The Washington times., 1895-06-25
johnson Takes Firmer Hold of
His County SinGGurG.
OPPONENTS LET HIN DO 1T
The Contested Election Cases Came
Up for Hearing but Douglas and
Continuance-In the Meantime Vice
VIII Hold High Carnival.

The contested election cases Of Douglass
against johnson, and Hume against Dun
can. to test the legality OF the vote for the
offices OF commonwealth attorney and
supervisor, in jefferson district, Alexand-
ria county, came up in the county court Of
Alexandria county, before Judge d. NJ.
Chichester, in Alexandria city yesterday.
Although the hearing OF the matter was
postponed until the first day OF the July
term, which fails on the 22d of July, aud is
then made peremptory, the attorneys for
Messrs. .Johnsonand Duncan drew first blood
in the contest by getting their clients sworn
into office pending the decision in tie case.
The hearing OF the case had been set
for 10 O'Clock yesterday morningand atthat
hour Messrs Edmund Burke, of washington,
and F. L. Smith and John NJ. johnson,
OF this city, attorneys for MessTs. johnson
and Duncan, and Messrs. a. A. Lipscomb,
OF Washington, X. Walton Moore, Of
Fairfax, and A. W. Armstrong, OF this city,
attorneys for the contestants, were present
with their clients. A thrOng Of hundred
or more witnesses was also present in
attendance on the court.
WANTED 1T TO GO OVER.
The continuance until the July term
was the outcome Of q motion OF Mr..
Armstrong, for the contestants, that the
case go over until Monday next, in order
that he and his colleagues might have an
opportunity TO examine the depositions
taken by the defense, which had just been
completed by the stenographers aud was
about TO be filed asa part OF the suit with
the clerk Of the court.
This motion was strongly opposed by
by the attorneys for the defense, who wished
at once TO 90 on with the trial.
The court, after hearing the argument,
which lasted over an hour, said he was
OF the opinion that the stay asked for was
just, and he wanted them to-agree upon
some time mutually agreeable to both
parties. This the attorneys could not
agree upon, and as the court is limited
in its sittings TO fifteen days in each term
Judge Chichester accepted a suggestion
from iir Burke, and the case was continued
until the next term.
ALLOWED To QUALIFY.
Er Smith gave notice that be would ask
that Ilessrs. Johnston and Duncan be al
lowed to qualify, the law requiring them
TO do so before the 1st OF July. This was
allowed by the court, but a protest was
noted 10y the attorneys for llrssrs. Doug
las and Hume
The oath Of office was then administered
by Clerk II. II. Young, lir. Menry L.
Holmes becoming the surety on the bond Of
Gr Johnson, and Messrs. James Duncan,
John r obinson, and William Row on the
bond of lIr Duncan.
The dispositions taken in the case which
had been filed with the clerk then caused
another squabble. Both Mr.. Burke and
MI Armstrong wanted them for eXami-
nation, and it Resulted in the judge re-
fusing TO let either of the attorneys have
them
From the bearing OF yesterdays con-
test it looks very much as if the case, when
it does come up for trial, VIII be d long one
and every legal effort viii be exhausted
by both parties to win.