Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-11-29

| 1ne name OF TIE COukIt nonnn S's'A@o S'A
teenth Oo the list. Now mark what absurd
ity thsse vain defenders of pure ballot
involve Themselves in. DOtsany sane man
believe that these election officers are CON-
pesent 10 testify fiom memory, three WesEs
aitsr counting, that oaly one OF these 2o1
tickets WAS scratched for Congressman!
They did not make particular note OF the
Confessional vote, and in all some 3,OOO
names had to pass before their eyes. There
were scratches on all of these, and yet the
absurd claim is set up that these men are
capable of sirgliDg ont one particular
scratch, and telling exactly who was
scratched and how the scratch was made.
This is the very foundation Of the great
noise and tumult that has been raised, No
court OF ofiustice would listen to such tiimsy
evidence for a moment, snd 1t Is hardly
possible that it will avail these bold con-
spirators who have set themselves 30 black
en- the fair fame of Wetzel county and de-
feat the honest results Of an honest elec-
tion.
SOME VERY PECULIAR MEMORIES.
There is another statement which TIE
REGISTER's representative has on good ati'
thority, and which goes long way to show
the utter worthlessness of the memory OF
these particular election commissioners, on
close contest. There was great interest
in the county seat question at New Mar
tinsville, and when the returns were
brought in from Archer's Fork, one of tbe
precirCts in which the charge Of fraud is
made, the official who presented them was
aRked how the precinct voted for County
Seat.
'Oh we were all solid for removal was
the reply. There were only eighteen votes
against it,"
"Are you certain ofitP"
'Yes, am. 1 have il on slip with
me-"
The word of the confident official WAS
accepted as good until the retuIns from
Archers Fork were canyassed and 6S votes
were found sgairst removal. A similar
mistake was made on the vote in favor OF
removal. 1t was placed at over 200 when
10 reality it was less than 175.
This was within two days after the elec.
tion, and now tie memories of thsse men
that were not gtOI for 50 vo!es within 48
hours after The polls clcsei, ara relied on
10 prove the exact number of tickets
scratched for one particular Office out Of
twenty-fonr. 1t is on such rottsn stuhb!e
that the Republican hue and cry is raised.
It's gaUzinsss will not bsar the inspection
OF day, let alone q searchiog examina-
ton before COurt Of justice.
Tae Scratched Ballots.
Thee is nothing TO explain about the
errors found in the Martins School House
and Archtr's Fork vote. They need no
explanation. The only important changes
were on scratched Atkinson ballots. The
scratches were plain in every case. They
admitted Of no doubt. was shown care
ful copies Of ths scratches and their char
lcter is sufficient to prove that tEey were
made honestly by honest voters. No two
we're alike. Some were made with hard
pencil and one or two with soft pencil.
On one ballot Atkinson's name was mark
ed out with four stars thus.
On another by straight line, and on still
others by irregular, broken and waver-
ing lines, but all plainly showing the
intention of the voter. The most peculiar
scratch If all the REGIsTER is able 10 pre-
seat the public almost as lt,appeared on
the ballot 1t WAS an Atkinson ballot, with
all bat three letters Of the name scratched:
--Atk- Under the first
double linz q faint G. W. could be seep,
while under the second the remainder OF
Geo. Wssley's euphonious name WAS partly
visible. Anoth:r Atkinson ballot was
scratched, with Ysatsr, candidate for State
Senator, written in. And there Tal still
another in which the names OF Ieater,
Wyatt and Pendloton, all Democrats, were
substituted for their opponsnta.
These scratched ballots are the only evil
deucss of the fraud" about which Mr.. At
kinsou and his friends are bowling 70 lus-
nly, In themselves they ore conclusive
prcof of the honesty Of the hands that mark
ed them. They could not have been made
bv the zane man. Both the scratches and
the manner of scrscshiug prelude such
possibility.
There i, another significant fact to which
puhlic attention has not been called. The
ballots in which the changes are aleGe1
TO have been male, were the most careful
ly sealed of all the returns sent in. They
were strung, wrapped tightly in a roll and
the rcl securely listened. 1t was tnen
enclosed with the poll books in sealed
bag. Tais bag was broken open by the
County Court in order 70 secure the poll
books. The roll Of ballots was uubroken,
aud remained 50 until opened by the
Court for the purpose CT a recount. There
were slight irregularities IN other districts
Yet tho?e districts were recDuntet with
out word of opposition from the Repubh-
can counsel.