The semi-weekly miner., 1883-08-08
Contested Election Case.


tions of statements made in the Hell
ena Herald Of July 18th, in reference
to the investigation made by Hon.
A. G. Botkin in the contested elec-
tion case, which that gentleman has
instituted against Hon. Martin Ma
ginnis. The statements made are
not only misleading, hut are in no
sense Of the word, true. First, it said
there was evidence tending strongly
to show that there were over 600
fraudulent votes cast at Miles City.
This statement is made out of whole
cloth. The judges and clerks Of
electien who were sworn and all of
whom but one voted for Mr.. BOtkin,
testified that the election was quiet
and orderly; that challengers were
present on both sides; that the ut
most caution was used to prevent
fraud; that everything Was open and
above board, and the count was
openly conducted in large room.
The only witness, (Kreidler OF the
land office, who swore to any fraud,
swore that he saw one man vote
twice, and strange to say did not
challenge nor has since preferred a
charge before a graLd jury against
the fraudulent voter. Again, it says
that the witnesses for Mr.. Maginnis
are under Indictment, with the ex-
ception OF two, leaving the inference
that the indictments are for election
frauds. whereas the indictments
are for some of the affairs of Custer
county, and which no doubt will be
cleared up at the next term of court.
Again, it says one OF the precincts of
Custer county, where over one hum
dred votes were cast, was shown to
have no existence at all. This is an
other cut Of whole cloth, as the rec
ord shows that such a precinct was
not attacked at all in this investiga-
ton. The Miles City Press of the
21st of July makes the astonishing
statement that the evidence goes to
show that over six hundred fraudu-
lent votes were cast for Major Magin-
mis- in Miles City alone. This state
ment bears upon its face the stamp of
falsehood, because it was in the
province of this examination onlyto
show the fraudulent nature oi the
election and could not possibly show
who the fraudulent votes were for.
It is perhaps necessary to STATE here
that Mr.. Botkin apologized for this
statement in the Press. Again the
Herald says that at Glendive there
was evidence of neral character
to show that the vote was excessive
in proportion to the population,
whereas the evidence shows that the
population of Glendive was about
one thousand, about one fourth of
which was women and children.
showing that full vote would
have developed a voting population
Of about seven hundred and fifty, and
only 54l votes were polIed. Two out
of the three Judges of election (the
other one being absent) swore that
the election was quiet and orderly.
that they had no reason to believe
that any fraudulent votes were cast.
1t was agreed between the leaders of
the two parties that they would allow
the election to proceed without anv
or quarreling, the princi-
pal fight being upon the election of
their candidate for the Council. as
they were desirOus of defeating the
put up by Choteau county.
AS against all this balderdash we
have the authority for stating that
not single instance Except the one
above stated) goes to show the elec-
ton was other than fair. It is a fact |
that the representatives of beth par-
ties were offering to bet large sums of
money before the election that there
would be from from 1,5OO to | 500
votes poIled, whereas, there were but
about 200. Again, as to the state
nent that Custer county polled too
large vote. Now let US see. In that
portion of the then Custer county
seven precincts have since been nut
into Yelloswstone county, which pre-
;incts pelled nearly POO votes in the
Y Yellowstone county election, In the
Delegate election the same precincts
oolled ,OS6. leaving about 800 votes
or What Is known as Custer county.
At the election for the County COM
as provided by act of the
legislature, in which but little inter-
st was taken, as there was but one
lcket and but few voted except those
Who favored the change there was
lbout 200 votes polled. Again the
tatement makes Mr.. Botkin saw
nat ne has advices from Missouia
county that 1000 illegal votes were
asst there. We do not believe Mr.
5otkin has made any such state.
aent, as the testimony conclusively
hows and we have it from author.
ty, that not a single peg was left him I
pom which to base a hope for con- {
est. AS i'll Missoula, so will it be
n Custer. 1t may be that the con- !
est will be .poney in Mr.. Botkin's {
ocket, as it has been the custom
D pay the parties who contest a seat s
the House, but if any hopes are IN
ulged in that political capital can !
e made out of it, at the next gen 8
raj election, we hereby take occasion
} inform our Republican friends thew ]
hight IS we'll disabuse their minds '
pon this subject, as the testimony is +
IL taken down in black and white '
ad can be procured for publication.
Is an easy matter to charge fraud.
ut quite another thing to prove it.
o election has ever taken place
here charges of fraud have not Eren
lade, and we dare to say no election n
Is ever taken place where the elect $
= franchise has not been abused Fl
70 deplore these things as much "a p
~ one, and would join heart and 4
aud in every measure to purify tho q
'llot box. If Montana had not been