The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-12-10
by TELEGRAPH.
THE COUNCIL
Yet Refuse to Notice Alleged
Washington County Frauds.
PETITIONS FOR AN INVES-
TIGATION POURING IN.
A Square Back Down on One
F0lnG
AND SENATORIAL RETURNS
EXHIBITED.
The Hearing for a Mandamus to
Occur To-Day.
AND SENATORIAL RETURNS
EXHIBITED.
The Hearing for a Mandamus to
Occur To-Day.

AUGUSTA, Dec 9-Petitions for an investi-
cation into the charges of Charles B. Rounds
come thronging in upon the Council. Several
were presented today. The petition from Bath
is signed by the venerable John Patten, j. G.
Richardson, III. W. Swanton, E. G. Hyde and
many other well-knewn and prominent citi-
zens. They declare that Public justice and
personal fairness alike demand that the Coun-
Gil at once investigate the charges of Mr..
Rounds"
The petition from Brunswick is headed by
Ex-Gov. Chamberlain and signed by many
prominent citizens, and strongly urges the
propriety and necessity of proper investiga-
ton.
The petition from Winthrop is headed by
John NJ. Benjamin and signed by John May,
C. A. Wing, Cakes Howard, L. f. Carleton.
W. r. White and Others who state ''Their be-
lief that the honor and dignity of the state
government as we'll as the ends of common
justice, demand that the charges of Charles B.
Rounds be investigated before any certificates
of election are issued to Senators and Repre-
sentatives."
A petition from the cities of Lewiston and
Auburn is very numerously signed. Ex-Gov.
Dingley, heads the petition and more than a
hundred prominent citizens unite with him.
Their petition closes thus: eff these charges
of Mr. Rounds are untrue the people ought to
know it, eff they are true, there has been
such criminal conduct as should be exposed
and punished"
Herbert NJ. Heath, one of the attorneys for
Washington county, has been endeavoring to
see the returns every day the Council has been
in session since they formally opened the re-
turns, November 18th. On Thursday last he
sent formal note asking on behalf of himself
and another legal adviser, to see the Washing
ton county returns. The other legal adviser
was Hon. F. A. Pike of Calais Mr.. Pike re-
manned three days in Augusta waiting to see
the returns rnd then went home. This morning
Mr.. Heath repaired to the Council chamber
to urge his right to see the returns and was at
once informed that he could see them. He
spent the day examining the returns, and as
the result of his labors reports that the Repub-
lican ticket in Washington county is elected
beyond a doubt.
Tomorrow Judge Virgin will hear the APP
plication for a mandamus in this city. Messrs.
Baker & Baker and Hon. Nathan Webb will
appear for the petitioners, and the Secretary
of State will be represented by Attorney GEN
eral Mcclellan and A. P. Gould.
The report is widely spread this evening that
the Secretary of State will make answer that
the returns will be henceforth open for the in
spection of Senators and Representativns-elec
and their attorneys. If this answer is made no
issue is left before the court because that is
what the Senators and Representatives have
demanded and sued for. The report of this
change of policy is not given as authentic,
only as general rumor.
Hon. f. G. Parker of the Council is editor
and proprietor of the North Star published at
Presque Isle, Aroostook county. The last
number of the paper just at hand contains
letter from Councillor Parker in which he
makes the following statement: "The Coun-
Gil say they are advised by eminent legal
authorities that they need not pay any atten-
ton to the law of 1877, and that the Republic
cans can test its constitutionality before the
courts Governor Garcelon says that he as
sumes its unconstitutionality with the Coun-
Gil and bases his assumption on good legal
advice"
Rumors have been current all day that cor
rections have been made in the original record
of the town of Danforth by order of the select
men who certify that Charles A. Rolfe an
notCharles Rolfe was voted for for Representa-
tive. Danforth at the September election
gave sc fusion votes to 36 Republican, and the
town officers are all Democrats. Mr.. Role
was the Republican candidate for Representa-
tive, and it is reported that the application for
the correction of the record was made by Gen.
A. Curran, Esq, of Calais, acting as his
attorney.
There were hearings to-day on the Cumber-
land county returns.