Daily Republican., 1885-06-24

THE CONTESTED ELECTION
CASE HI THE 9TH WARD.
Mr.. BARNHILL' s PETITION

lHoBVcCl1A hCOtAuB Vi oAey SUuuCii
was called 70 order promptly Of 8 o..
who stated the object Of the meeting to
be the consideration of the petition OF
James Lynn. In reference to the election
ward. The petition was read by the
Clerk, and ~ soon az be closed, Mr..
Baynard moved that the, ballot-box Of
the Twenty second district be opened,
and the votes counted, but Withdrew
his motion 10 allow Mr.. Merris Taylor
to present the petition of Mr.. George T.
Barnhill.
This petition asks that in addition to
counting the ballots, as requested by
Mr.. Lynn, that Council fully Investigate
and Inquire into all the circumstances
of the election in the Twenty second
district. II also states that II Is the be-
lief Of the petitioner that many illegal
votes were cast for James Lynn, and
that men were allowed 10 vote ON tax
receipts not stamped, and concludes by
saying that It is the belief OF the peti-
TONER that he himself was legally elect.
ed. 1t was accompanied by the usual
affidavit sworn To before William Lee,
q notary public.
Mr.. Merris Taylor said that he
scarcely knew what course to pursue In
this matter, bnt what ever was done
would have to be done according to the
city charter, and as 1t would take some
time to be fully prepared to take proper
action in the case, he moved that when
Council al djourn II be 10 meet again mex
Tuesday night. The motion was car
ried by q strict party vote, and Mr.
Baynard then moved that the ballot
box of the twenty.second district b,
opened and the votes counted. Mr.. Mer
ris Taylor said he did not zee wha
could be accomplished by opening the
box at present, and thought it would bt
better TO let the entire matter go ovel
until the next special meeting.
Mr.. Baugh said no was In favor o1
giving both Mr.. Lynn and Mr.. Barnhil
"a fair chance In this matter, and he die
not think either would suffsr by letting
tn Q matter rest for week, or even two
weeks. A question of contest had ariser
that could not be decided at this meet
ing.
Mr.. Baynsri said he could not Sc,
what good could be accomplished BY
postponing the matter, and though
that IL the ballots were counted .. once
it would greatly expedite the hearing
of the case. For his part he was willing
to be governed by the ballots In The
box, and If they were counted it would
be shown who was elected and end tht
case.
Mr.. r. ii. Tay lor asked Mr.. Baynard il
he was willing TO have the box opened
without having the officers who con
Quoted the election present to testify
that IL was in the same condition thai
1t was when they scaled 1t. The boz
may have been tampered with since
the election, and that was the only way
by which 1t could be ascertainet
whether it had been or not.
Mr.. Baynar replied that while ther'
was considerable truth In that, he hat
acted ON the supposition that all VIII,
had handled the box were perfeotl,
honest.
The discussion was continued shor
time longer, when Mr.. Blake moved t,
amend Mr.. Baynard's motion, by lay
ing tue matter over for one week, an,
the amendment was carried, all tn
Democrats voting in the affirmative
and the Republicans in the negative.
On motion nf Mr.. Eerris Taylor, tn
clerk was instructed to summon tn
/, election officers of the Twenty secon
, election district to be present next Tuei
day night. and Council then adjourned