Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-11-06
FraudnIent EIeciion -In.l a. the ]

Fraudulent Election -Just as the IL
DEPENDENT predicted in its last issue, the So
called election which was held in the different
districts OF this county on Tuesday last was
characterized by the most glazing tauds eve
perpeirated on any people
Three hundred or more Republican votes
were thrown out in the county because Of al
legged defects, and about three hundred more
we're counted only for Samuel r. Neave for
surveyor, the ticket being marked beside the
Republican emblem aud again beside the name
Of Neave, and, with the brnzen cheek Of the
fraud, the eonniyers assert that Neaves name
was marked BY folding the ticket This has
been thoroughly tested and il has been shown
that it is untrue, for If any name was blotted
it should have been that of Daniel Bragun.
Ter, and the conclusion arrived at. Is that the
tickets so marked were Fixed by election Off.
cials previous to opening toe polls, and we're
handed out to known Republicans who With
out noticing the mark at the bottom, marked
beside the Republican emblem, folded the
uChet ana passed IL TO the Judge.
In this district one ballot clerk. the Demo-
crat, did not swear, but held up his hand
when the oath was read to him by the Judge.
and when his attention as called to The fact
that he did not kiss the book, By Sheriff Ad
ans, his remark was "by CAD he did not
swear" This official passed out al the tick
et' to voters and, contrary to law, be had
several tickets lying marked, with his initials
in front of him on he table.
In opening the polls and when the Republ-
can ballot clerk failed to go with the Demo.
cratic ballot clerk TO see a ticket marked and
bis attention being called to his neglect Of
duty by the Republican challenger, the Judges
decided that the Republican challenger must
make no suggestions to the ballot clerks, and
upon more than One occasion only Que ballot
clerk marked or saw the marking of the lIt-
crates ticket.
Charles H. Butler came in to voc and he
states that without being requested the Demo
cratic ballot clerk followed him TO the booth
and when he had marked his ticket beside the
Republican emblem the said ballot clerk told
him TO mark 1t in another place and he, think
ing that the ticket would not count for the Re
pnblicans, without said mark, put il on -
On this statement being made to the Judges by
the Republican challenger, the ballot clerk
made no denial, SIMPLY asserting that he had
not marked the ticket.
Over sixty tickets in this district were
marked at the head of the Republican ticket.
and beside the name of Neaye, anil counted
only for Neave. Forty-four Others straight
Republican tickets were thrown ont because
the name of the President of the Board of Su
pervisors was not fac-simile signature.
Democrats claim that those tickets which
had forged initials OF one of the ballot clerks,
were issued by Republican managers on the
outside, While Republicans characterized the
charge as malicious lie started by Democrats
for the purpose of throwing Off suspicion from
themselves
Thev say with truth. why woull Repuhl-
cans want to give their men spurious Re
publican ticket. The idea is absurd m NJ
sensible man will entertain it for a moment
Republicans say and believe and we expect
that every body else will believe, dat the tick
cts were in the huudel of lirkeis on the table
already fixed md were handed to kno N Re
puhlicans as they came in to vote u, the Dem
ocraiic ballot clerk, the Republican b,llnf
clerk never at any time putting his initials on
single ticket, aud lersous Offering to vote
them we're not refused ny the pyiee, whore
sworn duty il WAS to see that every ticket had
the pro er initials lhereon, anisait was apt
intended that the fraud was to he discovered
until after all the votes we:e cast aud the
counting eS mmenyci. 4s
The so-calpd election was disgrace %
Charles county, enu.i in its rlaring frauds TO
any ever porpetrated in the South 10 disfran-
,hise Republicans and disgracrs the fair nl.'ir
OF our county. And this disgrace aud r H.
lery of the rights and liberties of the people i;
brought about b., those who pretend 70 hAve
tie interests Of the people at heart. i not n
Federal election law an ahI3lu'c NECESSITY?