The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-21
WANTS A NEW ELECTION.
THE REQUEST MADE BY MIR. SMITH.
ButCoioncl spotswood Has Written a Let
ter In Opposition to IL and Shows
That Dead Men Did Vote.

VI. J.. III.
Jr.. has assumed new and unexpected phase
which was quite surprise to those who have
followed the case before the committed The
new order OF things is brought about by a
letter received yesterday by Chairman Jud B.
Wood from Mr.. Smith requesting that the
matter may be settled by new election. The
letter is as follows
RICHMOND, VA. April 20, 1892.
To DR.. Jud. =. Wood. Chairman City Demo-
cratic Committee
My Dear Sir,-After careful investigation
OF the charges contained in Colonel Spots
woods specification filed before your COM
mittee. have come to the conclusion that
there were so many irregularities committed
at the late primary a. 10 throw serious doubt
upon the question as TO which one Of us was
nominated at said primary for the Office OF
Commonwealth Attorney for this city
This being so. IN Justice 10 the party. Col
onel Spotswood and myself. J cannot consent
to hold my present nomination. mat there
were irregularities there can be no doubt. but
that received the benefit OF them. do serl-
ous!y question under the circumstances.
Therefore | can see but one solution to the
matter. and that is TO give the matter back 10
the people and let them say who Is Their
choice for the Office in question. and tlis
respectfully request your committee 10 do.
Ia conclusion / would say that II was not
until yesterday evening became satisfied OF
the irregularities. and that have come to
this conclusion without knowing what testi-
mony Colonel SpOtswOOd has discovered fur
ther than that he had given t. the committee
up TO Friday night last.
Very respectfully.
II. NJ. SMITH, in.
Colonel Spotswood and his counsel were
busily occupied all day yesterday taking depo-
sitions of the persons who voted IN the Third
precinct Of jefferson ward but as soon a. he
was advised Of Mr.. Smiths letter DO ad-
dressed himself 10 replying IN opposition 10
the request for another election, and his let
ter. OF which the following is a copy. was
handed Chairman Wood Ut a late hour last
night:
RICHMOND. Va, April 20. 1892.
TO DR.. Jud. 3. Wood. Chairman City Demo-
cratic Committee:
Dear Sir.-The letter Of Mr. II. NJ. Smith
Jr.. 10 you. published IN this evening state,
was handed me by his counsel at O'Clock L.
NJ. to-day.
While not addressed to me. being so de-
livered take it that some answer from me Il
expected.
il will be remembered that it was | who. as
early as April 9Th instant. expressed dissatis-
faction with the face OF the returns and the
original count of the ballots on account Of
fraud and irregularities ut certain precincts.
among them the Third precinct in Jefferson
ward. After much delay and vigorous oppo-
stiOn / obtained the pOll-book Of
this precinct. copy of which was
given me on Saturday morning. and
10 Mr.. Smiths counsel on the evening OF the
same day That book shows frauds Of the
Qrossest and most deliberate character. On
the registration book of this precinct Henry
Asher appears as transferred April 9TH to the
Third precinct. Madison ward. yet with that
entry before the eyes OF the Judges and clerk
they write HIM down on the poll-boOk as
voting at Third jefferson twice;
Henry Asher swears 10 voted
81 Third Madison. and that he did not vote at
qistered rs living at 1012 east Main street. and
he appears on the POLLOCK voting twice:
by turning 10 tho last city directory we
find living at 20l2 east Main street. Mary
Drjscou, widow of James Driscol An
official copy from Or. Oppeuhimer's
Office shows that James DrscOll, of z0l2 east
Main street, died October .. 1891. With tie
ghost OF james Driscoll appeared each time
when he voted one /. @. Dew. Driscoll Is
Nos. 16l and ls2 on the poll while j.
G. Drew is Nos l62 and 1873. Drew cannot be
found in the city directory OF 1855 or
since. nor can trace him. yet
he was sufficiently present on election
day TO vote twice. Mr.. John O'Toole. who
has been nonresident for several months.
was duly written down on the poll-book az
voting. MI H. T. Murphy has given in his
affidavit that Mr.. O1Oole IS not living here
and that he received alettertrOm MIN dated IN
New Jersey. where be lives. April 9Th. Is z.
Charles Madison registered as at NO. IL
north Twenty-trst street and duly entered on
the poll-book rs voting April 8. 1892. died at
the almshouse March 3lst and was buried
April ], 1897. b. Is. ODwyer, brother-in-
law Of Sergeant Jeter. of the police force.
registered as living at IA north Twenty
third street, is also entered on the
poll-book as voting. when Sergeant Jeter
has deposed that he knows he has not been
10 Richmond for two years or more. James
Slatterlcy. brother-in-law OF j. l.. Botto. IS
not registered. but appears on the poll
as duly voting. while have sworn evidence
that Slatterley has not been IN Richmond
since december, lS9l
These. with the other dead, absentee. re-
beating. infant and not registered voters,
make the sum Of about fifty illegal votes of
which have conclusive proof. cast at TINS
precinct alone. In addition TO this | have
the sworn statement of about seventy men
vino are alive and duly registered. and there
fore legal voters, that they voted for me at
this Third precinct OF Jefferson ward.
set ont these things for two reasons first.
70 show that did not, without ground. make
for n recount, and second. TO show that II
that recount is had. and improper ballots are
thrown out and the votes got
counted for me, ]. and no. Mr.. Smith.
will be found 10 be the nominee OF the prl-
mary. IL was with that belief that ! made
nv demand for recount Has ANYTHING Oc-
Cured 10 show that it ought not TO be allowed
me- Does not everything show the necessity
for il? Mr.. Smith IN his letter admits irregu-
larities. / by my evidence, prove fraud.
Under these circumstances Is il proper, or u
il fair to propose to rub out and start
afresh -
Looking at this question from the stand
point of a good Democrat. viewing IT, as l be-
ieye YOU do. with hearty desire 10 90 JUS
tee TO me and nv opponent, but with an eye
always to the good OF the party to which we
all belong, submit. Will II 10 70
GLOSS over the facts have presented
above? Can the Democratic party anOrd
TO sec its primary debauched. as this las
been. without exposing and denouncing the
crime? And why pause upon the threshold
of this investigation. Why not continue It,
that truth may prevail and fraud DO exposed:
Having demanded recount. and having
established nv right to it. am unwilling to
withdraw the demand. am unwilling tina!
this question. already decided. shall be again
opened: that this community shall be again
disturbed by heated political contest: that
the Democratic party shall be needlessiy
,,lunged again into the throes OF partisan
s,~;ta or that | and nv friends shall be need