Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-01-09
lrhe cnntented I1leetion.

Z
On Thursday last, the Court of Com
mon Pleas of this county met, pursuant
to adjournment. The first business of the
Court was to deliver the opinion of the
Court in the. contested election case, for
Sheriff Of this county, and we apprehend. /
that nobody who watched~the course of
events during the examination of wit
nesses in the case, and the peculiar rul-
ings of the Court, will be at all surprised
to learn that the decision of his Honor
was that Smith, the contestant, was legal
ly elected; but by what hocus-po ar
rangement the opinion was arrived at,
the most expert astrologers are unable to
premise with any degree of certainty
We did not hear the Court deliver his
opinion, but are reliably informed that
Smith was elected by majority of two
votes but, If Certain other two votes were
counted, then Smiths majority would be
four. This is the condition in which the
Judges opinion stands, as we are in
formed. Then, there are some 10 or I2
votes which his Honor regarded of a
questionable character, which were
. pigeon-holed,. as of doubtful legality,
and were not decided upon, for reasons
that are strange, and which a presump-
tious politician might imagine would not
bare too close scrutiny, as facts might
be revealed that might, possibly, change
the desired result and disappoint the
vaulting ambition OF some parties in in
terest.
Mr.. Smith brought this contest into
Court for the purpose, as it might be sup
posed, of making fair and honorable in
vestigation of the case. The witnesses
subpoenied by Smith, to show. Illegal votes
polled for Cook, in their honesty of heart,
never refused to answer the questions of
Smiths Attorney, as to who they voted
for for sheriff; everyone answered the
question frankly; nor did they seek to
hide behind the "right to a secret ballot,
but frankly told who they voted for. The
examination being closed on the part OF
Smiths attorney, the attorney for Cook
Col. II. b. Maynard, commenced exam.
ining the witnesses of the defense, tt
show the illegal votes that had been cas-
for Smith; but, when asked by Maynard,
for whom they voted for sheriff, the wit.
nesses seemed, Strangely to become speech.
less, and remaining in this queer position
for few moments, they were relieved
from their embarrassment by the decision
Of the Cocrt, that they need not criminal,
themselves, if they. thought by answer
ing the'qiestiOns they would do; so; anC
mnm was the game that was PLAYED
through the examination. on that side o
the case even when it was In evidenc,
tpat a witness had voluntarily told in diff
ferent places who he had voted for, h
was shielded behind the sacred right n
the secret ballot, and refused to tell fo
whom he voted, under tn. kind and onar
dian care of the Court. All this. and ~
this is TO pass for a fair and honesr spa -,
after truth and Justice. The fact Is.
could not escape the observation of ever
fair-minded man, that on the part of tt
contesting party, the effort and the
Sign was not to have fair investigatio
but the successful effort was how not
have fair and faithful investigation i
to the true condition of the election. B
sides this, men who were here for tel
.,porary purposes, were spirited awi
Immediately after the election, and cou
not be found, and their votes, thou,
Illegal, had TO be counted against old
gal voters Of the county.
We may have more to say upon Il
contested case hereafter.
H