The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-12-05
A RECOUNT ORDERED.
Commission Appointed to Cam
yass Contested Votes.
LABOR OF WHOLE MONTH.


The ballots in the contested election
cases will Re counted, and the count viii
be begun BY I've special commissioners 81
$50 O'Clock this morning.
The anticipated argument on the mo-
tion Of Askzua's attorneys 20 strike from
the com paint al reference to distinguish
ing marks did not take place yesterday,
but instead consultation Of the attorneys
was held 70 arrange for count For this
purpose. upon the recommendation OF
counsel in the three cases, tue court ap-
pointed "a judicial tellers or special COM
miss!oners: Will +. Humphrey, Rep:
Frank b. Ingersoll, Dem; Waiter Fulton,
Dem: T. A. Gamble. Dem. ard Lee Mex
luer, q single tax man without political
affiliations. Humphrey, Ingersoli, Fulton
and Gamble are attorneys. These commits
sioners took the oste. and the entire mat
ter went over until 2 p. M. al which hour
meeting of the attorneys and commits
sioner. was he'd IN tue library rooms.
Judge Langley's reason for deferring the
argument was that the count might take
place as speedily as possible. There is no
question as 20 the legality OF vast major
ity OF the ballots. and the design is to pro-
coed with the count aud group these bal
lots about which there Is any question, to
be disposed of alter the count is CON-
pleted. Only few phases of Illegal voting
are expected to be presented. and in case
the Objectionable ballots are not sufficient
TO change the result of the election az
officially announced, there will De no need
to consider the question of contest fur
Their. In case the result would be affected
by the alleged irregularities, argu-
ment will be heard. The attorneys after
conference decided that the matter could
go on most satisfactorily to ell concerned
simply by proceeding with the count. All
ballots about which there can be any ques-
ton Will be assumed TO be challenged. and
the court will prepare instructions to that
effect for the commissioners
The court further suggested that counsel
prepare a tally sheet such as would cover
every point in the case The main thing
will be to keep such q record that every
objection to ballot may be noted, so that
the court may be able to tell exactly what
the objection is.
At the afternoon meeting the method of
procedure was arranged. as follows:
The vote of each precinct will be can
vassed separately, in alphabetical order.
Tally sheets have been prepared contain
ing the names of ali the candidates for the
different county offices in which contests
are now pending, namely. sheriff, coroner
aud commissioner from the Second dis
trict.
All votes to which no objection is raised
by any of the contestants will be tailed on
the sheet. The votes which NAV be chat
lenged as illegal for different reasons will
also be Tailed, but in different groups
DESIGNATED a, B, ETC.; that Is, all votes
which NAV be challenged because the
name OF candidate appears marked with
an Y in more than one place, will be
grouped together. In another group will
appear votes which may be challenged be-
cause they do not bear the official stamp.
La this way all the votes alleged by any of
the parties TO be illegally cast VIII appear
under some one of the different groups
Attached 10 the tally sheet for each pre-
cinet Will be fac simiie copies of the official
ballots used at the election, there being
for each group of illegal ballots as above
described one of the copies. which will be
marked SO as 10 exactly represent that
class or group of ballots for which il is to
be submitted as sample. When the
count for any precinct has been COM
pleted all of the original ballots. to which
no objection has been made, will be placed
in a properly labeled envelope, which
will be sealed.
The original ballots, to which objections
have been made. will also be sealed in en-
veiopes each of the different groups being
separated from the others.
This method of procedure will be fol-
lowed until the count of the entire county
is completed.
The count vll be begun at $50 this
morning in public view under the eve of
the court, and each ballot VIII be scanned
closely by the small army of attorneys
whose clients are directly interested.
Counsel for Nickerson has endeavored to
have the vote in the Second commits
sionsr's district counted first, in order that
that controversy may be decided as soon
as practicable. IL seems quite likely, how
ever. under the method of procedure
adopted by the commission that this will
not be done, as they propose taking up the
precincts in alphabetical order.
County Clerk Gordon thinks the canvass
Will require thirty days, and as the special
commissioners will each receive $40 a day,
Il will be seen that the contests will be
expensive.
In the case Of Gordon vs.. Asksm, for
coroner. the attorneys for Esmes yesterday
were served with Askam's answer. 1t
denies the allegations of the complaint
and alleges "a an affirmative defense
substantially sill the grounds Sc; out in the
complaint OF Mover vs. Van de Vanter.
In addition il charges that al Kent two Of
the judges and one OF the clerks at the
opening Of the polls conspired for the
purpose Of aiding and abe;ting certain
persons. unknown 70 the contesiee. in
controlling the votes Of the electors. and
that ss the polls were being opened and
announced By the Democratic inspector.
one Of the Republican clerks, with the
knowledge and consent Of the two Judges
Of election. took an unxtamped ballot
handed II outside the polling ulacs an
allowed u TO be carried away and used.
( Tbs ballot. 1t IS charged, was afterward
found N Ghe ballot box. and the inspector
of election stamped II. wrote his initials
thereon aud counted il ter Eames. When
the ballot was voted. says the snswer. su
official ballot eas taken out OF the polling
place In It's stead, the trick being con-
unueS throughout the day. thus dstermin-
ing by reason Of the return OF the ballot
each time for whom the elector
voted. The ballot having been marked
previous 10 the voter entering the booth.
By reason Of this preconceived arrange
ment and conspiracy it = alleged TIA,
kames dld not receive more Than fifty
legal votes IN the precinct. and that hv
reason q The fraud twen ty-six votes which
would have been cast for Askam were cast
Tor kameS. THESE twsntv-slx electors. II
Is sad, showed their ballots. as marked
- persons unknown 70 the contestee. and
the contents OF the ballots we're revealed
before the ballots were cast on ths