Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-15
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: MONDAY. FEBRUARY Is, 1885,
Election Stories.
Froal tAs Tdldosta lGa.l Times.

IRON tae , dtuoStd tflsl 4tnless
The election Wednesday, like all other
elections, brought out some good election
stories. One gentleman told OF an cleo
ton that occurred some years ago IN Ber-
rien county which "tskes the cake" In
one of the militia districts an election was
ordered for bailif OF the Justice Court.
When the day arrived about thirty OF for
ty voters met at the precinct. One man
had announced himself as a candidate,
but his candidacy was not acceptable TO
many in the district, and the crowd
that gathered tried to get up an
other candidate, but failed. No one
would consent TO run. Tue polls were
duly opened and the voting began, but
proceeded very slowly. indeed. Only now
and tnen man was prompted TO drop mis-
ballot in the DOx, while the major portion
of the crowd held back and some OF them
engaged in semi-seriOus conversations in
little groups. The polls were to close at
8 o'clock and up to p, m. only about ten
or twelve votes had been pOlled.
The lone candidate for the office stood
around confidently, as it was evident
no other would now be brought forward.
Alter , O'Clock, when it had been an-
nounced two or three times that the polls
would close in a short while, the hesita-
ting voters rose and began putting in the
ballots rapidly, and in a few moments all
had voted. The lone candidate came TO
the conclusion that they mad determined
announced that the polls had been closed
he broke out in broad smile all over his
face.
But there was a widely known and
very popular coon dog in the district
named "Old Mig" When the votes were
! counted out Old Mig had beaten the lone
candidate 10 votes.
On another occasion, in the same
county, during the war, there was a
vacancy on the bench of the Interior
! [ art, and an election was ordered. 1t
WAS an item in those days 10 get on
| the Inferior Court bench, because it
! exempted q man from service IL the
war. AS might have been expected there
were two candidates Tor the Office, and
the wonder is that many more did not
/ seek it. By chance the two candidates
| came together on the road while on their
| way to the court ground. one called
/ from his buggy to the other and proposed
/ that they exchange vOtes-each vote for
| the other. The party to whom the propo-
/ sition was made was little deaf and an
swered "ail right" misunderstanding his
/ opponents meaning entirely.
| The polls were duly opened and the vot-
/ ing progressed smoothly. When the
count began the party who was slightly
/ deaf Dulged right of with all the votes,
and it kept on SO. When over half the
/ ballots had been counted his opponent had
not had a single vote put TO his credit.
/ When it was two-thirds done still be mad
not received a vote, and then the boys be-
/ gan 10 smile and smoker and make re-
! marks.
Hold on, boys, I be darned If there
/ amt one vote in there for me. You will
/ hear from it directly" he said.
The count went on, and when the last
/ ballot was recorded on the tally sheet his
! opponent had received every vote pOlled.
! "Swindled, by CAD, Outen my own
| VOtel" he exclaimed, aud he turned and
| left the ground at once.