The morning call., 1895-02-01
THEY ARE THE DEFENDANTS.
Pelham Ames and Frank ]. SymmeS
File Complaints.
FRAUD In COUNTING BALLOTS CLAIMED.
A Letter From MI. SymmeS in Which
lie Says He Does Not Want
the Office.

| Pelham Ames and Frank ]. Symmes
have filed suits in the County Clerks office
to contest the seats of Thomas K. Carew
and Emmett P. Barrett, respectively, on
the Board of Education.
The complaint of Ames sets forth as the
grounds of the contest the misconduct and
malconduct of the boards of judges of
elections of the several precincts in can
vassing the votes and estimating the re-
turns of the election. 1t is alleged that
vstes cast for Ames were wrongfully
counted for Carew, for Barrett or for some
other candidate, or were not counted at
all; that votes cast for Scott, Henderson,
McElroy and Hawley were counted for
Carew.
The contestant believes that by reason
of wrongful counting 1900 votes which
had been cast for him were counted for
Carew; that 1900 votes cast for other cam
didates were counted for Carew, and that
if the votes had been correctly counted
Ames would have received q larger num-
Der of votes than Carew. The votes cast
for the six directors are recited as follows:
Thomas r. Carew, %, 177; Emmett ?. Bar
rett, %, al; Henry T. Scott, %, 1876; H. G.
Henderson, 21,645; Andrew McElroy, b.
SIS; Charles H. Hawley, 21,481; Pelham
W. Ames, 20, 1853.
The majority of Carew over Ames is
1924. The complaint also alleges that the
Board of Election, in declaring Carew
elected, did so by counting false and in
correct returns.
The complaint of Symmes makes SIM
liar allegations in regard to fraud in count
ing the ballots He is credited with 2400
votes while Barrett, whose seat he is con-
testing, is marked down at q, 141.
81 don't expect to overcome the major
ity of Mr.. Carew," said Mr.. Ames, "and
only make the contest in the interests of
good government. From a snap tally
made of sixty precincts during the recent
contests large gain was shown in my
or-suficiently large to warrant me in
believing that fraud had been committed,
and that 1 would be justified in making
the contest. All 1 want is what belongs
to me"
Frank J. Symmes said he was very much
opposed to making a contest, and gave
out the following letter to explain his
position:
F. D. Brandon, attorney, $50 Californne,stree-
DEAR SIR: In reply to your reques Nhat
should permit the use OF my name in aRWtition
for a recount of the votes cast for School Di-
rectors in the last election I wrote q reply last
evening positively refusing to give my sigma
ture to such proceeding.
Having since been urgently pressed by many
of my friends to allow the use of my name for
this purpose 1 have concluded to sign the
papers necessary to demand such contest.
In doing L wish it distinctly understood
that it is done entirely in the interest of honest
elections and good government and not because
1 seek or desire the Office of School Director.
Furthermore, if it should be shown that have
been defrauded out of such number of votes
as prevented my election, and the Office should
be awarded me on a recount of the votes
should undoubtedly resign my position for the
reason that my private business will not per-
nit me to give to the School Department for
another year the time which it demands.
AS I understand it you represent a number
of citizens who desire to make the contest,
purely in the interest of good government, to
uncover fraud and, if possible, to punish it.
Under such circumstances will consent to ap-
pear as a contestant, although, as already
stated, do not expect in any case to occupy
the Office FRANK j. SYMMEs.
Mr.. Ames was on the Citizens Non-Par-
tisan ticket and Mr.. Symmes was on the
Republican, United Labor and Non-Parti.
san tickets.