Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-12-15

1t appears that the troubles at Red.
field are subsiding and that the threat
ened danger of collision between the
excited citizens of Sphinx county has
passed. The governor telegraphs that
the Yankton militia company will not
be needed aud the inference is that the
other militia companies OF Dakota have
received like notification. Two compan-
les from Fargo vent to Redfeld in res
ponse to orders from the governor and
besides the militia three companies of
regulars at Fort Suliy were under orders
TO hold themselves in readiness to go to
the scene of the disturbance. That the
uprising was one of magnitude is made
evident by the extensive military prep
arations. The cause OF all this trouble
was the not infrequent county seat con-
test, species of trouble which is the
legitimate fruit of the Ordway method
of organizing counties. There are many
other counties now liable to the same
experiences and from the same
cause. An inquiry into Sphinx county
affairs shows that in 1880 vote was
taken on the question of the permanent
location of the. county seat which had
been placed at Old Ashton by the ap-
pointed commissioners. At that time
there were three election districts in the
county numbered one. two and three,
respectively. There is not now, nor has
there ever been any abstract OF the votes
on the county seat question on. file in the
county clerks Office. The. .result was
declared, and all were satisfied that nc
town received q majority of the votes
cast. At the time this vote. was taken
Redfeld was prominent candidate fol
county seat honors, The result as re-
turned showed that DO town received 6
majority and the county seat was de-
clared to be still at Old Ashton. Accord
ing to an affidavit made by the register
of deeds aud county clerk vote o.
ninety six was cast for Red6eld, seventy
four for Frankfort, sixty.two for Ashton
and eleven for Old Ashton.
This affidavit states further that il
November, 1894, the affiant was calle,
upon by Redtield parties to see the pol
books of the election Of 1880, and in get
ting them he discovered that one OF th
poll books from the second district wa
missing and that the other had beef
changed since June, 1884, 30 as to show
= Reddeld, Al; Ashton, 40; Frankfort,
. and Old Ashton, 8 votes in said distric
This changed the totals SO as to Civ
Redfeld 1873 votes, which would be
majority. Upon this showing Redfiel,
claims the county seat on the vote Q
1850. The commissioners instituted 81
investigation into the alleged altera
tions made in the poll books and pend
ing this inquiry a committee of citizen
visited Old Ashton in the night, e
fected entrance into the vault, secure
the county records and took them I
Red6eld, where they we're housed an
an armed guard placed ov'
<Ao oOOu 10 uA6COEcE
of this transaction was made the pleop
OF Old Ashton and Frankfort organize
for the recovery of the records az
moved in armed force on Redieid. II
Red6eldites prepared to resist the 9.
pected attack by means of an armed d
tense from barricades hastily erected.
was Their that the governor was appeale
to for aid. Judge Smith issued 6
order placing the records in the temp
rary custody of the sheriff an
county commissioners, but stlp,
lated that they should not be r
moved from Red6eld until such remov
could be accomplished under an ord
=. from the conrt, after full hearing of Il
case. This was the situation duril
last week. RsdHeld was under arms
resist threatened attack and troo
were thrown into the beleagured tow
q. From the. latest orders from Govern
!. Pierce it appears that all danger Of
conflict has passed and that the coul
will finally settle the controversy,
Armstrong, the register Of the lal
ofoo OF unron sub0 30 eavorka1 - H.,