The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-01-07

Lt'tSH a. ClsG ( OtHt County.
Mr.. EDuoR: We find In the Clcye-
land Banner Of a few weeks since au
article %purporling 10 have been written
by a Mr.. Harrison, Of this place, de-
Tending sheriff Hannah from an attack
made upon him by a Mr.. Dillin through
the columns Of the HERALD. We are
not acquainted with Mr.. Dillin and do
not know why he made war upon
sheriff Hannah, neither 10 we know
to what extent Hannah Is guilty, aud
We have no war TO wage upon Him in
d~ivilually, yet we can not refrain from
exposing in part the base pro, ccding.
Of the democratic ring" at this place
at tie election held here the 2nd Of
November Last.
Tile ring consists Of about q dozen Of
the citizens of Benton and vicinity. of
which Mr.. Stuart j. an honored mem
Der. They must needs have a cnd.-
date for every Office, and they do not
hesitate at any proceeding, however
base, TO further their Interests. We
are confident that the letter p%urportiEg
to have been written by young IIarbl-
son, was written by some OF the older
members Of the club and that his sig
nature was his initiation into fellow
ship Of the ring. The youthful rcpor-
ter says in regard to the negro Smith,
that he was sworn as to who le voted
for, and that ". 5. Foster j. i. admin
istercd the oath. Upon i~ntcrrO.aling
Mr.. Foster We learn that he was mUt
present ut the time aud knew nothing |
OF the negrO's vote, never administered.
an oath 10 him aud that where he is re-
ported tOhlve Oiliciatcd IN any manner
In such proceedings that it is Ease.
ana the youthful reporter knew these
facts ut The time. Now WHO did olici-
ate in the matter: Surely the young
clerk who was present all the time
ought to know, and get lie comes out
with Il base tdlscIOod and accuses Mir.
Foster and that gentleman fatty denies
1t. NOW we are of the opinion that
the negro was not sworn at all, and we
seriously doubt if the vote was illegal
iftested by law. Again, there were
two tickets taken from the ballot box
slightly folded together. They were
both republican tickets. As soon as
This Was asUCrtaimed the cry of the
gang was throw them away" and
they were accordingly crSt aside. One
of The judges, Mr.. Bldukimship, not
being satisfied with the proceedings,
preserved the two tickets and still has
them ia his possession, and upon eNam-
nation he finds that the tickets could
not have been folded together, the folds
being OF ditlercmt width, and lac says
that the handwriting. Of the two ar
different, and that Lwhile one is for
Hawkins tor governor the ether IS for I
Wilson. Now is il reasonable to sup I
pose that they were voted by the same q
Mr.. Blamkcnship says that =
when he first saw the tickets in the y
Iands of the Sheriff they were not to- !
Afterwards Mr.. BlamkinShip 1
went to the Sheriff and the other two -
Judges and proposed to count the re-
naming tickets aud if they correspond
ii with The number of votes polled he
would be satisfied. This they refused
Q do. There are other districts in our /
county where equally base proceedings !,
we're carried on in Stuart's favor aud ~
Te hope they will be thoroughly slfled a
t the proper time. Respectfully, +
W. 0. TAYLOR,