Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-05-06
ILLEGAL VOTES.
Eighteen Fraudulent Republican Ballots
Proven In Marshall County.
CAMERON. W. VA. NAV 3


CAMERON, W. VA, May
To ne Editor Of ne Reotster:
SIR Yesterday closed two weeks seige
taking depositions in the Atkinson and
Pendleton contest at Cameron. We believe
the testimony will bear us out when We
say it places on the record eighteen lille
gal votes. counteracts the evidence Of con-
testants in six votes and shows one vote to
be- legal that was thrown out by the Com
missioners of Election Mr. J. @. Newman,
Of Moundsville, acted Is notary. He is
efficient, good scribe sad does the work
we'll. Messrs. II. S. White, Dennis Neigh
en- and T. O. Pipes in turn acted as coun-
sci for contestants, and VIM. NJ. Kincaid
for defense.
The contest developed The fact that four
idiots and two paupers voted in Wolf Run
precinct, Marshall county. The sbarpest
Of the four idiots was put on the stand,
and when asked If be voted for ''Sol
White for Congress said, ayes, II voted
for that ST fsller;" could not tell what
county OF State ne lived ia, when he was
born nor the nature OF an oath. One Of the
psupers told the election board he was
drawing support from the county, yet his
vote was received. Another had not voted
for number of years. 10 all tine charges
alleged by the contestants so far as we
know there il no charge OF voting pAupeTs
aud idiots. Under the laws Of this State,
when men of good sense and sound iudg-
ment lead to the polls such men and have
them deposit their ballots they commit a
wilful wrong and should suffer the penal
ties OF the law. When men 90 upon the
principal that every vote counts one re-
gardless OF the legality of the vote, so 1t
goes in for the right party, they certainly
have no regard for fair dealing and have
no interest in seeing the law faithfully
executed and care nothing for corrupting
the election. Selt-interest and political
agrandizsment is the aim, and to gain
this, they are willing TO sacrifice honor,
principal, law, and country TO gain their
point. Mistakes may occur with election
boards in various ways, and they are
excusable, but ignorance of so many
facts that surrounds the voting
OF paupeIs and idiots and non-resldents
is no excuse whatever. And board OF
Commissioners who set as judges at an
election and permit such work to 20 on
without investigation and without exami-
alton, are unfit for tine high position they
occupy and should be held amenable TO
the Law, and no good citizen, who believes
in Justice and fair dealing viii stand by
silently and see such work 20 on without
raising his voice against it, and if Justice
cannot be had upon the ground, carry 1t
MP before the courts Of his country and at
least show up the ignorance of the viola
tors OF the law If they cannot be punished
more severely.
I hope the contested elections 10 this
state will be determined upon law and
Justice. and that those having in charge
the fual adjustment, Of the governor con-
test aud those who determine the congTts
sional contests, will lay aside party pref
udice and deal only with facts without
tear or favor from any one or any Political
party in accordance with testimony and
| law. VENI YIDI.