The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-10
SAYS THERE WAS FRAUD.
cor. sPoTsWOOD WANTS hEcoUNI.
lie Alleges Irregularities mt Several Pre-
cincts. and Saws that Dead Men were
votcd-Tbe Committee TO Meet.
DR.. Iud. q. Wood. chairman of the city

Dr. Jud. b. Wood. chairman of the CITY
Democratic committee. yesterday afternoon
received the following from Col. NJ L. Spots
wood stating that he is dissatisfied with the
face of the returns and the original count OF
the ballots in the late primary contest. and
that he believes q denomination and recount
will show that he was nominated;
RICHMOND. Va. April .. 1892
DR.. Jud B. Wood. Chairman City Democratic
Committee:
NV Dear Sir-I was o candidate for tho DO
sitiOn OF Commonwealth Attorney at the pri-
mary election held IN this city on the 9TH ln-
slant, and / am not satisfied with both the
face of the returns and the original count OF
the ballots, for / believe that re-
count of the returns and re-examina-
ton of the ballots will show that | was
not defeated but on the contrary, nominated
ut said primary. ] now leave with you. as
chairman OF the CITY Democratic committee.
this my written demand for recanvass OF
the returns and recount Of the ballots OF oil
the precincts in this city.
/ specify fraud III the First Marshall pre-
cinct in the First. Second and Third JET
ferson precincts IN this that dead men
were voted anainst ne at these precincts;
also foreigners and persons upon transfers
fraudulentlv obtained. / charge that at
Third Jefferson ballots illegally prepared
were substituted in place OF those oTIgi-
naly voted / charge that there was
improper conduct on the part OF some or
those having control Of the boxes at Second
and Fourth Monroe. | charge that II J am
allowed 10 recanvass the vote cast al 1Dlru
Jefferson that can show that three or four
times as many persons voted for me as are
credited 10 me on the lace OF the returns ana
1 am prepared TO make this recanYass az my
own expense. and to produce TO the commit
tee the afiidayits of those who voted Tor me.
| charge that there we're irregularities 10
other precincts II this city. growing out OF no
intentional effort TO defraud, but the natural
result of mistakes made by honest and true
men. occasoned by oyeTwork and inability
on account OF strain upon the eysight
70 properly read the ballots. Some
OF these gentlemen were steady at
work from o'clock on the morn
ing of the 9Th TO an early hour on the morn
Ing of the 9Th. ! charge that irregularities
and errors. from overwork, occurred at
Second Marshall, First Third and Fifth
Monroe. First. Second Third. Fourth aud
Fifth Clay. The expression OF those officially
connected with the election al First Jackson
was. as / am informed, so pronounced against
me that ought IN justice have recount at
that precinct.
This was supposed to be friendly fight
between gentlemen. and yet the frauds
that ! have alleged and expect to prove
were even greater than those committed
at q general election between the most bit
ter political enemies il these matters
are allowed 10 90 unrebuked by your
honorable committee no gentlemen can al
ford 10 run IN your primaries, II Will be,a
farce for them 10 spend money and work for
weeks and months N all kinds Of weather.
and speak al three and sometimes four clubs
at night. and then TO have few men by fraud
and combination IN few hours to destroy all
of their work.
am not at all sore over the result, and
am. of course. prepared 20 abide the result Of
your deliberate action. but / believe that the
prominent Democratic clubs Of the city want
TO see fair play. and that the good
and true DEM Gratis who really con
stitute the backbone Of our party-irTe-
spective of party preferences heartily
sustain your action n you order TINS recount.
] know that you will be less embarrassed,
because my opponent will am sure. be only
too anxious 20 unite with me IN endeavorlng
20 ferret out frauds and correct errors where
ever they are alleged TO exist.
l remain yours very respectfully,
NJ. J.. SPOTswOoD.
Section y of the plan adopted by the COM
mittee for the primary election refers t. con-
tests as follows.
Any candidate dissatisfied with either the
face OF the returns or the original coUnt of
the ballots NAV. before noon OF the 18th day
of April. 1872. leave with the chairman of the
city committee. and with the contestee, q
written demand for a recanyass OF the returns
or q recount of the ballots or both Of any or
all the precincts of the city specifying therein
such precinct or precincts and the irreg-
uaritles, errors OF frauds alleged, otherwise
there shall be no recanvass OF returns or re-
count of ballots or even then no recount OF
ballots unless the committee shall consider
the demand based on good ground and shall
order such recount. When the chairman Is
notified of a contest as aforesaid no shall at
once call the committee together 10 consider
the same. specifying IN the call the object of
the meeting"
An advertisement in another column calls
the committee 10 meet tomorrow night at
o'clock 10 consider Colonel SpOtswOJd's de-
mand II was stated yesterday that MIR.
Samuel VI. Page, who, it was said. would con-
test his election for councilman in Jefferson
ward, had abandoned the idea.