The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-04
VINO Is BTRhfDILE'S MfIOEY
A Remarkable Fight In the Council OF That
Town.

BURKEVILLE, VA, March Especial.
Who is our Mayor? is a question that is
great, disturbing the minds of Burkeville
citizens to-day.
our town has been in a state of great
excitement for some days past over the
prospective meeting OF the Council In It's
annual session.
There was never an election. either ma
tional or local, in which our people have
taken as much interest as they have III
that of the mayoralty last night az the
annual meeting.
Promptly al 100 +. NJ. tho Council was
called 10 order by Mayor Gaines. and the
first thing i'm order being the election ot
Mayor. W. T.. Gaines (RepD and }. ID.
Bradshaw DEM were placed In nomina-
ton.
Before proceeding TO a vote, the ques-
ton arose as TO the legality Of the ac-
ton of the Council, at a called meeting
three nights previous, in declaring the
seat OF ". s. Downs vacant and appoint
ing thereto 3. X. Horner.
II was claimed by the Gaines contingent
that Downs had removed from Burkevile,
and that his Office was therefore vacant,
but Downs was present and denied that
no had removed. claimed that he was
still duly qualified and entitled TO his
seat that he was only disqualified be-
cause he was in opposition 10 Gaines as
Mayor: that he nor his friends who are
members OF the Council were notified that
the question IA TO his being disqualified
would come before the meeting. and that
they were not notified that there would
be a meeting az all until late the after
noon upon which it was held.
The Mayor held that Mr.. Horner was
now councilman In the place Of Mr..
Downs that Mr.. Downs was not a cti-
zen Of the town, and refused TO allow
him 80 vote or his counsel To appear in his
behalf
4 recorded vote was asked for. but he
refused to entertain or TO put motion TO
that effect
\ vote was then taken for Mayor. and
j. D. bradshaw received three votes. in
GLIDING the vote OF W. :. Downs. who
demanded that his vote be placed on re-
cord.
". f.. Gaines received three votes, in
Guiding the vote Of b. X. Homer. who
was Chained by Downs usurping his
office.
The Mayor refusing 10 recognize Mr..
Downs tor any motion opposing his own
interest. say ;he Bradshaw faction, both
Gaines and Bradshaw claimed election,
and upon Gaines refusing 10 retire fiom
the chair, Bradshaw put the motion 10
adjourn, which was responded 10 by
friends. and he and followers retired
leaving Gaines in possession with three
councimen. one OF them Mr.. Homer. As
the Council consists OF eight members.
this did not constitute "A quorum. so thinks
your correspondent, but Mayor Gaines
thought otherwise and after taking the
oath OF Office be proceeded with the busi-
ness OF the annual meeting, and the fol-
lowing officers were elected: Treasurer.
T.. J.. Overton. clerk. Il. a. Horner, As
SCISSOR. j. H. Boswell. Town Policeman,
c. q. Gregory.
The Gaines contingent say that they
have complied with the law and that he
is elected. The Bradshaw contingent say
they have not. and that Bradshaw Is
elected. and so We come 10 the original
question, Who is our Mayor
Bradshaw and Downs will fight the
matter i'm the courts. and promise start
| ling Developments while the other side,
50 far. hold the reins OF government.
The two contestants are evidently fight
ing for glory as the office does not pay
over 800 per annum. Though Gaines IS
a Republican ana Bradshaw a Democrat,
# is not a political fight.