Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-29
PETERSBURG.
prsuIr or THE ELECTION ExcIrEo
STATE or FEELING.
se,,sa, Treublsin the sixth ward-rarbu-
lent seenss-A Mixed Ticket kiec'ea'
An Anticipated Warm Litigation.
,.,o,,e.popdence ofthe Richmond Dispatch


PrTRKBpao, VA, May -, 1856.
The result OF the election In this city yes
,s,day. which was not fully known until
ms morning. has caused decided sensa-
ton and much excitement. Both parties
were confident Of victory yesterday, and
bolb oartics arc disappointed this morning.
complete returns from five OF the six
WARDS elect four 81 the candidates on the
tStlzcnS tieket--yiz: r. NJ. Dobie, Tor May
or. by 10 majority; William b. Mcllwainc,
for Commonwealth attorney, by i9l ma
IoTiiy; l.. o. Badger, for high constable,
Nv s. majority, and Il. II. Cooley, colored,
nv 20 majority. Two candidates on the
Republican ticket sre elected by the same
r,tutns viz: Major J. \. Johnson. for
,hsrin, by i6 msjority; Major Thomas u.
bond, for collector Of city taxes, by rs
majority.
In The sixth ward serious trouble arose,
In eorssouspce of which the vote OF the
ward was not counted. In this ward the
Reppllicans claim that COG votes were cast,
az which they saw 476 were east openly Tor
the Republican ticket. and the balance Tor
the Citizens' candidates. When the polls
were closed and the judges were about to
canvass the ballots the door OF the judges
room was forced open by Republicans, who
demanded that representatives OF ihelr
marty should be allowed to be present and
witness the count. This was denied, a. u
had been decided that representatives OF
neither party should he admitted 10 the
room. Much confusion followed, and II Is
said that weapons were drawn, OUT iortu-
rately not used. The Judges reiuSed 10
count The ballots under the circumstances
and decided 10 seal the ballot-box and carry
txff no
They were followed 10 the Jail by
laroc ard excited crewd OF negroes,
many ol them armed with sticks and clubs.
Their excitement was manifested IN va
,lous WAYS. The least indiscrCtion on the
p,rf OF any one in the crowd might ana
nrobabjy would have precipitated RIOT,
with serious consequences. Al the lall
copcjilatory speeches were made nv Ser
peaut Johnston and Mr.. X. Nj. Dobie,
which somewhat qiiieted the excited feel
ing. and il was agreed by representative
az both parties that the ballot-box should
he taken back 10 the polling precinct and
counted. II was accordingly taken back,
but In the absence OF one or more OF the
Judges. who declined to have anything fur-
Their 10 do with the matter. the ballots were
not counted, and th" box was again re-
turned TO the scTgcants cuS,ody. IL has
one Of the Judges aud two police officers,
who Rave orders TO allow no one TO ap-
rro1cb IL. Upon the failure TO count the
vote OF this ward the Republicans base
charges OF fraud, and the matter will be
carried INTO the courts.
II Is understood that Hon. John :. Wise
has been engaged as counsel in behaf OF
the Republicans. He arrived In town on
the noon train. and was taken at once TO
the residence Of Senator Malone, where the
matter was fully discussed, and il j. pre-
sumed the plan oil proceedings mapped out.
II i not believed that there Is any law 10
ccmvel the canvass of the Sixth ward bal
LOIS after the proceedings Of last evening. IL
there Is, the friends of the citizens move
mont viii have IL shown in the courts.
The election OF 1882, as win be we'll re-
m,mhercd, resulted in a protracted and
costly litigation i'm the courts, which was
not finally ended in The Supreme Court
for many months. During that period
there was dual government III our city,
with two sets Of police and two sets OF mu'
nicipai departments. IL looks to-day as
though there may he repetition oil this ia
nous contest.
i,ie vote IN the city yesterday was light,
agpreeaiing less than $500. There was
decided falling of in both the white aud
colored vote, and much scratching on both
sides. Leaving out Sixth ward the Gnu
zens elect eight and the Republicans two
councilman. Ten Republican aud two
Democratic councilmen hold over for two
years---making the body now stand ten
iitizen and Democratic TO eleven Republic
cans and one Independent.
General Malone came from Washington
10 vote. Ex-Governor Cameron, IL il said,
lost his vote by failure TO obtain his trans
fer.
The commissioners OF election will meet
tomorrow TO canvass the vote "a The city.
Until their action is known, il Is probable
that no positive steps % bring tDe sixth
ward case before the courts Will be taken.
From the results Of the two recent cleo
ton. il looks as though the end OF Republic
can rule in Petersburg Is not far distant.
The 30th day Of this month falling on
Sunday, the following day will be observed
es Federal Memorial day. There are two
large Union cemeteries near Petersburg, In
winch are buried many thousand OF north
crn soldiers, The cemeteries are Kept in
admirable order, With complete records oil
all the known dead. The one near City
Point will be decorated by the people OF
that Mace and the officers and sailors Of The
Monitor feet. Hundreds OF people OF this
city will visit Poplar Grove cemetery, In
Dinwiddie county, with flowers and ever
greens on Memorial day. As far as learned,
however, there will be no formd ceremo-
mics at either place.
The closing exercises Of the public High
School OF this city and OF Anderson school,
on Washington street, took place to-day IN
the presence Of large assembages.
ROBIN ADAIR.