The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-11-06
THE BATTLE
IN KENT
Democrats Attempt To Steal
the Legislature.
To Prevent the Election of ].
Frank Alice IN Order that the
Senate will be Democratic.

Special Despatch to THE Morning News
DON ER, Nov. 1.-The returning board
for Kent county met here to-day and aitel
being in session from IL a. m. to II p. NJ.
adjourned having given out two sets o
certificates. 1t now appears that the court
will have to be appealed to to show which
certificate is the legal one. The meeting
was the most exciting one which was ever
held In Dover, and it was evident from the
start that the Democrats were determined
to get control of the county if 1t was posi-
Bile for them to do so in any way.
The first district called was Duck Creek.
ard it was reported that in the district
which was called there had been no cleo
tion. The west district of Duck Creek hun
dred, Kcuton and Little Greek, were then
called and no objection being offered the
returns were recorded. When East Dover )
first district was called Thomas p. Davis
made protest against the returns being
canvassed on the ground that the election
officers violated the law. At this tinc the
excitement ran very high.
General Il. R, Kenney on behalf of the
Democratic party made protest on the
samo return, and James Pcnnewill, who ap-
peared for the Republicans, made an argu-
ment showing that the Board Of Canvas was
a mere ministerial body and had no right
to consider The protest John D. Hawkins,
James H. Hughes, j, B. Pennington and
James l.. Wocott also spoke for the Demo
Gratis and Edward Ridgety, Beniah Watson
and George NJ. Jones replied for the Rcpub-
licans. The crowd In the room at this time
was wildly excited and it looked as if there
would be trouble. Two hours were spent
In heated DISCUSSIONS over the matter.
The Board Of Canvass, which was com
posed of ten Democrats and six Republic
cans, decided not to accept the returns.
Sheriff Shaw, who Is a Republican, and
under the law is the presiding officer, or
dered the returns to be read and they were
read The Republican clerk kept count Of
them, but the Democratic clerk did not.
The Democrats then filed a protest
against the returns in tho second district
Of East Dover hundred on the same ground,
but the returns we're read as before. The
Democratic clerk acting under instructions
did not record them. No protest was offered
against the third district of East Dover
hundred, and the returns were read.
The returns from West Dover hundred
were not read for the reason that they were
sealed in the hallot-boX aud the box could
not be opened without the consent Of the
board and that consent was not given.
protest was filed against the returns Of
North MurG2rkill hundred by the Demo-
Gratis The returns were read but according
to the plan of the Democrats no record was
made OF them.
Both districts of Misplllion hundred were
read without protest. The Eastern and
Western districts of Milford hundred were
both protested No records were made by
the Democrats on account of the protests.
The election of levy courtmen in the same
district was also protested on the ground
that tHe certificate did not set forth the
residence Of the candidates returned as
elected. The same was done on the Levy
Court returns Of East South Murderkill and
both districts of Milford hundred.
Finally the sheriff, refusing to entertain
the motions made by the Democrats in ref
erence to thrO wing out returns, was de-
posed by the Democratic majority Of the
board and the coroner placed in as pre-
siding officer. The Democrats then pro-
coedrl TO canvass the vote as they had re-
oorded If ,nd p,ade opt certificates in that
way. These certificates the sheriff and the
Republican members Of the board refused
to sign. Tho Democratic certificates were
signed by the sheriff and the ton Demo
cratic mnrbars oC tbe hoard md will he
delivered to tba nemocratic car1idates
who, by the Democratic members of the
board are declared elected by an average
maioritv of p4o
The sheriff who was the LEGAL nrCsilinp
officer of the board. and the Republican
nnrbnrs cauvossed tbn ofl,1al vote as
follows.
Mckinley electors 35G7
prva, elactors 2157
Palmer electors . so
Ieveriny electors w 115
FOR GOVERNOR
Tunnau Democrat 9,os
1Iignirs Pon,b,ican 15o
Crean prohihitionist " 1,S
s1auphter sinpln Tay ....... o5
IIoffockar Jrnion panuhlca, eaI4
EOp cONCprss