The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-12-06
WHY ". YIswsIlsn was Indioted

w ~ III &AeAStAe4 -
With two exceptions the federal SUI
persisors It the numerous voting places
Ia the 9TH Congressional District, have
reported that the election was fairly and
legally conducted, which means that the
federal election laws, rigid as they are,
were strictly complied with by the
State managers of election. One Of
these exceptions is Dry Grove, Kinds
county. The facts of the Indictment
found against one of the managers at
that place, are contained in the follow.
ing statement in the editorial columns
of the Raymond Gazette. From what
we ourselves have heard, We have nc
doubt but the facts are precisely as
related in this statement. If so, nc
other conclusion can be reached, but
that the Indictment was founded upon
a malicious and false representation.
The testimony before the grand jury
was necessarily ex parte, and no doub.
manufactured or colored to crafty other
than a worthy motive. No blame can
be attached by persons who look at the
Indictment from our standpoint, to the
U. S. District Attorney, nor to the jury
who were bound to act upon such sworn
statements as were made. When the
case comes to trial, however, Mr.. Flew
ellen's side will be heard We will
add that our county does not contain q
more peaceabIe, Law abiding citizen;
Raymond Gazette.
The facts of the case, as We learn them
verbally from responsible gentlemen of the
Dry Grove neighborhood are about as fol
lows:
Mr.. Flewelien was one of the election
commissioners at Dry Grove box at the
late election. The voting commenced at
an early hour provided by law, and con-
tinued without intermissiou until the hour
for closing, 6 P. NJ, the officers of the cleo
ton dischsrging their duties throughout
the entire day without refreshments of any
kind, and the laborious work of counting
out remaining to be accomplished after the
closing hour. The commissioners, there
being no objection made by any one present,
determined to take supper at convenient
place, as has been the invariable custom al
that as we'll as many other voting places q
| the county. And to do so, and at the same
time secure the ballot-box from any posi-
bic harm they locked it, placed it in an iron
safe which was securely locked, and the key
Of the store was taken by one of the election
officers. The box was thus perfectly secure
| But, besides this, there was window tC
the store, with the shutter left open, and
the bystanders were invited, if they wished
to do so, to see through that window that
the box was not taken from the safe. There
was crowd about the store during the
entire absence of the election officers, and
the ballot-box could not have been removed
from the safe without discovery.
Such as we have stated, has always been
the custom at Dry Grove, as well as al
many other points in the county, and nc
earthly objection has ever been urged
against this course hitherto, so far as We
have ever heard. Ia this case the box was
perfectly safe-absolutely secnre-and no
one has presumed to intimate that it was in
any respect tempered with, or that any one
attempted to tamper with it.
For allowing the ballot-box thus to pass
from the immediate presence Of the election
officers, Mr.. Flewellen was reported to the
federal grand jury in session at Jackson, the
grand jury found true bill against him,
and upon that bill the necessary papers were
issued, and it is proposed to arrest him and
carry him as a criminal to Jackson, Oxford
or Aberdeen, for trial.
This is plain statement of the case, as it
is verbally reported to US, and we direct it
to the calm and serious attention of the
people. If election officers, in the honest
discharge of their duties, are to be subjected
to persecution and annoyance of prosecution
in the federal courts, very soon it will be i'm
possible to find honest and substantial men
who will be willing to act in that capacity,
and we are not certain but that such is the
object of those who are waging this war
against Mr.. Flewelen. If they can drive
honest men, such as We have always had to
coRduct elections in Kinds county, from
our election boards, they can place desper-
ADDE'S and scoundrels in charge of the bal
lot-boxes, and thus as in Radical cities of
the North, the voice of the people can al
ways be defeated.