Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-07-26

was supervisor, OF JeuerSon uio'A wv -
was pretty well acquainted with the
psople of that district. Mr.. Moore then
read list of the names of the people,
and asked Mr.. Hume if he knew any
of them. Mr.. Hume said that he did
not know any Of them. He may have
heard of them. He did not know that
thew were residents of the county prior
to the May election. He said that the
colored people were offered for sale
to him by companies prior to the cleo
ton. but that he was not familiar with
their names.
William q. Wibirt, county treasurer,
was the next witness. He had oppor-
tunities to become acquainted with the
people, but when Mr.. Armstrong read
list of registered voters at the Jetfer..
son precinct ne did not know any OF
them but ]. r. elmer. he said ne
was at Four Mile Run on the day OF
the election about half hour. When
he was there everything was quiet.
This was about 7:30 in the morning.
Mr.. II. F. Bailey, carpenter. was
nut upon the stand, but his evidence be-
ing immaterial he was told to stand
aside.
At this point the counsel for the con-
testants rested their case.
Mr.. J. M. johnson, of counsel for iho
contestees, opened the case for his side
by making a motion that the contests
ants be non. suited, on the ground that
they had not sustained their charges
made in the petition for contest. He
wss followed by Mr.. Armstrong, who
spoke against the motion.
During Mr.. Armstrong; argument
the court adjourned until nine o'clock
this morning, when he continued bis
argument, and was followed by Mr..
Moore. Counsel for contestees-Messrs.
Smith, Burke and Johnson-continued
their arguments in support OF their mo.
ton.
The time of the court throughout the
NOR, iug was occupied in listening to
the aro,,raents for and against the
motion. Mr.. !, IL. Johnson. lot Ine ne-
PENDANTS, moved " dismiss tne case De,
cause the contestants L. d NOT produced
sufficient evidence to sustain tue gnslse
and to overthrow the election. IL "as
followed by Messrs. A. w. Armstrong
and r. w. Moore who in strong argu-
ments opposed the motion to dismiss.
Mr.. Edmund Burke then arose to make
the closing argument in support Of the
motion to dismiss, when Judge Chi
chester said he did not desire to hear
further argument as he had decided to
grant the motion to dismiss and said
that Messrs. Johnston and Duncan hav-
ing received majority of the votes cast
were elected. Judge Chichester then
granted the motion to dismiss, summing
up the case in all its details. The fol-
lowing order was then entered:
These cases coming to be heard this
26th day of July, 1895, upon the COM
plaiut and counter complaint and
answer and evidence offered by the
contestants, upon consideration where
of, and the court being of option that
said contestants have not produced
sufficient evidence to sustain the al
legations Of this complaint, and that
the said Richard w. Johnston and the
said w. w. Duncan at the election neld
on the 29d day of May, 1895, for the
offices of Commonwealth Attorney
and County Supervisor for the county
of Alexandria received majority of
the legal and official votes cast for said
offices at said election, and that they
were at said election duly elected, that
the said complaint be, and the same is
hereby, dismissed without costs.
In deciding the case Judge Chiches-
ter said: PERSONALLY / should take
great deal of pleasure in doing what
Mr.. Moore suggests, wipe out the
whole election and appoint other of
ficers to discharge the duties, but / do
not think that legally there is enough
evidence in the case to throw out the
vote of that precinct, declare the cleo
ton void, or to declare the contestants
entitled to the positions instead of the
contestees.
think there certainly was disorder
at the polls on that day, and i think
in that respect the condition there
ought to be corrected. Isuggest as one
method of mendiug it that that is not
proper place for voting precinct. L
suggest to the good people of Jefferson
district that they establish two voting
precincts; that they move entirely
from Four-Mile Run, get back off the
railroad and of the turnpike, and have
place where they can conduct more
quiet and orderly election. | suggest
further, that they establish another pre-
cinct in another part of the district so
that the voting place will be conven-
lent to the people of the district.
1 will cite the county of Fair
fax. We have six districts in Fair
fax county, and in that county
we have % or % voting places-nearly
four voting places to each district. 1
have been asked frequently to establish
new ones, and have invariably done
it, because / do not think the citizens
ought to be forced to go miles to vote.
The opportunity to vote should be
brought as near to the home of the
voter as possible where there can be a
free expression of opinion, and, by
scattering the precincts, avoid the very
thing which it is alleged occurred at
Four Mile Run; in other words, reduce
the crowd and bring the precinct within
reach of the people and of a few peo-
pie, SO that the election can be conduct
ed properly and finished during the day.
AS I say, 1 find a great many things
to condemn in the election in question.
Mr.. Burke.-Your honor will re-
member that voting under the Walton
law takes longer; it takes longer to cast
| the ballots.
The Court.-That is another reason
why the precincts should be more scat
tered.
do not know when the poll books of this
district were purged, but think now sthe