. Latham said that he was not here as
partisan nor had be ever been such, as mem
Der of the Committee; he wished to 10 justice
to all. lie did not consider that the committee
had any power or right to nterferein this matter.
Holding these views and being here merely to
defend himself, ho should retire at this period:
lie was present solely to protect his name and
character from The slaDdcrs and aspcrsrrs
which had been banded about the strett'.-
lie asked that some ono be designated to Pre-
side lie reiterated his opinion that the com
r,ittee had no powers 10 the premises.
Messrs. Washington. Hcklin, Ervin. Rudd,
Schofeld and Latham were nominated for
chairman but all declined. Fioally MIR. Soho,
field was elected and accepted.
MIR. George a. Mushbaoh said that Messrs
G.. e. Slu,rt, s. G. Brent and himself ap,
pcared for Mr.. Nealo and asked that the tcs-
timopv be taken and submitted to tho State
CONSERVATIVE, Committee. lie did cot think
that it was necessary TO state his opinion az to
what he thought were tho rights Of the COD.
mittec. lie had prepared formal protest
signed by the Ncalc delegates which was read
by tho Secretary.
MIR. Cation asked whether General tlunton
was represented by any one present.
No answer was made. but several persons
present said that General llunton WIS in town
Nlr. Washington asked if the Committee had
determined whether or not they had power IN
the premises.
Mr. &. L. Stuart oontondcd that the com.
mittoc had already decided 10 take testimony,
which was to he submitted TO tho State Com.
Mittec.
Mr.. Cation thought likewise.
Mr. Mushbach rccounted the circumstances
Of tho last meeting, and thought the com
ulttec were assembled to hear testimony.
The committee then determined to 20 on
with the evidence.
Charles dearborn sworn. Was teller ct lst
lrrs. Found POI ballots in box. The two bal
in, but wtro not twisted, and dropped apart
"i,tra arc two tickets and handed them to
him. A r:w minutes afterwards ho told MIR.
Latham that the tickets were probably not cast
tosothnr. No notice was taken of this, how
ever. lie thum detailed tho circumstances at
tending the ruling out OF the Nealc tickets.
as heretofore published. Saw man stautlius
by him with red ticket in his hand. which he
WAS not allowed to deposit. Thought the polls
wero kept open about twenty minutes alto
gcthcr. No time was specified for keeping the
polls open. All Of the tickets wero not twisted.
W. +. Dobie sworn. Polls kept open about
fifteen minutes. No motion to close polls, but
was done by chairman. Saw several persons
offer to vote after polls were closed. Saw John
R9dicr offer and was refused. Know OF three
persons, Mess,s. N. Lindsey, j. Taylor and
Johu Rodicr. who wero prevented from voting
by closing polls. The room was much too small
to hold tho crowd and most OF them were out.
side Heard Nevett appeal from tho decision
as to the two ballots, but MIR. Latham refused to
entertan unless POS voters passed through.
II. }. Ncvett sworn end examined by Mr..
Mrshbacb.
&. Were you present ct lhij meeting? A.
1cs, sir.
Q. ln what caracity were You acting there?
a. Secretary.
Q. Did you SEQ the two tickets that were
taken out Of the box ard excluded from the
court Ivy the chairman. Il. | saw Mr.. Dear
born hand them to Nir. Latham. | did not see
them taken frou the box.
g.. In what condition wcre they when Fir.
Dearborn handed them to Mr.. Latham. a:
They were lyipg one on ton Of tho ether Of lle
oaso Of QUO may havo been underneath! Tic
other. They we're Banded across the table and
may have been lying fiat on tho other side Or
the cdgo Of one may have been inside or tic
other.
@. They were not twistcd2 A. The edge #
one may have been stuck ia as you stick two
pieces of paper together.
O. Were they folded inside Of one another?
A. they wero folded but not twisted. Folded
as those tickets are now. One is simply laid in
the other. (Referriug to exhibit A.
q. What were they2 A. Two red tickets.
q. They were not twisted? A. No, sir, not
when they wero handed to MIR. Latham.
Q. Did they have the appearance Ct having
been twisted prior to that; any creases, OF
marks on them. A. To me they did not.
q. Was there any question put to the meet
ing as to throwing those ballots out? A. No
sir.
o. The chairman decided Of his owe motion
they we're to be thrown outI a. Yes, SIT.
". w nat aCllOu uiu you tdhc mHcu HC luduC
that decision A. AS soon as the decision was
made there was considerable confusion. There
Was considerable talk around, and finally,
thi,k it was Mr.. WIN. Rock. judging from the
voica 10 the back part OF the room, sung out,
"what was the decision in regard TO this mat
tcr?" The chairman said it was decided that
these tickets were excluded, aud that tho vote
stood lO2 for Nealc, and l03 for Hutton. As
soon as that decisioa was given | immeda ely
said, II appeal from the decision of the chair,
and demand tellers upon that appeal.
q. What did he say? A. Then there was
more confusion. Some young men behind the
chair were shouting and hallooiug, You can t
have an appeal" and all that kind Of thing.
The chairman raped for order, and said
"tecrs will be granted, and if POS persons pass
between tho tellcrs, then will entertain tho
appeal"
&. lie declined to entertain the appeal unless
pos persons passed through ? A. Yes, sir.
e. DO you know whether there were POS
persons present at the meeting when ho made
that decision A. Ooly the teerS repOrtcd 20S,