Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-01-18
THE CONTESTED CASES.
They are to BE Pushed BY the Demo
crats-The Democrats VIII, In all Proba-
bllity, be Seated.

crats-The Democrats VIII, In all Proba-
bllity, be Seated.
Special Telegram to the Register
CHARLESTON, W. VA, January IL
The contested. election cases which have
been presented in the House will be Wig
orously pushed by the Democratic mem
bers. No ore doubts the real merits OF
these cases, and tithe of the evidence
which the Democratic petitioners have
col ecsed il more than sufficient to estab-
lish tieir claim to their seats. /. is not
probable that such bold and sweeping
frauds were committed in any other voting
places in the country, and it would be
hard to believe the full extent OF these
outrsges if convincing proof were not at
hand.
The representative of the REGISTER has
made a careful examination of the petit
tions and bills filed in the Mercer and
Mcdowell cases. The petition Of A. Q.
Davidson, Democrat, against K. G.
Meador, Republican-elect from Mercer
county, shows that of the total vote cast
Davidson received 1, 80, and MeadOr l, $50,
making Meador's majority $40. The psti-
tion then alleges that at Mill Creek voting
place of Rock district, Mercer county, l20
illegal votes were cast in all. Each and
every one of these illegal voters can be
proven to have voted a Republican ticket.
The validity of these ballots is challenged
on various gtourds, but the greater num-
Der. it can be proven, were nonresidents.
Thus is the pTecircs IL which the radical
leader got in his most effective work.
Paupsrs, idiots and minors were voted and
many of these Illegal voters cast their bal
lots twice. The names of all these men are
Sc. forth in the Petition and a clear case
can be made against them.
At Simmons Crsek voting place of the
same district of Mercer county, it appears
from the statements in the petition that
1876 illegal votes were csst. These votes
sre contested on practically the same
grounds rs those at Mill Greek, and the
same conclusive proof can be brought to
establish the fact that they were fraud
ulent.
A similar condition of affairs prevailed
at other voting places in Mercer county,
though in less degree. AT Honsker' 8
Mills 6 non-reside1ts voted, at Oak Vale 8,
at Williamstown l, at Concord / and at
Cross Roads 10. All of these men, 1t will
be shown, voted the Republican ticket
from top TO bottom.
This makes total of 2s2 illegal Repub-
lican votes cast in this county alone, and
the proofs of the illegality are SO apparent
that no fair-minded man can escape con-
yiction. The majority of the fraudulent
voters were ignogrant negroes, who were
made the tools of the interruptions politi-
clans who employed them. SO far from
having residence in West Virginia, t1ey
did not have even a name. They were
known by numbers and compelled to as
sume names for the purpose OF voting
These names them. elves are complete cir
cumstantial proof of fraud. They appear
ed to think it smart trick to take the
name of we'll known Democratic leaders,
and John E. Kenna No 21), Kenna st.
Clair NO. y, VIM. and Joseph Chiffon, T..
w. Wilson, and so on, are among the men
who voted frsudulently.
The evidence in the Mcdowell case Is
equally az extensive and convincing as the
above. Here r. l.. freeman, Democrat,
contests the seat of w. B. Bandy, Republi'
can elect. Bandy's vote in Mcdowell
was 5O2. and Frteman's 81. Freeman
shows that on proper count he would
have "a majority in the county.
At Perry's Bottom, Elkhorn district,
~ illegal votes were cast for the Republi-
can ticket. Not one OF these ~ persons had
been a resident of the State for one year,
or of the county for sixty days, preceding
tie election. At Mayberry precinct, OF
the same district 81 illegal votes were cast,
and all by non-residents. At other pre-
ciucts in the county the same fraud was
perpetrated, though not to so great an eN-
tent. These illegal voters were all resi-
dents of Virginia, and there is evidence 70
show that many Of them voted IN that
State. and in Mercer county also.
The greatest irregularity was pTacticed
in receiving and returning the vote. AT
Board Camp voting place the commission
ers of election were not sworn. One, Ed
munds, a native and resident of North
Carolina, acted as q commissioner OF eltc'
tion at Perry's Bottom. At this precinct,
and also at the Forks of Elkhorn, the com
missioners did not seal the ballots, but left
them exposed TO manipulation for days in
the charge of person who was neither
commissioner nor clerk Of the election.
This man finally delivered the votes at the
Court House, and then il appeared that the
Republican ticket had made very decided
gains, beyond the expectations even Of the
Republican managers. All these facts are
set forth in Freeman's petition and the
proper motors made concerning them. II
" these cases are pushed, and there is every
,eason why they should be, both Bandy
=, nd Meadar will be unseated.