Birmingham state herald., 1896-03-27

Clerks. MT. W. A. Petty, one of the clerks of the primary election and Clarke man, voluntarily makes the following written declaration:
 Election Clerk Petty's Statement.
 GA Clarke Man)
 l. W. A. Petty, hereby certify that I was one of the clerks of the election held in Decatur, Ala, on Saturday. March 2, Nand was PRESENT DURING THE EN- TIRE DAY: I WAS A CLARKE MAN AND VOTED FOR CLARKE. The bal lots were received by w. c. Preston or J. w. Tyler as they were handed in, and by him placed in large paper box. This box was securely sealed or fastened, and kept so during the entire time the voting was going on. Immediately after the polls closed this box was opened in the presence of all the judges and clerks and the counting begun MT. Wallace would reach into the box, take out a bal lot, hand it to W. c. Preston, who would call the same, and MT. Cartwright and myself would put the votes on tally sheets, and then the ballot was handed to J. w. Tyler, one of the judges. and he placed it in a ballot box and after the votes were counted the box was securely locked in my presence. The certificate of judges was written out by MT l.. P. Troup, a Clarke man, and was signed by the judges. sealed by them and delivered to s. T. Vert, the returning officer I WAS CONSTANTLY PRESENT FROM THE TIME THE POLLS OPENED UNI TIL THE LAST ACT WAS COMPLET- ED, AND CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY COUNTED AS THEY WERE DEPOS- TIED. I FURTHER CERTIFY THAT THE JUDGES, MESSRS. TYLER. WALLACE AND PRESTON, OFFER ED TO ALLOW ME TO TAKE THE BALLOTS OUT OF THE BOX OR READ THE BALLOTS. BUT PRE- FERRED TO KEEP THE TALLY SHEET. w. A. PETTY, Clerk of Primary Election of March 2, 1896.
 Register Neelv Pride's Statement.
 GA Clarke Man)
 Nicely Pride, county registrar and WHO WAS A CLARKE LEADER in De- catur, and the man who got up the pro test on the day of the primary election. and whose name appears as Nicely Snide in the Montgomery Advertiser of March II, makes the following statement:
 q am a CLARKE SUPPORTER and voted at the primary election in Decatur on March 2. I think THE ELECTION WAS HONESTLY CONDUCTED. The only complaint I have to make is that Clarke was not allowed an inspector to assist in holding the election. The John ston men did allow us Clarke clerk.
 'NEELY PRIDE" MT. M. T. Cartwright, one of Decatur's oldest merchants. whose statement no one would dare to deny. and one of MT. Clarke's warm supporters, says the cleo ton was fairly conducted and votes fair ly counted.
 MT. Cartwright's Statement.
 GA Clarke Man.)
 As citizen of Decatur, and one who voted for Clarke. take pleasure in certi- flying that I believe the recent primary election held in this county was fairly conducted, and the votes fairly counted. am satisfied that Johnston was and is much stronger than Clarke in Decatur. (Signed.) M. T. CARTWRIGHT.
 MT. Garnett's Word.
 w w. Garnett, a leading wholesale and retail grocer, gives the following: "I voted for Clarke, but am perfectly satisfied with the conduct of the election and the way it has gone.
 (Signed) w. W. BARNETT.
 A. F. Houston's Statement.
 GA Clarke Man.)
 voted for Clarke in the primary cleo tion on the 7th and am perfectly satisfied with the result of the election and believe 1t was honestly conducted. A
 A. F. HOUSTON. <
 o. ]. Pointers Statement.
 GA Clarke Man.) rs voted for Clarke in the primary cleo tion. but am satisfied that the election