Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1888-12-14

book in my presence and | thel
looked up and found two representa-
tive respectable gentlemen, friends
and supporters of the new board ant
Democrats,snd told them at o'clocl
would open tho poll book aud per
nit any and all persons to examine
il in my presence and that | desired
when | opened il that at least two
on each side should be present and
examine 1t before any one could have
any chance to mutilate or change ii
One of those gentlemen said lie die
not~have time to come or did not de
sire TO come or words TO that effect
the other said he would come and
bring some one with him but in
about an hour he came TO my Office
and notified me that the friends OF
the new board had taken legal coun.
sci and did not wish to be present or
participate in any recount | very
politely told him there was no re-
count to be made, but only an oppOr-
tunity given to every one TO see tn
book because, when first opened
preferred some one on each side should
be present, but he and others could
do as they pleased about attending.
In the meantime and before noon
met with A. II. Anderson and told
him the book wonld be opened at
o'clock and hq could send any one
down he wished TO look at il.
At or about O'Clock Monday Har-
ry Ferguson and Ohio Anderson
came into my Office, aud after wait
ing a short time to see if Others
would come, l got out aud opened
the book on my table, aud about that
time Mr.. Bell, local editor on toe
New Era, came in and in my pres
ence, those three gentlemen examined
the books and made notes of such
things as they wished, but none OF
them touched pen or pencil to the
book and no mark ofpen or pencil has
been made on or in it since the cleo
lion officers turned 1t over to me
While these gentlemen were look.
ing at il to satisfy their curiosity, |
also looked at it and made some notes
on slip of paper.
During all this time my office
door was not locked and any
person who desired could have come
in, and since then various other gen
'lemen have looked at the book ia my
presence. Since one o'clock Monday |
have permitted every one who call.
ID and asked to look in and examine
t in my presence, because it is pub
ic document and | have no right 10
efnse citizens OH all proper occasions
0 see and examine il, but none of
hem have or will be permitted to
make pen or pencil mark in it.
Within an hour or two after one
clock Monday the report was spread
II the streets that a recount was 90
lg on by another board, that the
Ook was being tempered with and
hanged and great frand psrpe-
ated, and as have been reliably
formed, | was all that afternoon
I'd pretty much ever since, by
great many persons abused, cursed
nd vilified almost without limit, but
Ot in my hearing, and one of the
ewspapers of the city has published Z
)usive editorials about me with
aiming head lines and saying things
fan the flame Of public excitement.
I'd intimatiDg that l was PREACHER
Is and needed 10 be watched. Ia
ldition to all that, all manner of
Use reports have been going the
funds of the city as to what have
id from time to time in reference
giving certificates of election.
Many persons have asked me many
lestions as to what | was goiug TO
D and TO whom | was going TO give
rtidcates of election, whether or
IT ! was going to correct mistakes
officers of election in adding up
e votes. Now | state that the on
answer have ever given to any
lman being as 10 what / would do
not do has been that | intended to
We the matter fair aud honest in.
and study all The law |
uld find on the point aud without
vor to any one or either side
just what in my humble opinion
e law requires me to do, and any
.e who has or may say that | have
ID or minated anything more than
at is mistaken and statiug what is
t true. have also stated all the
ne that | would decide and issue
as soon as | could exam.
the law and satisfy myself as to
v duty.
Monday, Tuesday aud part of We'd
sday was so engaged in other
alters | had but little time to give
it. | may have stated to some per-
rs that certain corrections would
ely be made by the Council when
meets but nothing except what ]
We stated as to what would or
'uld not do as City Clerk.
Not satisfied with all the cursinp
vilifying that had been hesped
on me,ou TdeslIy night nu nber
citizens saw proper TO call and
d pubic meeting TO discuss nv
ion, aud what they termed m,
,deeds aud treachery, and at that
Ctirg they passed a resolution
handing Of me that issue c.rtif-
es Of election to those ANNOUNCED Il
elected Saturday night. r
have already shown that | made |
de no official announcement. That L
cling appointed a COMMITTEES to W
IL OH Inc and furnished me said fir
Dlution. | received and treated 70
IN pc iiely and they demanded to SO
w v hat | was going to do and to sv
ON | would give the certificate. / N,
them frankly | would as toon as tic
ould examine the law give il to We W,
ON thought legally entitled 10 il. 70
md in this connection | will say ne ne
70 been Informed that il has been al al
,ulaied and told that / said IL the pr.
zens would sign petition to me O.,
ing me to give a certificate TO an
SO mentioned in the above resU.u. -
/ | would do 80. ! here state that =
ever said it or anything like it. 7
must cay that the gentlemen u
lposing that meeting and signing
Sc resolutions have strange ideas a.
he sworn duty of a public officer.
idea Is that ! decide this matter /
Ter my oath of office by what the
says and not by what certain OF
number of c items may demand 4
ne to do, and with my views OF
matter and my sworn duty no
Maud that citizens by resolution
,ht make would have the least in.