The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-24
DoYLE'S GROUND OF CONTEST.
FRAUDS ALLEGED IN EVERY cOUN-
TY IN THE DISTRICT.


The Ex-Postmaster's Notice of Com
test For Col. Testers Seat in Com
gress Served ON the Congressman
Elect in Washington and Left at
His Residence in Savannnb-SIr.
Doyle Declines to Discuss the
Charges Until Col. Lester Has Been
Heard FrOn--Some of the Alleged
Frauds.
Ex-Postmaster Joseph f. Doyle served
notice upon Congressman Rufus Z. Lester
yesterday of a contest for his seat in the
next congress. Notice was served both
at Col. Testers residence here and at his
residence In Washington, where he now
is. The notice in Washington was served
through Mr.. Doyle's attorneys, Dudley &
Merchener.
The grounds alleged for the contest are
frauds Of several kinds including the
counting Of votes for Lester which We're
cast for Doyle, in every county in the
district. Bribery and intimidations of
voters are alleged, with a number Of
other irregularities.
Some of Mr.. Doyle's charges are of
serious character. and will undoubtedly
be met with q vigorous denial. When
seen by Morning News reporter he de-
clined to be interviewed on the subject
of the contest. He was willing to give
full information concerning his charges
at the proper time, he said, but he did
not think 1t would be treating Congress-
man Lester with proper courtesy TO dis
cuss the matter until he had acknowl-
edged service of the notice. On this ac-
count Mr.. Doyle declined to furnish Tor
publication a copy of the notice Of con-
test. This notice states specifically the
grounds of the contest and the charges
made by the contesting party.
A fair idea of the charges made IN the
notice of contest was secured, however.
They are refusal or failure to give repre-
sentation to the republicans on the boards
Of registration of the several counties and
on the boards of election managers, win
the exception of in Liberty and Mcln-
tosh counties. Intimidation, especially IN
Bulloch county and in the Statesboro pre-
cinct is alleged. Bribery at the various
precincts, and especially in Liberty ana
Mcintosh, is charged. Repeating, the az
cepting of votes for Lester by the mama
gers from parties whom they knew We're
not qualified to vote. Voting by proxy ut
various precincts in Burke and Chatham,
and the voting of convicts is alleged.
Refusal or failure to hold elections at an
the election precincts, and especially IN
Burke county, is another ground of con-
test Still another ground Is the accept
ance of returns from precincts that snoqId
have been rejected IN ScreVeu anu lhCIh-
The printing and circulation of spurious
tickets by the friends of the democratic
candidate is alleged as q ground OF CON
tanned the names of the republican press-
dental and vice presidential candidates
and of the republican electors WINE une
name of the democratic candidate was
substituted at the bottom Of the ticket Tor
that of the republican candidate. the I'M
preston was created u Is sal1, th1t , t tbs
statement was spread that Doyle mad
withdrawn in favor of Lester, and this
ticket was used to corroborate the STATE
ment.
One of the serious charges made is that
MIR. w. W. Shepherd, Col. Testers private
secretary, attempted to purchase and dld
purchase the regular republican tickets,
entrusted to the republican committees IN
the several counties and substituted there
for spurious tickets, bearing the name OF
the democratic candidate for congress IN
place of the republican candidate. fhe
most serious charge, however is that votes
were counted for Lester at all the precincts
which should have been counted for Doyle,
to the number of 1900 or more. The state
ment of the fraudulent votes alleged 10
have been so counted In the several coun-
ties is as follows: Bryan so, Bulloch 175,
Burke, $40, Chatham 80, bingham 100,
Emanuel 100, Liberty 800, Mcintosh lS,
Screven $50, Tattnan $50. This number or
more in the several counties named. which
should have been counted for Doyle. are
alleged to have been counted for Lester,
with the result of giving him plurality of
over 1900 votes ever his republican oppo-
nent.
The refusal or failure to provide voting
places in the country precincts of Chat
ham county, is also alleged, thus disfran-
chsing, it is stated, 500 or more republic
cans who would have voted for Doyle. 1t
is charged that 1900 or more republicans,
who had either paid their tax or were not
subject to taxation. were not allowed to
register. The statutory provisions with
reference to bipartisan registration
boards We're not complied with, 1t is charg
ed the applications of republicans for rep
resentation being ignored or refused.
1t is charged that returns were signed
by unauthorized persons, in one precinct
in Mcintosh county and one in Screven.
IT is also charged that disqualified per-
sons were permitted to act as managers
was refusal or failure to open the polls
at various precincts in the district, in
Bulloch and Tattnall counties.
Mr.. Doyle stated recently that he had
spent several weeks gathering the evil
dence upon which the contest is based.
substantiate all charges made by him.
The new congress does not meet until
March T. when the contest will be taken
up. Mr. Doyle is under the impression
that an allowance is usually made by
! congress to cover the expense of con-
specifies that the contestant shall take
! evidence for forty days, after which the
! contestee takes evidence for forty days,
| and then the contestant Is allowed anoth-
/ err ten days in which to take evidence
! Whether the taking of evidence begins
with the filing of the notice of contest or
| not until the contest is taken up by con-
gress Is not known.
| While Mr. Doyle may be able to prove
| that there were some Irregularities, there
| is no apprehension here that the contest
| will result in the unseating of Col. Lester.
/