The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-05-07
ATGlSs AID 4Srl.AIKlSs,
GALVESTON FRAUD INCIDENTS
r1,~ Wsyoraity Contest Animated aud Gem
piiostod and Dual Authority Threat
ened- Atkins Tlanhs his Enc
miles by Removals.

GALVESTON, May 1.-The mayoraity
ontsst between ex.lnayor Fulton and
actlng mayor Atkins, took an uneN'
peotod turn to-day. The sleuth hounds
OF investigation got ON tho right
scent when they started cut Ia lnvesti-
gate the frauds in tho aldermanic con-
lest between Quincy aud Allen. Alter
SEATING Quincy they took up tho trail
again and to-day the big wolf was fairly
run u cover, whore he has turned ON his
purauers aud shows signs OF heht.
When the council met in commit
too AZ the whole, to-day, the contestant,
(Fultor) through his attorneys, imme,
dintoly began proving the fraudulent
character OF the returns from tho oleV-
eLth ward. These returns had already
boon proven so putred that Atkins was
unable through his witnesses 70 point
out a single genuine ballot IN the eloV-
anth ward box. His entire detonso
cOnsis ted OF an exhaustive document,
lahOriQusly alleging IN superficial
manner the existence OF fraudulent bal
lots in the boxes OF the other
wards; for instance, in the seventh
ward. Atkins alleges the petition
OF such hgiuous uilenses against the
olDCrou laws Hs the "pastiug together
OF one ballot.m Another ballot, ho
nilcCls, "h1d a circle upon 10 made
with ueIcll,n while still another was
scra.ched with blue pencil. In tNis
manner no ouuuCrtttsi aud perhaps
other petty Irregularities. The attGr-
noys for Atkins ~ the con.
by Fulton, attempted 20 call
witnosses aud prove for whom they
voted Tor mayor iu tie eleventh ward.
Fulton objected 10 this ON tho ground
thai TO show for whom they voted
wolld be equivalent 10 hold
INK an election 40 Time
ant manner not provided for ~ law
and on motion OF Alderman L-ei by Il
vote uf o To- 8, the testimony
offered by Atkins WAS rejected
This brought on crisis. Tho
attorneys Tor Atkins, Gitor Aasty CON.
sultatiou, re-eutCrCd the chamber and
camp By announcing that Az
kins withdrew his case from
further consideration OF the council and
would appeal to a more learned ri
bunal. Tho strangost part Of
the proceed ng was tho pompuus
announcement by tho Junior attorney
thai he tooK the responsibility
OF saying that tho contested (Atkiusl
WoulQ continue 10 hold the Office OF
Mayor, pending the decision Of the case
by The courts. This is the rub. Fulton,
with the eleventh ward throughout, has
an undisputed majority OF 81 votes.
Yet Atkins refuses TO abide by any
result the city council may determine
and dehdntly declares war by ANNOUNCE
ing that no will continue 10 be
mayor, no matter what the
council id0es, until dispossessed
by more learned tribunal" The sit,
uation tonight is one of apprehension
and anxiety. AS soon as Atkins with
drew from the contest to avoid his i'm
pending defeat he repaired to his Office
and immediately began the wholesale
decapitation of old and tried members
of the city police force. BY nighttall
he had summarily dismissed 20 police,
men, including two detectives. Ill had
also dicharged several minor employees.
some days ago he discharged l3 police
men, including Chief OF Police Jerdon,
and appointed others in their stead.
Thus tonight the entire police force
of the city are new men, every one
of whom is a stroDggpartisan of Atkins.
1t certainly looks as though Atkins was
preparing TO physically resist the order
% the city council hurting him from
office. That such mandate will
be issued tomorrow, nobody doubts.
Excitement over the probable outcome
is apparent everywhere. Popular feel
in is decidedly against Atkins and mis-
methOds