Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-18
THE PRIMARY ERROR.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE Of iNvEsTlcA'
TON MAKE THEIR REPORT.
The Discrepancy Cierfcal-No Evidence a
Fraud Found-Letter From
MIR. smith.

AT the meeting Of the City Democratic
Committee held last night the report OF
the subcommittee appointed to supervise
the examination by Mr.. James c. Smith
OF the poll-books OF the recent municipal
urinary submitted their report as fol-
lows:
RICHMOND, VA, May &c. 1894.
Mr.. s. S. =. Patteson. Chairman City
Democratic Committee:
Dear sIr.-The subcommittee appointed
by Won. under resolution of the 18th in
slant. 10 conduct any investigation or
examination of the poll-books (of the re-
cent urinary requested by any candi-
date" met at headquarters. Monday, 18th
instant, at Il NJ. having previously pub
lIshed I'm Sundays papers notice Of time
and pIace. and object OF said meeting.
Captain Charles II. Epps and Mr.. James
q Smith were also notified by the SER
geant-at-arins.
Upon request OF Mr.. Smith the SUBJ
committee adjourned till l.. NJ. Tuesday.
AT which time the following members
were present: Hall. Tyler. Anderson. and
PhiIlips. Later Mr. Landerkin came in,
making q full attendance of members.
Mr.. Smith appeared and asked that he
be allowed to look at the pOll-books or
all the precincts. which was granted
him. The books were produced. and the
committee proceeded 10 examine them,
Mr.. Smith and his friend, Mr.. Johnson,
calling for and examining such as they
desired.
AN ERROR FOUND.
Irpon examination OF the poll-book of
Second Precinct. Monroe Ward, Mr.. Smith
,nfal ~ bn
cinct. as certified, was 40, yet the COM
bined vote for Sergeant was 800, Epps
being recorded as having received $50
and Smith l23. The error being so pal
pable the committee decided TO examine
the tally-sheets in order TO find how the
error occurred Both tally-sheets showed
the vote for Epps was 302 and for Smith
l2}. and was so written on both sheets,
and proved by count OF the TALES. To-
tai vote for Sergeant was 49, five votes
having been discarded in the count. being
irregular. making a total vote in precinct
of 43O. which corresponds with the poll
books. The error, therefore. occurred in
carving over the total vote from the
tally-sheets to the poll-books.
Mr. Smith expressed himself as being
satisfied this was the case; said he was
convinced this committee wanted to DO
full Justice to every one and TO ferret out
and punish any one guilty OF any crime In
the election; that he was satisfied with
the examination Of the books. and had
no charge of FRAUD or Ifeguiarlty 10
make against any one.
The subcommittee. therefore, reports its
action. and recommends that the official
vote for Sergeant be changed 10 accord
with the above figures
Respectfully submitted,
CUNNINGHAM HALL,
Chairman Of Subcommittee.
THE REPORT ADOPTED.
The report of the committee was adopt
cd and it was ordered that the
official vote between Epps and shnlth
for the nomination for City Sergeant be
changed as recommended by the COM
mittee.
The following letter from MT. smith
was read and filed:
RICHMOND. VA, May II, 1891.
To the Central Committee:
| wish to thank you for the privilege
granted me in looking at the books. Your
gave me every facility to
inspect the books. They were glad !
called their attention to the mistake. l
know that the committee has done all
in their power to have a fair primary.
and deserve the thanks OF all for the
great labor they have done in the late
primary.
Thanking you for your kindness. / am
yours to command at any and all times.
Yours truly. JAMES e. SMITH.
The committee will probably not meet
again until July. when 1t will formally
dissolve and the new committee con-
\eue