Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-11-17
CLAY DISTRICT
TAKgsUP THB BNTIRB TINE OF THB BOARD
OF COMMISSIONERS
At Yesterdays SssSiOn-Ths Ballots Gore Over
Three Several hms-kr. Atkinson
Loses Three VOtsa.

response 10 the summons OF the Board,
and were sworn as to the circumstances
surrounding the two protested ballots IN
that precinct. Their evidence showed that
as to one ballot the contest was on mem
bers of the Legislature, five candidates
having been voted for instead Of four. The
ballot had been counted as to oil candi'
dates except Legislature. The ballot had,
therefore, been counted for Mr.. Atkinson,
and was so allowed by the Board. As to
the second protested ballot, the commits
sicners stated they had sealed it up because
thsy wero not satisfied the voter was o
resident Of the State. This was a Rspub-
lican ballot, offered by 8 co!ored man.
The voter could not give his residence, but
it has since been aseitlined he is a Gin
cinuati man. Action by the Board upon
this ballot was deferred.
OILY enc of the commissioners from
Washington district, Mr.. W. A. Wilson,
responded TO the summons CT the Board,
at the morning session, although all were
present in the afternoon. They were in-
structed to return on Monday next, and
all the disputed ballots in that district are
therefore laid aside until thea.
The Board then opened the hallos-box OF
Clay district, and preceded 10 make a
recount Of the voteL The lobby at this
time was well-flled with spectators, and
the greatest int, eIt wss manifested. The
poll book Of the district showed that 95l
votes had been cast. TIE count by the
Board showed a total of 491 for Pen.
dleton, AL for Atkinson, and 10 sd-
Judged SIS containing DO vote for
Congressman, making a total OF 952,
or one more than the proper numb'r. On
a second count of the ballots, straight
through, however, only 99l votes were
fourd. 1t was proposed to let this count
stand and throw out o Prohibition ballot,
ON which all the candidates had been
marked of, as being fair and impartial to
each cf the rival Congressional conteetsnts,
but Mr.. Hugua, CT counsel for Mr.. Akin
SOD, obiected s~trenu0u:ly, claiming the
straight count showed one ballot too many,
and that until the p-fssrcs OF that ballot
1 WIS bdlldlaSkOAby
tsken off the PendletOn list.
President GruFe-Why not throw out
the blank ballot? That wOnld be fair for
your candidate, and fair for ours.
Mr.. Hugus-Take one OF your own bal
late. You have found more than the Com
mis:ionCrs gave yOu. Until you explain
how you got that vote, l say take one OF
yours. Then you can say you have done
sour whole duty.
President Gruss-The Board is endeayor-
ing to do its whole duty, fairly and impair
TALLY.
Mi. Hugus-If you want 10 Ie;t under
the imputation resulting fiom the rtJec-
ton OF the ballot you have selected, 60
ahead.
President Gruse-If the Board recounts
the votes, will you agres to pay its per
diem for to-day?
Mr.. Hugus-Ye9, sir.
President Gruse-Put that in writing.
Mr.. Hugus-Pat it in writing, Mr..
Clerk.
President Gruge-You must do that
yourself.
Mr.. Hugus-Thep, Mr.. Clerk, make a
minute that l am required to do this.
Mr.. HuSus started 10 prepare his agree
ment. but on second thought, and after a
conferences with Mr.. Allison, his co
sci, backed out The discussion was then
renewed on the discrepancy as to the num-
Der of ballots, by Nc. McGregor asking
that a record Of the fact be made by the
clerk. He was required to make a writ
ten motion embodylng his idea, and then
Mr.. McGregor aud the attorneys engaged
in q debats in which the whole ground wss
gone over. Mr. Stein protested sg ius. the
motion being recorded, and il was lost.
Mr.. Hugus then renewed his PROPOSE
lion to pay this Board for the time neces-
sary 10 make a recount Ct the ballots, and
drew up and signed the following paper:
81 hereby agree to be at all costs osca-
sioned By q recount Of Clay district, owing
to discrepancy in vOtsS for Congressman,
IS iouad by Board, provided result is not
changed, i. e., from 4s1 for Atkinson and
491 fer PendletOn.
sc. W. ATKINSON.
'By T. J. HUGUs.
"NOv. 1G, '88, 2:47 p. M"
The recount was then commenced, and
was concluded about ten minutes past
four. Daring the progress of the recount
o ballot was found on which Mr. Atklo-
sons name was written almost on top OF
Sir. PendlstOn's and a pen MAX drawn
through the combination thus formed. Re
publicansinsisted thSttEe nsmeOfMr. Pen
dleton had bsen first scratched, and Mr..
Atkinson's name written, while Democrats
claimed the name had been written first
and then 10th scratched cut. MI. Myles
moved that the ticket be not counted for
either cJntestant. The ayes and nays were
called on this, and the vote resulted, syes
S, noes 3. The ticket was not counted.
Mr.. McGregor asked the privilege Of hav-
ing the ballO. photographed.
Mr.. Preident-Tbere is no motion be-
fore the house.
Mr.. Hugus-I ask to have the ballot
folded, so it may be identified.
Mr.. Presi1ent-There is nothing before
the house.
A motion was made 10 have the ballot
| folded, however, and carried.
At twenty minutes TO four Mr. Hugus
objected to the count Of a ticket upon
which AtkinsOn's name was scratched out,
and Pendleton's written. He thought it
was similar to the case next above cited.
It was entirely dissimilar, and even Mr..
Maxwell conceded it should be counted,
and it was. The same gentleman made a
growl at several other tickets which fol-
lowed.
Mr.. McGregor-0h, what's the use, Mr..
Maxwell.
Wien the recount was complsted, the
result was announced: Ptndlston, 49l;
Atkinson, $50; not counted for either, IL;
total, 9S2. Original count: Pendleton,
49l; Atkinson, 4S3; for ne tier, I; total,
98l.
Mr.. Hugus-I have consumed one hour
and thirty-three minutes Of this Boards
time. My agreement was to Ply for it if
the result was the same. The result is
not the same, and l suppose Mr. Pendls-
ton will gladly pay the expenses.
Mr.. McGregcr then moved TO make a
record OF the fast that there was one v1ta
too many. Mr.. My'e' amended this by
summonIDg the election oficersIaf the dis
trict for Monday, and tie moti65 was car
ried.
Mr.. Hugus-I would like to have the
Board submit the disputed blllot in Clay