The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-15
THE CONTESTED MAYORALTY
The Charges Brought by M. Post
Against Election 0llcers.
ACCUSED OF PLAGRANT VIOLATIONS
or the Election Laws and Drinking Large
Quantities OF Beer and Whisky-Mr.
Post the First Mayor OF the City and
Unopposed Nominee of Primary.
(Staff Correspondence)

cial.-No,hng is talked Of here to-day
except the contested-election case OF W.
A. Post against Allen \. Moss, inyolv-
ing the mayoralty OF Newport News.
which. as stated in to-day's Times. VIII
come up I'm the Hastings Court. before
Judge Barham. tomorrow morning. II
having been continued until that time az
the request OF Attorney Garrett. In order
that he might secure the services OF
additional counsel. Judge Henley. OF
Williamsburg, who had been retained in
the case. having written that he was too
unwell TO act.
THE CHARGES.
The grounds upon which Mr. Post con-
tests the election OF Mr.. Moss are as
follows:
That the Electoral Board did not per-
form its duty, and delivered 10 the
Mdges OF the Second election district
twice as many official ballots as thetc
were voters registered IN SAID district.
that there were as voters registered ana
that the Electoral Board erroneousiy'
Illegally, and knowingly Delivered 10
the Judges 1000 ballots
The said Judge appointed and des-
ignated Robert Mountcastle, one OF their
number. to assist IN preparing the hai-
lots OF such voters as might be physi-
cally and educationally unable TO do so.
That said Judge without the authority
or request OF voters. and against their
protest. did constantly throughout the
election enter the booth with them whsn
they were preparing their ballots.
THAT Robert Mountcastle disregarded
and refused To obey the Instructions ana
requests of "A large number OF voters-viz',
lOO-who in a lawful manner asked MS
assistance In preparing ballots, 50
that they might vote Tor W.
A. Post for Mayor. and that no traua-
ulently. illegally, willfully, and erroneous
ly misinstructed said voters by pointing
out the name of w. A. Post to be struck
out instead OF A. A. Moss or by the
Judge himself striking out the name OF
W. A. Post, when directed by voters. to
so prepare and aid them In preparing
their ballots as 10 vote w. A. Post.
That the said judge prepared the ball
lots for A. A. Moss instead OF W. a.
Post when the voters were not blind.
That the remaining two judges acting
at said poll knew or the illegal ana
fraudulent conduct OF said Mount ,astie
and permitted him to continue.
That eighty persons who desired 10
cast their votes for W. \. Post lchisined
away and did not vote.
THAT Mouutcastle refused TO allow
friends OF the three political parties 10
be present during the count. though re-
quested 10 do SO.
BEER AND WHISKY.
That during the day large quantities OF
beer and whisky were received aud drank
by the officers OF election OF said ward.
rendering them incompetent TO discharge
their duties.
That the ballot-box on the day OF cleo
tion was negigently left unguarded while
the officers of said district separated for
dinner.
That the officers of election i'm said dis
trct fraudulently and Illegally counted
votes by which it appeared that ". A.
Post received IS and A. A. Moss l51. and
that the returns should actually have
shown that w. A. Post received actually
$50 and a. A. Moss 49,
That I'm the Third ward. w. a. Post
actually received 100 votes and A. "A.
Moss 80 votes. but the judges fraudulent
~ and Illegally returned 81 for the former
and IS for the latter.
That in this ward the judges refused
t6 allow friends OF the Democratic party
to be present during the counting OF the
votes.
That ". 4. Post actually received in
the First ward 9s votes and A. A. Moss
-. but that the judges returned p for
the former and 1873 for the latter.
THE OPPONENTS.
Mr. w. A. Post who is the contestant.
was the first Mayor OF Newport News.
having been SO named in the charter
OF the city. without opposition from any
class. He was again chosen for the
place at the primary held the 10th day
of last May, without opposition.
Prior TO the primary. Mr. A. a. Moss
formed a club known as the Newport
News Democratic Club. Mr.. Moss name
did not appear I'm the primary at all. and
it H. claimed. indeed. was asserted by
representatives of this club at the Staun-
ton convention. that they voted regularly
I'm the primary for the Democratic nominee
for Mayor. Mr.. Post. At the election on
May 18th. however, they supported Mr..
Moss.
Mr.. Post is one OF the most substantial
ard highly respected citizens OF this
place. and holds the responsible posi-
tion Of civil engineer for the Newport
News Shlpbuiding and Dry-Dock Com
pany. He was so acceptable and at tho
same time so formidable a candidate that
.cHns -'oIld no. put up any
one against him. ana = great many OF
them voted for him, as did number Of
the negroes. II. ID. +.
o--