The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-07-19
ruENEwroRr NEWS ELECTION CASE

Readers OF The Times have no doubt
! noticed that We are paying particular at
tention to reporting the trial Of the
election case OF Post W. Mons. NOW mn
dcrgolng investigation at Newport News.
We are doing this designedly, for. 81 the
facts prove 10 be what they have been
stated us. the case VIII demonstrate
tho degradation that toleraron Of frauds
IN elections necessarily brings about. and
II Will ircome an object-iesson to show
the people OF Virginia that they must
stamp out fraudulent elections, or the
character Of the whole people viii become
dobauchcd.
Some OF the known and established
facts are these: Mr. Post is one OF the
bcst-known and most respected citizens
Of Newport News, and lifelong Demo
crat. When the city was chartered he
was made the charter Mayor Of the
place lie served his term with entire
satisfaction to all classes OF people In
Newport News. ond at tho end Of his
term last spring he was again nomina-
ted for the Office in q Democratic pri-
mary, and he was so popular in the
place that the Republicans declined 20
run candidate against him But Mr.
Moss. a Democrat. offered himself as a
candidate against him. Posts friends
claim that he was elected 20 tho Office
Of Mayor by a large majority OF tho
voters. but the election officers gave the
election TO Moss. Post brought a suit
10 have the election annuled and 20 have
himself established in the Office of Mayor
and he claims IN that suit that he was
the victim Of the most outrageous frauds
at the hands Of the officers who con
Quoted tho election. and he specifies and
points out the frauds pracuced upon
him
We do not. OF course. mean to offer
any sort OF opinion upon the merits OF
the case. This must be left for discus
sion until the trial is ended. But IL IS
not at all improper fcr MS TO direct at
tentlon TO certain facts that have bocn
90 far proved. IL IS proved that Alr
r A. Mountcastle. one Of the judges Of
election. In the Second Ward. where gross
frauds are charged. sai> at the time OF
the election that ne voted for Moss. il
is also proved that during the day. IN
violation Of his duyt as a judge of cleo
ZION and in violation OF the
Low, he was constantly enter
ing the polling booth with voters
IN spite of continued protests and re-
,nonstrances against HIS course. Post
claims that he was cheated .out Of "a
largo number of votes az this precinct
The Judge trying the case has had the
hanot-box AZ this precinct opened. The
,ou-list shows that 3S5 voters voted, but
tbere were only $50 ballots in the box
ceventv-four Of these were marked rs
having been cast for Post and l5i were
marked as having been cast for Moss.
ono hundred and nfty-four Of them are
no, marked as having been cast for
any one as Mayor. Tho Judges Of cleo
ton were furnished by the Electoral
BOARD with doully as many ballots as
tbore were voters at the precinct ana
pct claims that these 1n unscratched
ballots we're put into the box out of that
excess. I'm place Of lA ballots properly
.,,,-,..a which were voted for him and
extracted bv the officers from the box.
# is 10 be remembered that an nn-
soratcbed ballot counts for no one. II ten
charges. in this case are substanualea
a. viii afford striking proof oil what
we ara coming 20 unless we pfeaA UP
,,.,ds IN elections. II viii prove lha'
men who cheat in elections Will cue.
tncir own party friends as 500" do any
o,.er when the temptation arises