The record-union., 1896-07-10
SCHOOL ELECTION Case.
Judge Catlin Continues II Till Next
Tuesday.
The Testimony of the Plaintiff All
in, and the Defense
Begins.

Th contested school election In the
American River District occupied Judge
Catlin's court all day yesterday, the
plaintiff getting the testimony for his
side of the case in, and P ]. Ford, who
acted as Inspector of Election being
partly examined for the defense.
B. Feraut testified that Julian Fer
aut, Ed. Carroll, Dominica Sorocco and
Charles Moley were all challenged, but
the board allowed them to vote without
swearing them IN. Their ballots were
oil on pink paper Entricum voted with
out challenge on pink paper, and his
ballot had SuIlivan's name printed on
1t, with his own name written under
Meath After the polls We're closed,
Ford proposed to put everybody out and
count the ballots. Witness objected,
and asked that he be allowed to have
four men-an equal number to the other
party-in the room.
Ford tried to shut the crowd out, but
could not close the door, and they all
came in. One man jumped into the
window. The board counted one ballot
for Sullivan that had two names on it.
When the polls opened there was chalk
box used, and two ballots were put in
1t. They were afterward taken out and
put in a second ballot-boX which was
brought. He thought Ford proposed
the second box. Someone asked to
have the inside of the box shown him,
but it was refused Witness partially
saw the inside of the second box, but
saw no ballots in it
The second box was not tied up dur
ing the election, nor had it any candle
grease on it. At one time Ford took
two tickets, and, holding his hands to-
gether, held them up over the slot in the
box and let the one next his body slip
In, holding on to the other. Witness
protested and told him not to vote two
tickets. The ballots were not counted
when first taken out of the box, and
when the votes were counted there
were forty-two for each candidate.
Then someone suggested a recount, and
he saw Ford count one ticket twice, and
protested against it.
Ed. Carroll voted, but witness did
not know of any Ed. Finley living in
the district. Carroll's name does not
appear on the register. When the votes
were being counted the second time,
and witness objected to Ford counting
one ballot twice, the ballots already
strung on wire were counted, and wit
ness was proved to be right.
w. L. Foote testified that several
men were challenged, but the Board Of
Election took no action, and they were
allowed to vote without being sworn in.
I. P. Eldred swore that he made sew
eral challenges, but the board paid no
attention to them, and on one occa-
sion Ford told him to go away and not
to bother with it, When Lippincott
came up to vote there was some dis
pute as to whether he should vote or
not. George Vice snatched his ticket
from him, and handed another ticket
to Ford. Ford did not take it, and Lip
pincott afterward procured such
ticket as he wished to vote, and voted
IL.
A. H. Foote testified that Ford held
the ballots in such a manner when put
ting them into the box that those around
could not see what was done with them.
When challenge was made he would
drop the ballot into the box before the
voter could be sworn. The board took
no action on the challenges and the chal-
lenged men voted without being sworn.
He heard Ford tell Eldred once when
he challenged, to go away and not
bother him. The red box last used as a
ballot box was not tied, and when some
one asked to see what was in it the re-
quest was refused.
Ford held one Of the ballots on the
second count and called off the name of
Sullivan twice. Either Mails or Feraut
objected. Witness did not know whether
the ballot was tailed twice or not The
ballot box had no strings or candle
grease on it when it was taken away
that night
w. Smith had lived in the district for
ten years but knew no one in the dis
trict named Ed. Finley or c. Duffy. The
four men from the Burns ranch came
there on May 7th. He saw them taking
their blankets in on that date. They
were challenged by Eldred but the cleo
tion board took no action on the chal-
lenges and they voted.
Cameron Boothroyd testified that his
brother offered his vote and Ii was found
that two tickets We're folded together
and his vote was refused. He took out
one Of the tickets and handed the other
to Ford, who was going TO take it, when
George Vice called out What are you
doing? What have we got you for?"