Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-08-12

| been returned, but neaO one was
brought in by Mr.. Reeder, which Col. |
Gibson admitted to be in his hand. |
| writing. We had positive and reliable |
Information that this very ballot was
actually counted for Gossett and was
| Included in the $50 votes shown in the |
original returns, and We believed that
the original eertificatei which was
sent up with the returns and detached
| by Mr.. Reeder and given ID Gentle,
| showed The fact to be that this ballot
had been counted for Gossett, and sub
mitiiDg to Mr.. Reeder the question
whether it had been properly counted.
t The new certificate purpOrted to have
been signed by the six colored men
who held the election in the 9Th ward.
| It appears from your article of this
morning that Mr.. Reeder has counted
| this ballot for Mr.. GOssett, thus giving
| him 100 instead of 1S9 votes.
| The facts in relation to the 9Th ward
are as follows: The tally sheets were
footed up 2l0 for Anderson and 50 for
| Gossett, and the poll book showed that
just 300 votes had been cast in that
ward. Msior Camp claimed
that there were two tallies
Of Sir in Go:sstt's column of
talies, which I at first denied; but
upon inspection it was plain on one OF
the tally sheets that he was right. It
also Ototnty appeared that there were
two tallies OF siC in AnderS0n's column,
and it also appeared. but not so plain
~, that there were ttUO more tallies of
sic in Anderson's column, making
four tallies of sic for Anderson. L
claimed that, If Mr.. Reeder counted
the two tallies of SiG for GCs sett, he
>E oSo fc1
Anderson; but did not object to sp-
plying to this ward the rule had in~
sisted upon for the lat ward. l took
!. and maintained the position that,
where there was discrepancy between
the tallies upon actual count and the
figures, the tallies were the best eYi-
dence, as they Were the original en-
tries, from which the figures were OBJ
tanned, by mere arithmetic. AS Mr..
Reeder did not change the face of the
returns in this ward, it is unnecessary
to dwell further upon it.
: The facts in relation to the s n ward
are:
The tally sheets showed 1872 for An
derson and 64 for Gossett. The tally
marks in G0ssett's column counted out
81 At the end Of the tally column S5
bad be9n written in figures and chang
I ed to 81 by making 4 over the
5, or S4 had been changed to SIS by
making a over the T. It was impos-
{ sible to know, from inspection, which
: way the figures had been changed; but
$ there was no doubt or ambiguity about
+ + the tally marks: They counted 81 and
g not IS. It was insisted for Mr.. Gossett
t that Reeder should disregard the tally
marks and go by the figures. But
d even then he could not tell whether
the figures were SIS or 81 Mai. Camp
o insisted that the figures should be
= read SIS, and by way of urging or per-
r suading Mr.. Reeder TO read them 85
= he stated that he knew it was 95; that
g it had been changed from 81 10 IS, al
g his instance, and that he aVould sa0ed2
&c it. He then proceeded to give hfr
1t Reeder his version of how it happen.
q ed to be changed from 81 to 85. Upon
II this mere statement of Msi. Camp,
y outside of the returns, Mr.. Reeder, ii
I seems, has counted S5 for Mr.. Gossett
Ii ia the 9Th ward. Il was 81 not only
ii upon the face of the returns, but will
1t be so shown by the sworn testimony
Of the judges and officers holding the
ie election in that ward, as / am reliably
g Informed to-day.
d From what has been said, it will bt
- seen that the contest was narrowed
e, dow to vote in the 1st ward: l il
8, the 5th ward and in the 0:h ward. By
l. giving Anderson 139 in the lst ware
"a aud Gossett 1S9 in the 5th ward, ant
10 81 in the Sth ward, as the face of tn,
as returns showed, the vote stood 3,56;
for Anderson, and 1867 for Gossett
as making a majority OF for Anderson
rs Taking one from Anderson's vote ii
ID the LIST ward would make his vot
le 1868, and still leave him majority 0
% |. To change this vote, SO ss TO trans
ID fer this majority of l from Anderson
+ to Gossett. Mr.. Reeder changed tn
E. face Of the returns in the 5lh and 8tl
~ wards, as hereinbefore shown, thu
re making the vots stand 1858 for Ander
is son and 1860 for Gossetr.
sc The law is plain and well settled
Do and will not be- disputed, that MI
or the face Of The returns, who was en-
q, titled to the certificate, and could &c
eel look to any extrinsic evidence.
=. In the 5th ward, the face of the re
rd turns showed that G0ssett receive
ts lS9 votes. MI. Reeder refused to b
OF governed by these returns, but allowe
re subsequent certificate from Gent
-e and others, made after the return
or were all in, to control his count, an
lie gives Mr. Gossett 100 Instead Of Is
ne votes.
d. In the 9Th ward, upon the assert;o
u of Msj. Camp, which directly COZ
aC tradicted the face of the returns, NJ
10 Reeder counted Mr. Gossett So instes
of "a
And thus it was that Mr.. Anderso
was counted out and Mr.. Gossett VIZ
counted in.
/ am induced to make this publ
statement OF facts by request Of NJ
Anderson's friends. and because
think it due to the citizens Of Kno
county, democrats and republican
TO be informed, from some source, ho'
it was that Mr.. Reeder assumed jud
cial powers and set aside the electio
,iH returns, in order to give Mr.. Gosse
an the certificate of election.
II Respectfully,
fr T. S. WEBB.
,ss Knoxville, Tenn, Aug. 10Th, 1880.
Ces
We DENTISTS IN SESSION.