Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-12-09
PATTERsON's CONTEST.
Plenty of Proof of Election Frauds In the
Tenth District.

Tenth District.
Apropos of Col. Patterson's contest
for the seat in Congress for which
certificate has been given Mr.. Carmack,
the Memphis Scimitar says: It Is the
established rule that when notice of a
contest of this kind is given the notice
shall set forth some of the grounds
upon which such action is taken. All
these necessary inquiries have been
made, and there is such mass of in.
formation In the hands of the proper
parties that those who are conducting
the business have no doubt that the
complete investigation of the election
in this district will show Col. Patter-
son to have been elected in this district
by something over 1900 honest votes,
without going into affairs in Shelby
County at all.
The investigation in Fayette County
has been conducted by gentleman of
Memphis, who has lately returned from
two weeks sojourn in that section.
He visited all the precincts In the
county from which had come rumors
of fraud, and from people living right
on the spot and who weree eye witnesses
ofall that transpired he got the posi-.
tive facts. His adventures in the midst
of the enemy were by no means devoid
of exciting incidents. His mission was
easily discovered wherever be went,
and the evidences Of i'll will with which
he was received were unmistakable.
The mission was successfully carried
out The frauds in Fayette, as hereto.
fore related in all the papers, were
open and notorious, and no effort was
made to conceal them, although the
perpetrators have not evinced any
great desire to come forward and tell
about it to the public. The names of
reliable witnesses who will suffice to
support all the charges made have
been secured, and care has been taken
to see that the witnesses aie of char
acter that can not be frightened out Of
the county before their evidence has
been laid before the proper investiga-
tors. From the facts now in hand it is
very evident that If the returns in Tip.
ton County alone were Strengthened
out Col. Patterson would have a ma
jority on the face Of the returns. But
with the addition OF the purgation of
the vote in Fayette County the result
will be to show Col. Patterson ma
jority of over 1000. 1t is not intended
to make any charges as to Shelby
County of specific character, as the
useless inquiry into the vote here would
be waste of money from which no
good could possibly result.
The mandamus proceedings institu.
ted in Fayette County are still pending,
and they will be pushed forward at the
proper time. They are set for hearing
on the first Monday in next January.
OF course, since Carmack has already
secured his certificate of election any
purgation OF the Fayette County vote
that may be accomplished through the
legal power already invoked can not
deprive him Of his right to the seat un-
der the showing OF the face OF the re.
turns. Yet they will have their weight
upon the Congressional Investigating
Committee, and for that reason they
will not be abandoned.
When Carmack shall have received
the notice of contest which is in pro-
cess of preparation today, be will then
have thirty days In which to send in
his answer, and after that the business
of the investigation will be entered
upon. 1t is not calculated that Car
mack will send in his response until
the expiration Of the full time allowed
to him, and thus the matter will be de.
layed as far as possible.