People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-02-03


secretly, and changing tickets which had nevel
been cast for ballots which had actually beer
voted. The animu' of the man is shown by th'
testimony of G. W. Campbell, who describes Mr.
Thomas conduct while he Thomas was reading
the ballots. Mr. Campbell says:
During the fr.t part of the count, Mr.
Thomas appeared to be well pleased. The tickets
were mostly all republican at that time. He wa:
gathering up handfuls Of tickets and throwing
them at the boys-reaching over and getting
them OF the table. He would, when he would
get arepublican ticket, read it out very distinct
but when he would get Peoples party ticket
be would read it with whine. About the mid
die OF the count, the Peoples party tickets com
menced TO gain, and came up within four or i've
OF the republican.
"Mr Thomas commenced to get nervous, and
would take ticket out of the box before Mr.
Brooks got through reading the previous one
After while, as soon as he had given Brooks a
ticket, be would take out another and open II
and look at 1t. He would take them down on
his lap and appear to be opening them. After
he had taken down from fifteen to twenty, as
near as could tell, Mr.. Bailey made the charge.
Your committee respectfully submit that the
testimony clearly shows that Mr.. Thomas should
be prosecuted and convicted Of felony for VIC
lating the provision of section 2l9 of the act re-
lating to crimes and punishments, and that II
the proper officers fail to bring him to justice,
they will be grossly derelict in the performance
Of an important public duty.
1t was clearly proven that NJ. L Richie, whose
legal residence was in Salt Lake City, Utah, and
who was personal and political friend OF Mr..
Richter, votto. in the Third ward of the city of
Council Grove, but the testimony does not show
explicitly for whom he voted for representative,
and for this reason your committee do not take
note of that vote in their summary.
As conclusions, your committee find that IL
legal votes we're cast for said H. E. Richter by
the following named persons, and at the pre-
ciucts stated, namely:
G. W. SimcOck, Second ward city of Council
Grove, nonresident.
George Long, Highland township, nonresident.
LA. Wismeyer, Council Grove township, non
resident.
Joseph W. Mikels, First ward city Of Council
Grove, nonresident
OH Griffin, First ward city of Council Grove,
nonresident.
A. NJ. Borne, Council Grove township, non
resident.
jas. Gaskins Second ward city Of Council
Grove nonresident.
Your committee further find that the two bal
lots cast at Skiddy precinct, in Rolling Prairie
township, headed respectively, Democratic
ticket and Prohibition Ticket" each OF
which contained the name of W. H. White for
representative, were legal ballots, and ought to
have been counted for Mr.. White, and that they
should be allowed to him in like manner as if
the judges Of election had duly counted them for
him at the time.
Seven ILLEGAL votes mentioned above we're cast
for Mr.. Richter, and counted for him by the
judges of election. Two legal votes cast for Mr.
White in Ohio township we're rejected. Allowing
Mr.. White these two votes, and deducting from
Mr.. Richter's majority the seven illegal votes
mentioned will leave majority in favor Of Mr.,
White of one vote, But your committee find
from the testimony already referred to, and
particularly that given by Messrs. H. H. Bailey,
CIV. Campbell, and G. H. Titus, that Mr.. C. L.
Thomas, one of the judges of the election held
in Ohio township, fraudulently suppressed or
destroyed from seven to twenty votes which had
been cast for Mr.. White, and substituting in
their place an equal number Of votes or tickets
bearing the name of Mr.. Richter, all of which
tickets so substituted were counted and re-
turned as having been cast for Mr.. Richter. II
the lowest number testified to by the witnesses
be taken as correct, then Mr.. White was de-
prived of seven legal votes cast for him in Ohio
township, and Mr. Richter was allowed seven
Illegal votes in that township, making a differ
ence Of fourteen, which added to the one ma
jority already mentioned, would give Mr.. White
majority of fifteen. This will be seen from the
following table:
Total number of votes as canvassed for Mr..
Richter. 49,. Observation-Disclosures. 1878
Deduct seven illegal votes named above,
and seven fraudulent votes in Ohio town.
ship, making. ....................... II
Leaving in favor of Mr.. Richter .... 1884
Total vote as canvassed in favor of Mr..
White ........,..............:..,........,. 1870
Add two votes rejected in Skiddy precinct 2
Add seven votes cast but not counted in
Ohio TOWNSHIP. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Z
Making a total for Mr.. White of. ...... 1879
Mr.. Richter's actual vote ................. 1851
Majority for Mr.. White. ................ Is
Your committee are satisfied beyond all doubt
that Mr.. White, contestant, received the highest
number of votes cast for representative for the
Efty-seventh district, and was therefore duly
elected, and ought to be admitted to a seat in
this house as a member from Morris county.
Your committee therefore submit to the house
for It's consideration the following resolutions:
House resolution No. 49,
ResOlred, ThatH E. Richter was not duly elected
a representative for the Eftv-seventh district,
Morris county, and Is not entitled to seat as a
member OF this house.
ResOlced, That w. H. White, having received a