Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-09-04
ouD CONVENTION NAY RENoMi-
NATE THE CONGRESSMAN.
ADJOURNED IN TUMULT TILL TO-DAY.
CHARGES OF FRAUD AND A GENE
now NARROWLY AVERTED.
THREE MANCHESTER MEN CHANGED.
,,,.godons That Delegates Were Of
fcrcd Money to Vote for the htch-
mond Cnndidate-On Test Votes
Lamb Had o6 to 81.


..-I District OF Virginia have not yet
sr,.tef the man who is to represent them
{, The Ffty-hfth Congress Of these
,.ritod states. The convention called for
Elm, purpose was broken up in disorder
=, O'Clock last night. and adjourned
,ntD IL o'clock this morning. when'
resent indications are any criterion by
,.nicb 20 Judge Colonel Tazeweh Elicit
,ho nrssent representative from this dis
go, d., congress. will again have the
Democratic banner placed IN ms hahus'
with instructions 10 once again so iorth
and plant Il on the bulwarks OF victory
rbo contest between Colonel Elicit and
captain Lamb. the two candidates VINO
..,,re3 most conspicuously in the race,
,.s been one OF the closest ever had in
tris district. or. indeed. In this state. and
an day long yesterday the two espirants'
with their followers and adherents al
most equally divided. battled royally for
victory.
From the very first the Lamb men had
control OF the convention. and there was
every reason 20 believe that the Hen
,.coan would be nominated. The Elicit
mon however. were undaunted by the as
rect OF things. and they continued to
frht-and fight vigorously-for supre-
macy
Several times did they stampede the
convention. and though the Lamb men
had perfected the organization Of the
t,4v and bad named the temporary
chairman. Mr.. Ben. p. owen, Jr., of
Chesterfield. the Elicit men by strategic
moves succeeded twice in adiourning the
convention. believing that in delaying
the body lay their own hope Of success.
THREE MORE VOTES FOR ELLETT
ON an the test votes Lamb received g.
and Elicit 81 votes. until the vote was
taken upon the question of adopting a
minority report Of the Committee on Gre
dentials. which alone could make it posi-
ble for Colonel Elicit 10 secure the nomi-
nation. when the Manchester delegation
which had voted thirteen solid for Lamb
throughout the DAY. announced that three
AZ their number had bolted, and would
support the minority report or in other
words. would support Elicit
This occasioned much surprise and
caused great disorder. which resulted in
the adjournment Of the convention. 1t
practically meant Eletrs nomination,
and the Lamb men knew IT, If the
minority report be adopted. the six and
o-a-half contesting delegates from King
William. the oue-half contesting delegate
from Bruins precinct, in Henrico, and
t.. two contestants from Shumaker's
Precinct I'm Henrico, all Of whom are
Eust men, viii be seated. and Elicit
vu have 100 instead Of 81 votes. as
AGAINST 81 for Lamb.
The Lamb men realized fully what an
adoption Of that report meant and they
had no idea Of permitting the vote 10 90
further if they could help it, They sur
rounded the Manchester men and cried
fraud in stentorian tones. and con-
tnuei 10 DO 50 until Mr.. owen, not
wlthstanding that the roll-call hadn't
been concluded. adjourned the body.
MIR. ROBINSONs CHARGES.
Mr. b. NJ Robinson. chairman of the
Manchester delegation, was carried to
the platform. and there he made a serious
charge against the three members Of
Dis delegation who had changed their
votes. and against some one presumably
o. the Elicit ranks. His voice was
almost drowned 10y the tumult that
reisueI. but he continued. nevertheless. |
and vas heard by about thirty or forty |
gentlemen. who were seated on the plat
form
He asserted openly that three Of the |
Manchester delegates had been bought |
tom their support of Lamb and that |
they had been paid 500 each. Mr.. Rc- |
tr-3u was I'm a high state Of excitement !
bot bee avowed his intention Of expos |
rs the alleged fraud. and said that /
le could prove that the votes had been /
purchased. He asserted positively that /
g. member Of the Manchester delegation 1
Dad t1li him that ne had been offered /
Nu to vote for Elicit, and would do so /
unless the Lamb men rendered him more.
Air Robinson was cried down before /
DE- could say more. but enough had been /
said ,o start the Lamb men TO work, and |
al 3D. a-e hour last night they were en-
gagged .n taking ahidavits Of delegates |
Who claim 20 have been approached by /
persons who offered brlbes.
Colonel Elicit and his friends say they |
know nothing about any attempts TO
purchase The vote Of any delegate. and
the Impression prevails that if money
was used in the convention it was put I
up Boy gamblers who have wagered on
the result
ELLETr CONTROLS THE SITUATION.
Whether men were bribed al all. or
whether bribery WAS done by gamblers or
not the fact stil remains that. as the
vote now stands. the Elicit men are in
control Of the situation. OF course. an
eiou viii be made TO overcome the lead
The Elicit men secured by the three Man
chester votes, and II was stated last night
by some Of the Lamb delegates that sey-
era OF the county representatives who
had hitherto supported Elicit were in.
clgnant because Of the allegations Of
fraud. and that they would vote for
Lamb to-day.
Whether this is true remains TO be- seen
lt could not be verified. but certain Is
IS. the Lamb men are sore over the turn
of anairs. and they assembled in their
headquarters after the adjournment OF
tae convention, where they were address
ei By Captain George u. Wise. who In
loud tones said that while he was in
favor Of Lambs nomination and would