Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-12-28

EAsToN, Nd, Dec. 22.-In the sher-
lffalty contested election case to-day
Democratic Election Supervisor j.
Harold Wheeler was examined about
turning LincOln's face to the left on the
ballot. He said the order was given to
the printer to print the official ballots
with the Republican emblem showing
The left side of the face Of Lincoln. lie
knew OF no order being given to the
printer TO print the sample ballots differ
emily. 1--WE told the printer to print
$4,000 official ballots and the necessary
number of sample ballots and sample
copies. We instructed him 10 print the
face of Lincoln to the left as you look at
the ballot"
On cross-examination Major W. E.
Stewart of respondents counsel, asked
MIR. Wheeler this question; Son direct
examination you said you had heard
that Republican voters had been in
structed TO mark their ballots in front of
Lincoln's face or nose. Please state how
you heard that such illegal and absurd
orders had been given to voters and by
whom, and if said proceedings were not
brought to your attention, and you, as
one of the supervisors of election, did
not deem it your duty to see that the
elections of Talbot county We're not
turned into farce by such absurd in
structions and whether OF not YOU, as
one OF the supervisors, did not suggest
That as the only papers you had re-
ceived IN regard to the Republican en-
blem did not state in which position the
nose Of MIR. Lincoln should point that
you suggested to Mr.. Willis whether or
not he considered it would he illegal to
change the position of Mr.. Lincoln's
nose so that the Republican voters
would be instructed to vote legally, and
stamp their tickets as the law and in
structions on said tickets prescribed, in
the square at the right of the Republi-
can emblem, or in the square at the
right OF their party name, and whether
or not you had any other motive?"
Mr.. Wheeler replied: 81 heard col
ored voters in my precinct say they
We're instructed to put their cross-mark
opposite the nose of Lincoln. l asked
them who gave these instructions and
they told me the speakers who came
out to speak at their meetings at Cou-
gilltcwn, and that those who could read
aud write were instructed to see all
those who were not at the meeting who
could not read and write and tell them
to ask no questions of any one, but to
put that cross in front of Lincoln's nose.
am speaking now of the election prior
to the one last fall. | did suggest to
MIR. Willis if lie would consider it illegal
10 put the head of Mr.. Lincoln on the
ballots this year facing in the opposite
direction from the way in which they
were last year. Mr.. Willis said he did
not think it would be illegal. l had no
other motive than to see the ballots
We're voted according to law. Sample
ballots and official ballots were all to be
printed alike, My object was to compel
the illiterate voters 10 apply to the
proper officers appointed under the law
To show them how to vote"
Mr.. Wheeler said that William A,
Pratt, the Republican supervisor, was
always heard when the appointment of
Republican election officers was CON
sidered. In some instances the majority
found II necessary to overruIe Mr..
Pratts suggestions. One notable case
was that of Royal Oak precinct, where
IL was discovered that the person recon.
nlended by Mr.. Pratt for ballot clerk
and about to be appointed by the board,
was woman.
The hearing adjourned to Wednesday
morning.