Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-11-20
ON SPECTATOR AND GENERAL ADVERTISERS
BOtetourt County.
INCIDENTS OF THE ELEcTIoN-DEsPERATE
COALITION TRICKS.


Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
FINcAsTLE, VA, November Z, 1888.
Never before in the history of Botetourt
politics has there been systematic effort
to deprive the majority of representation in
the Legislature BY fraud. A few days be-
fore the election we received intimation that
application had been made at certain
printing Office in Virginia for tissue ballots
to be used in this election. This put us on
our guard, our canvassers were promptly
notified, and the judges of election were re-
quired to examine every ballot sufficient to
see whether more than one ballot were fold
ed together Some of the Mahoneite
leaders, and, shame to say, even some
of the judges, tried to prevent this,
but there were enough honest judges to
prevail. Despite our watchfulness at the
Fincastle precints two fraudulent ballots
were cast. At Jackson Mahoneite was
detected in his attempt to deposit three
ballots. But we were not prepared for the
trick that was practiced on us at Glade
Creek. The name of the Democratic nomi-
nee is NJ. W. Camper. He is familiarity
known as Wood Camper. Very few people
know what the NJ in his name stands for.
William Fl. Fry was appointed chairman
of the precint committee for Glade Creek,
Dat he was called up to canvass for the
party in the Southwest, and he was absent
from the county until the day prior to cleo
ton.
Now, notice how our enemies took ad-
vantage of this. On Monday last sealed
envelope was dropped into the Fincastle
post-ofice addressed, in a good business
hand, 'Capt'n W. H. Fry, Blue Ridge
Springs, Botetourt co, Va. P. M. Deliver
X
1888. Va."-containing a number of tick
cts, ordinary size, printed as follows
democratic Ticket. Election Novem-
Der 6. For House of Delegates, Madison
W. Camper" Also slip of paper, as fol
lows
81 send you some election tickets, fear
ing you may not have enough. Please put
them in the hands of our friends early, and
see that they vote" No name to the let
ter, but the upper part of the letters Re
specially remain on the slip, showing that
the slip had been clipped with scissors.
About twenty of these ballot had been vo-
ted when the fraud was discovered. Mr..
Brown rode Immediately to Fincastle,
reaching here about 2 o'clock, and the in
dignation of our people was intense. The
telegraph wire between here and Trout
vile was cut last night Ali day long we
had been bearing the insolence of negroes,
who by their abuse of the whites and threat
ginning language seemed bent upon
starting a row. This, therefore, added fuel
to the flames, Still we restrained ourselves,
determined to give no occasion for any
charge of intimidation. We do not yet
know whether this trick has been practiced
at any other precinct. The largest crowd
l have ever seen on election-day on the
streets of Fincastle, the negroes in full
force, and large number of whites, quiet,
determined, and working. But we have
received our reward. Botetourt has given
for Moncure Woodson Camper majority
SURPRISING that ever given by her for any
man running for any political Office.
There was the widest excitement as each
precinct was heard from, and when the
news came that Roanoke had given 225
majority our enthusiasm knew no bounds.