Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-01-06
THE COUNT ELECTION.
Scenes at the POlIs-Arrests for He
legal veEfng-The Vote Cast.


The election for county officers to serve
the ensuing two years took place yesterday.
The weather was humid and disagreeable,
and heavy fog enveIoped the city. Yet,
notwithstanding the unpropitious surround
ings, when the polls were opened at z O'Clock
In the morning, the candidates were all
present, and also quite a number Of
"early voters" who were anxious
to cast their ballots and get
to their work without delay. AS time wore
on, the crowd usually to be seen in the
vicinity OF the election polls began to in
crease in number and q quiet excitement
was observable. The respective candidates
and their friends were arduouslY at work
and were kind in their tender of tickets.
The voting progressed slowly, however, and
by noon only about $40 of the l $50 regis
tered voters had deposited their ballots.
Up to this time, however, there had been
numerous attempts at illegal voting, and
strict watch was kept for these repeaters.
Several were detected and were promptly
ordered under arrest and sent to the bar
racks. 1t is understood that these parties
will be vigorously prosecuted, with the
view, II possible, OF preventing a repetition
OF such practices in the future. The law
against Illegal voting and repeating Is ex-
picit, but 1t has rarely been rigidly enforced.
On many previous occasions parties who
have been arrested for such offenses on
election day have been sent to the barracks
and detained until the polls closed and
then released. The evil is great
one, and It now seems to be the determine
tion to check 1t by vigorous prosecution
of the guilty parties.
During the afternoon, we are Informed
that Mr.. William Fl. Smith, we'll known
and venerable citizen, resident of Savan-
nah for nearly q years, appeared to cast
his vote, when 1t was ascertained that his
name was scratched from the registry list.
a negro assuming that name having voted
previously. Mr.. Smith insisted on voting,
and only after difficulty was he able to cast
his vote. Several such instances have been
reported, but the prosecution of the parties
arrested for illegal voting viii develop the
entire facts, and therefore, forbear COM
ment until the hearing is had.
The heaviest polling was about two
O'Clock, many stopping on their way to din
ner to vote. For an hour or SO afterwards
the voting progressed slowly, when there
was another squirt, Notwithstanding a heavy
rain had set In, and the situation became
lively as the hour OF closing the polls drew
near. and the belated suffragans, unwilling
to lose their privilege of a voice IN the selec-
ton OF the county officers, pressed forward
AoVO WIG SOAAlGOI VI Tue court mouse and
good naturally endured the proris-
cuous 1ostling. Promptly on the stroke of
b O'Clock Sheriff Roman declared the polls
closed, and, With the usual cheering. the
crowd dispersed.
The ballot boxes were promptly removed
by the managers to the City Court room.
and, after the usual prelimlnarles, the count.
ing was commenced. There were only two
boxes used, which were fouad amply sufi-
cient, and during the day there had been
no great difficulty experienced by voters In
casting their ballots.
THE COUNTING
OF the ballots was commenced about half
past six O'Clock with box No. l, and was
proceeded with rapidly, and was finished
about half-past eleven o. clock when box No.
was taken up. The counting out of this box
was finished exactly at half past one O'Clock
this morning, and, considering the number
OF split tickets and the general scratching,
the managers are entitled to credit for their
rapid work. The result is as follows: