The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-29

justices OF the peace at the late primary. Con-
siderable time was consumed at the beginning
OF the meeting in n discussion a. TO previous
action of the committee in regard TO the
character of the present session as to whether
II was an open or On executive meeting.
Quite a crowd had gathered in the court
room and the sentiment was in favor Of their
remaining except for the unsafe condition Of
the building. but some OF the committee OPP
posed il on the ground of Partially. Finally
on motion of Mr. Hicks the meeting was
thrown open as long as the Spotswood-Smith
contest was on.
RKCASvAss.
The Chair announced that the first business
before the meeting was a recanyass IN tie
Smith Spotswood case.
Mr. IOmpkIns asked II there were any ille-
gal votes cast in Monroe ward that had not
been counted.
Mr.. Wallace said that he would cheerfully
make motion TO have the vote O. any,pre
cinct in that ward counted If there were any
illegal votes not reported. but he would first
like TO know where they were.
Mr.. Cosby said he lad just heard OF the
matter and that the ballots We're in the hands
of the registrar.
Mr. Hall: We cannot undertake 10 count
ballots that had been outside of the commit
tee three weeks.
Mr.. Tompkins: hope these ballots will be
Investigated.
Chairman: Mr.. Tompkins, you were super
intendent of that ward and it was your duty
TO see that these ballots were put in the box
and sealed and sent to the committee.
Mr. Tompkins l could not watch five pre-
cincts.
Mr. Tompkins said that he heard Of the
illegal votes only that morning and thought
II his duty as superintendent TO report them.
WHAT MR.. SMITH SAID.
During the further discussion Mr.. H. II.
Smith. Jr.. asked the attention of the conf
rnlttee. and SAID
/ came here with the intention OF submit
ting letter. but this discussion came up and
Mr.. Cosby wanted 10 see what was IN IT..
now think this a proper time 20 submit tins
letter TO the Chair. He handed theietter TO
DIR. Wood, and ne TO the secretary. The let
ter reads Us follows:
RICHMOND. VA. April q. 1892
DIR. Jud b. Wood, Chairman Democratic
City COMMITTEES:
My Dear Sir.-It will no doubt simplify
matters for me 10 notify your committee that
| cheerfuly abide the result they have
reached in their recount of the ballots cast a,
the late primary. If your committee Is salts
fed that their work was accurately done, as |
know 1t was honestly done. then Colonel
Spotswood is the party nominee for Com
monwealth's attorney.
II beg to remind your committee, however.
that charges OF fraud. irregularity and i'm
proper conduct have been made AS 70 sixteen
precincts. SO far as | am informed no inyes-
tigation has been made by the committee or
any one else OF any precinct other than Third
jefferson. ] trust the committee Will proceed
to investigate the whole matter thoroughly
and let the public know who are the perpe-
traitors of these frauds and who has been
pultv of improper conduct
The fullest investigation that the commit
tee can give this whole matter IS due the party
and due me. Very respectfully.
III. Nj. SMITH. JR."
Mr.. Ferriter: Mr. Chairman, pow ask ii
the gentlemenJ who counted the ballots the
other night are certain they were right and II
they think they were. ! VIII then make
motion that the nomination of the party IN
the primary for Commemorative Attorney be
awarded Colonel NJ. l.. SpOtswood.
The roll was called and the members all re-
sponded in the affirmative.
Mr.. Phillip O'Nei then offered the follow
ing resolution. which was unanimously
adopted
Resolved That it il the sense of each and
every member of this committee that Mr.. III.
Nj. Smith is IN no manner responsible Tor any
of the fraud or irregularities proved or
charged in any of the precincts IN this city ut
the late primary, but that they hold him one
too heightened and honorable TO IN any way
connect himself with any such dsgraceiul or
dishOnOrable proceeding. They also extend
to Mr.. Smith their thanks for the graceful
manner in which he has yielded TO the re-
suit as found by the committee. and thereby
relieved them from further investigation and
embarrassment IN this matter.
Mr.. Ferriter then moved that the certificate
as the nominee for Commonwealth Attorney
be awarded Colonel Spotswood This was
carried unanimously
Mr.. Guigon then spoke as follows
Il ask permission. Mr.. Chairman. IN the
name of Colonel Spotswood and my ASSOC
ciates, TO congratulate Mr.. Smith upon the
graceful manner in which he has put an end
to this most unfortunate controversy. and
would also congratulate the Democratic party
and this committee upon the harmonious con-
clusion which has been reached.
II take pleasure. in addition 10 thanking
the committee for the patient hearing they
have given rs and for the ultimate result OF
their deliberations.
Since this result has been reached with
such unanmity II is. Of course. not our pur
nose 10 pursue our investigations further, but
we feel that it is due to ourselves and TO this
committee that. having made grave charges,
we should hand here aud now 10 the chair
man the various evidences We have secured
10 sustain them for such disposition as the
committee may think best
MIR. Guigon then handed 10 the chairman
pie OF bOOAo Nuh H1Pt4o WYNN NSAS b4-~NN
on the stand.
JEFFERSON WARD.
Mr.. Flournoy said as superintendent of
Jefferson ward he thought that full inyesti-
cation should be made of the frauds in that
ward. and also that the charges of indscre-
ton against James l.. Botto should also be
investigated. Mr. Botto said he heartily sec
onded the motion. Said he. Mr. Chairman
| was neither Judge or clerk IN the election and
YOU must MT put everything on this Italian
MIR. Flournoy thought as It had been &C
cepted in one case It should be counted IN
all. Mr.. Bowry agreed with Mr.. Wallace.
but they stood alone in the discussion. The
Chair ruled the motion out OF order and APP
pointed committee of four for each OF the
four precincts of Jefferson ward and the
busy scene enacted at the late recount be-
tween Spotswood and Smith was repeated
The count began at 1880 o'clock and closed
at 1870 this morning. The following table
shows the full result. The numbers designate
the precincts and the first column under each
number gives the original count in that pre-
cinct while the second column shows the re-
suit of the recount