Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25
NOTICE OF CONTEST.
SERVED eYR. 7. THoRP ON CONGRESS-
MAN-ELEcT M'KENNEY.
He Claims There Were ErSsrs, rrreguIari.
ties, and Frauds in the Canvass OF
the vote-Probable Murder.

FETEhSbUH0, NA.s DcceHoes ~
special>--Mr. X. T. Thorp late defeated
Republican candidate for Congress In this
uhe Fourth) congressional district, to-
day served notice Of contest on Hon.
william II. McKenney, the successful
Democratic candidate. The notice COM
prises twenty-three closely printed pages
OF matter, wherein In detail are set forth
the reasons for the contest. 1t opens
with an Official statement Of the vote
at the late election for the several candi-
dates for Congress in the district. certi-
fed to by the Secretary Of the Com
monwealth. in which the total vote OF
the district for each candidate voted for
Is given as foliows:
w. n. McKenney. S,T3: r. T. Thorp.
1909; /. H. Hobson Populiso, 1il6; Il.
r. Horner ProhibitionlsD, 2S4; Lee Thorn
ton independently, 80; Lee Thorton Qnde-
pendent, rs.
NOT DULY ELECTED.
The contestant thereupon claims that
Mr.. Mckinney, the contestee, was not
duly elected, and that he shall, tnere-
fore, object to the legality OF his election
ON the ground that large NUMBER Oh
votes were awarded to the contestee by
the Judges, clerks, commissioners anu
canyassers at said election which were
and had been unlawfuiiy cast and can
vassed. and that a large number OF law
ful votes cast for the contestant as rep
resentative In Congress were refused ana
not counted. Mr.. Thorp claims that the
returns made by the judges OF election,
the commissioners. and State Board OF
Canyassers. and by the returning oHcers,
az officially announced, are Incorrect, and
that the poll-books OF the several eiec-
ton districts show that he received
plurality OF the legal votes cast ana thal
he is, therefore, entitled TO the certiiicate
of election. Mr.. Thorp furtheS gives IN
detail the vote of each ward In the city
~ petersburg and of each precinct in
the several counties upon which the certi-
fcate of election was awarded TO MT
McKenney, and declares these returns 10
be incorrect, illegal. false, and fraudu-
lent.
ON INFORMATION.
ua alleges from information furnished
him that informalitios. errors. irresu,
Iarities. illegalIties, frauds, devices, ana
ahuses occurred In the conducting, max
ing. and certifying the returns OF the
ties OF Amelia, Brunswick, Dinwiddie,
Greenesville. Lunenburg, Meoklenburg.
Nottoway, Prince Edward. and Sussex.
He goes nearly the whole hog, but Is
particular 10 specify wards and precincts
In each case. 49,
In reference to the alleged illegalities
and frauds In Petersburg, he claims that
all OF the members Of the Electoral Board
Of the city were not appointed, ana they
failed TO qualify according TO the law;
that all three members OF the board were
the party friends. active partizans, ana
supporters Of Mr.. Mckinney, and I'M
friendly to the contestant: that two or the
members of the board held other offices,
which disqualified them; that said board
did not appoint suitable officers to serve
as election officers; that the commits
sioners OF election of the city were not
legally appointed. and that after appoint
ment they did not qualify according TO
law, and that all of them were known
party friends OF the contestee and, there
fore, disqualified to act legally; that
said Electoral Board caused TO be printed
a number of ballots more than equal to
twice the entire registered vote of five
Of the six wards OF the city; that these
ballots did not conform to the law.
DIFFERENT.
That, in order to deceive and mislead
ignorant colored Republican voters, these
ballots were printed in different styles
of type with the contestants name in
different places thereon; that no member
of the board was designated TO be pres
ent at the printing Of the ballots, nor was
any member OF said board continuously
present in the room In which said ballots
were printed; that said members OF the
Electoral Board did not allow said ballots
TO be examined, &C, &c; that the sec
rotary OF the board did not keep an ac-
curate account of the proceedings of the
board that the special constables were
Democratic partizans: that the printer
Of the ballots did not subscribe to the
necessary oath in writing and printed
the name OF the contestant in different
places on the ballots; and that the clerk
Of the courts of this city was not author
lied by law to administer the oath to any
Judge of election. Mr.. Thorp's statement
then goes on to sllege illegalities and
frauds in the election in all Of the wards
OF this city. except in First Ward, where
he received majority of the votes cast.
THE COUNTIES.
Like charges of Irregularities and frauds
are charged IL the counties of Amelia,
Brunswick, DInwiddie, Greenesville, Luz
nenburg, Mecklenburg. Nottoway, Prince
Edward, and Sussex.
Mr.. Mckenney's answer TO this notice
OF contest will be forthcoming at the
proper time. and 1t will be of such a
character as will satisfy even a Repub-
lican Congress OF his honest election.
Mr.. Thorp casts some reflections upon
the action OF Chairman Ellysons conduct
In the late election. and seems anxious TO
know why the names of Lee Thornton
and Lee Thortfn, who were voted for,
were so carefully guarded and concealed
from the public.
SUSPICION OF MURDER.
The colored man, Jackson. who was
found in a dying condition on Short Mar
ket street at late hour Saturday night,
and who subsequently died without giving
any expression as to the cause OF his con-
dition. Is supposed TO have been foully
dealt with-at least, suspicion points In
that direction On examination the de-
ceased was found 10 have two ugly cuts
on his head.
The post-office authorities report that
the Christmas business this year was the
heaviest that mas been known for thirty
Vparg