Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-01-03
THE CONTEST.
The Contestor Rests His Case and the
Contestee Produces Some Important
Testimony.

siderable attraction to the citizens o
the city and vicinity today on accoun
of the trial going on over the contes
Of the probate judge election.
The testimony was watched witt
close interest, as the spectators appa
rentIy took in all the points Of tn,
irst trial of the kind ever held il
Dickinson county.
| Hon. G. w. Hurd with his associ
ates, c. Kohler and John Johntz, occu
pied the judges bench.
When the court met this morning a
10 o'clock, it continued its examina
ZION of the vote in Jefferson township
there being IA votes there to be passed
upon by the court.
b. Ruffner was the first witnes,
called He testified that he is a resi-
dent of jefferson township and said
hat he voted for w. z. Seeks for pro-
Date judge. He handed his ticket to
Ben Peck and he thought he could tell
The ticket he voted il he saw it. The
tickets we're produced and the witness
was excused to get pair of eye glasse.
| j. Taylor was then called. He testi-
fled that be voted for w. p. Seeds fol
probate judge. He saw his ticket 60
into the box; he could identify his
ticket. The tickets were shown t.,
witness who found the ticket he voted
Samuel McMinch testified that he is
d resident of Jefferson township; he
voted for w. p. Seeds for probate judge;
wrote two names on ticket; gave tickel
to 5. Mauchly; saw it go in box; says
he can identify his ticket; the tickets
were presented to witness who fOunu
i,is ticket.
b. Ruffner recalled to examine
tickets; could not find his ticket. The
witness was called upon to write the
names of parties that were written on
his ticket. He was sure certain names
appeared on his ticket but could not
find it.
q. w. Ogden: He is a resident of
Jefferson township and voted for w
z. Seeds for probate judge; gave bis
ballot to B. w. Peck; says ballot box
was not on desk; did not see his ballot
go in box; did not watch his ticket;
witness says he can identify his ballot.
Ballots were handed to witness for ex-
animation. Witness wrote the names
of L. F. Smith for S. Senator, r. n
Smith for county attorney and G. Bur
ION for township trustee. The witness
examined tickets and found his ticker
Andrew Guntenbine: He is a resi-
dent of Jefferson township; says b,
voted for w. p. Seeds; John Rix fixed
his ticket for him; he voted ticket Rix
gave him; could not identify his ticket. |
John RiX: Was acquainted with
Gantenbine; made up his ticket fol
him; Seeds name was left printed Oh
the ticket; made several tickets |
identify this ticket because he |
fixed so many; was sure he did moi |
change Seeds name; could tell whether
the tickets he fixed were voted or not. |
The court then adjourned for the |
dinner hour.
Upon reassembling at l o'clock, the |
continued.
Several more witnesses of the con-
teStor were examined, all being of |
jefferson township. They were nearly
all foreigners and unable to read Eng
liSh. Their tickets were fixed for them |
by others, chiefly Rix. They were I'M
able. of course, to identify tickets.
They believed that they voted for Seeds.
SATURDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
Another day Of the probate judge
ship contest is gone and yet the trial is
far from the end. There
was today a large attendance at the
court room and the testimony was
listened to with interest.
The ten or twelve witnesses called
today were from Jefferson township.
They were
Adam Gantenbine: Thought he
could identify his ticket; voted for
Seeds; was shown tickets; couldn't
find his.
7. Nj. Jones: Voted for Peck; usu-
ally voted Democratic; scratched Seeds
name; couldn't find his ticket.
John Sem: Voted for Seeds; fixed
his own ticket; gave it to Peck; ex-
amines tickets and finds his.
Jacob HOrning: No names written on
his ticket; other straight tickets were
voted.
The testimony of the remainder was
similar to that already given and it is
not necessary to repeat it in detail.
There have been eighteen witnesses
thus far examined. There is consider
able more testimony to come in from
jefferson township as well as that from
the other precincts.
MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
The Seeds-Peck contest continued to |
occupy the curt organized for its trial
all day. The examination of witnesses |
for the prosecution was still before the |
trihnnal durinu the mornipu