The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-11-04


Thomas majority. 400
SECOND WARD.
MARSHALL. ........ 437
THOMAS. Observation-Disclosures. 374
f1eermans. 1S9
Hartwell. ....... 24G
This tells tho story. The Second
ward was the decisive battle field in
yesterdays war and here both parties
made their hardest fight. Both Hart
we'll and Thomas were on the field early
and they were ably assisted by their
lieutenants.
There was some dispute in this ward
about the time for opening the polls,
and the Republicans claim that they
were opened fifteen minutes before sun
rise. The Republican Judge of election
presented himself at the polls shortly
after they were opened, and he claims
before sunrise, but he was barred out
and the voting proceeded without any
one to look after the interest of the Re-
publicans.
AS early as seven o'clock yesterday
morning the voters began to arrive and
were eagerly besieged by workers of
both parties. In this ward the little
blue ink ticket got in it's work and
quito number Of half and half ballots
found their way into the ballot box.
The voting took place at the market
house, and "a the market was open half
the day there was glorious mixture all
the morning of politicians, wives, hus-
bands, servants, butchers and other
tradesmen.
So enthusiastic did some Of the poll
ticians become, that they presented
ballots to ladies passing in and out CT
the market And one man, in his en-
deavor to help the cause he represented,
put whole handful of tickets into a
basket containing several chickens. 1t
is unknown whether the chickens voted
yesterday or not.
There was an element OF uncertainty
in this ward all day long and tho hopes
OF both parties rose and fell as the.
hours passed. At one time Thomas was
ahead and the Democrats were Offering
big odds that their man would be
elected. At another time Hartwell was
i'll tho lead and Republican money be-
came plentiful.
AS the time for closing the polls drew
near a number of Re )ublicans voted in
q body and word went forth that Thomas
wasn't in it," Several bets were made
on the result, and the Republicans were
the cocks of the walk for short time.
Then the vote was announced and soon
nothing but Democrats could be seen in
the vicinity
In this ward the judges of election
were e. L. Kindred, c. p. Read and S.
Is. Deyerle, with e. T. Kindred, Jr.,
and B. Y. Bantry as clerks.
There is some talk among the Repub-
lican leaders of contesting the legality
OF the vote in this ward and carrying
the matter before Judge Robertson.
The Republicans base their action on
the ground that their representative
was ruled out of the polling place and
that the ballot box was placed in such a
position it was impossible to see it from
the voting window.
TIE THIRD WARD.
In tho Third ward was conferred the
hopes of the Republicans. The voting
there began early, but the vote was not
heavy. Tho polls opened on time, but
it was found that clerk was lacking.
Officer Griffin, who was on duty there,
found j. L. DonnellY, and he was duly
sworn in. Following are the officers
who had charge of the election
Judges-,james Buchanan, S. III.
Cheatham and j. p. Hawkins.
Clerks-W. NJ. Garland and j. Il DON
nelly.
The first votes cast were several col
ored men. Then followed few whites,
some of whom came to the polls to work,
and by o'clock there were 63 votes
cast.
Among the workers at the polls were
Major Pitzer, j. Fred Peters, ]. Is.
Norman and others, all Democrats.
The Republican ticket was handled by
Police Commissioner Sproul and several
others, the latter being mostly colored.
The colored vote was cast solidly for
Heermans and Hartwell, and shortly
after o'clock number of split tickets
made their appearance. They were
headed Democratic ticket" and named
Marshall and Hartwell. Several of
these were voted in the forenoon, but
in the afternoon it appeared tn st the
alleged bogus tickets were making a
strong run. The employees of the
foundry and the boiler shop at the Roam
oke Machine Works cut Thomas right
severely, while Mr.. Sproul saw that
tho colored vote was properly consigned,
although he had but little trouble in
that direction. as the Democrats made
no effort to interfere with the negro
vote.
The precinct was located in tho rear
Of the old saloon at the corner OF Fourth
street and fourth avenue n. G. 1t was
q dismal place in the morning, and
many of the hangers.on took refuge
on the sunny side of the street. There
was no great crowd present at any time.
Ever and anon q crowd of negroes
would appear like dark cloud, cast
their ballots and move off or hung
around, standing on one leg in the sun,
or exercising the wonderful prerogative
of the fourteenth and fifteenth amend
ments by gouging some slow negro in
the ribs with handful Of ballots.
The day passed off quietly. Not the