The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-12-22
THE CONTEST SETTLED.
b. B. Hancock Sworn in As the Alderman
From the Eighth Ward.

b. B. Hancock Sworn in As the Alderman
From the Eighth Ward.
Pursuant to adjournment the city
council met yesterday afternoon at 8
O'Clock for the purpose of settling the
Eighth ward aldermanic contest,
wherein Alderman A. H. Newton
sought to contest the election of H. B.
Hancock to the place, alleging illegal
voting. AT the opening hour
only FIVE aldermen were
present bat call of the council soon
brought in a quorum and business
was proceeded with.
The contestant was represented by
Mr.. r. HI. Ward and Col. Fred Calle-
ton while the interests of the contestee
were looked after by Messrs. Fisher g.
Townes and Fiset & Miller.
On motion of Alderman North it
was decided that the contest should
first introduce evidence in
support of his allegations; the
contestee was then to introduce evil
dence in defense, to be folio we'd by
the contestant in rebuttal if desired.
No argument was to be heard from
counsel.
Judge Townes objected to the reso-
luton, claiming that no evidence
could be legally heard, as Mr.. Newton
had not made his allegations specific
enough, and that he did not in his
contest paper even claim to have been
elected.
MIR. Ward, for the contestant,
claimed that the statute
referred to by Judge
TONNES had been declared unconsti
tutional by the supreme court, and
that the only thing the council had
to be governed by was the new char
ter which would admit the evidence.
On motion of Mr.. North the council
directed the city clerk to open the
eighth ballot box, 80 as to disclose the
poll list giving the residences, street
and number of the voters which did
not appear on the duplicate list.
The taking of evidence as to
the residence of the forty-five
voters whom Mr.. Newton claimed
had voted illegally was then begun
and Willie Carpenter, A. w. Harri- |
son, Jake Spence, Deputy Constable
j. D. Plum, Officer w. A. Cato and
A be Tinnin ere examined.
At this point the contestant asked |
time for consul alton, which was
granted. At the end of twenty min
utes Mr.. Ward stated that his client
had not been able to obtain the poll
list until few minutes before,
and he therefore asked that
the case be postponed |
until next tuesday in order to give
time for looking up further evidence,
Judge Townes objected, claiming
that contestant should have known
his case before filing his allegations
of fraud.
The council refused to grant fur
Their time.
The examination was then contin-
ued, Ed Brooks, Albert Doyle, John
Monroe Hudson, James
Lands, Geo. Mcconnell, Allan Rob-
ertson Willie Scott, Alex Veal and
Albert Harrison, men whom the con-
test claimed did not live in the
ward, yet had voted there
were then placed on the stand. Tn y
all swore that they were bone fide
resident. of the ward on the day OF
the election.
The contestant then submitted his
ca as did the contestee, and on mo-
ton of Alderman North it was by
unanimous vote decided to be the
sense of the council that the contest
ant tailed to make his case.
Alderman Linn moved that Fl. b.
Hancock be installed as the alderman
from the Eighth ward, which motion
prevailing, the oath of office was ad-
and the council stood ad.
iourned.