The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-23
HE DENIES ALL THE CHARGES.
COL. TESTERS REPLY TO MIR.
DOYLE's NOTICE OF CONTEST.


Intimidation, Fraud or IrreguIari-
ties Are Admitted, But Are Denied
Throughout in the Most Positive
Manner-COI. Lester Comes Back
mt Mr.. Doyle with the Charge That
400 or More Votes Were Secured
For Him Through the Use of Mon
ey-CoI. Testers Health Better.
Col. Rufus f. Lester has filed his ex-
ceptions and answer to the charges made
by Mr.. Joseph f. Doyle in the contest for
the seat from the First congressional dis
trict in the House of Representatives for
the Fifty-hfth congress, and a copy of
the answer and exceptions has been serv-
ed upon Mr.. Doyle here through Col Les
/ ter's attorney, w. L. Gigniliat. Esq.
! Col Lester states. in the first place, that
he excerpts to Mr.. Doyle's pretended no
| tice Of contest, because he has not partic-
ulary specified the grounds upon which
he relies, because he has not distinctly
stated any Of the facts or circumstances
on which he depends in support of the
contest, because the allegations in the no
tice do not sufficiently acquaint him with
these facts and circumstances sufficiently
to enable him to answer the notice and 10
prepare defense of his election by proper
! proofs, because there are no facts or cir.
cumstances sufficiently well pleaded in his
| notice to SHOW that he was elected and
! finally because neither of the grounds on
which he pretends to rely nor all of them
/ together, are sufficient to require any an
sWcT from him
Having thus stated his exceptions to
! the notice. Col. Lester proceeds to make
answer, reserving however, all rights to
/ which he IS entitled under the exceptions.
J Col. Lester states emphatically that the
/ notice was not served within thirty days
after the result of the election was deter
! mined.
Col. Lester denies emphatically that
/ there WIS any refusal or failure on the
/ part of the proper authorities to give the
! republicans representation on county
boards of registration in any of the coun-
ties of the district. He states that no re-
/ quest for the appointment of a fit or prop
! er person as such representative was ever
! refused, and that the proper authorities
made the appointments and executed the
laws pertaining to the registration in a
fair and impartial manner.
He denies that there was any failure
/ or refusal to permit the rep
/ resentation of the republican
party on boards of election mana
/ gers in Bryan, Effingham, Emanuel Scriv-
en- Burke, Bulloch and Tatnall counties,
| and says that the managers of the cleo
ton in these counties were selected by
! the proper authorities in strict accordance
/ with the laws of the state.
Col. Lester denies that there was any in
| timidation of voters at any of the voting
precincts of the district by his friends and
! supporters in BullOch county, or at States
| boro or in any voting precinct i'm the dis
trict He denies also that there was any
! bribery at any of the precincts in Liberty
or Mcintosh, or in any other county in the
| dictrict, by his friends and supporters.
All of the pretended charges in the fifth
! paragraph of the notice, he says are en-
| tirely without foundation in fact, as far
/ as his friends and supporters are concern
ed. This paragraph of Mr.. Doyle's charges
| referred to mentions repeating, accepting
/ votes for Lester where the voter was not
entitled to vote, voting by proxy in Burke
! and Chatham counties and especially at
/ Waynesboro and Savannah.
! Col Lester denies emphatically that
( there was any refusal or failure to hold
/ elections at all of the voting precincts in
/ Burke county or any other county Of the
/ district He denies also that any returns
were accepted in Screven or Mcintosh
counties which should have been rejected
He denies that any of his friends and
supporters circulated in any of the pre-
! Cincts spurious republican tickets, with
! the names OF Mckinley and Hobart at
H.
representing that this spurious ticket was
the straight republican ticket, or that Mr..
Doyle had withdrawn in his favor. He
/ states, however, that tickets were printed
with the names of Mckinley and Hobart
for the benefit of parties who specially
requested them, wishing to vote for the
republican electors. and Col. Lester for
congress. He further says on this line:
II deny that Walter w Sheppard, my
private secretary, purchased or attempted
to purchase regular and genuine repub-
lican tickets entrusted to the republican
district chairman, or that Mr. Sheppard
substituted spurious tickets for the gem
une whereby any voters intending to vote
for Joseph Il. Doyle were counted for re-
spondent in the county of Liberty"
In the eleventh paragraph he denies that
any votes cast for MIR. Doyle to the num-
her of , 900, or any number in the district
of 30 or more votes i'm Bryan. or 175 or
more votes in Buloch, or 500 more
votes in Burke, or so or more
in Chatham or 100 or more in Eff
hngham, or 100 or more in Emanuel, or 800
or more in Liberty, or 125 more i'm Nc
Intosh. or $50 or more in Screven, or 80 or
more in Tattnall, or any less numbers in
any of the counties of the district were
counted for him.
Col Lester denies that the laws of the
state provide for any voting places in
| Chatham county outside of Savannah, or
city. rather than in the country disfran-
chised 500 or more republicans who would
have voted for Doyle.
In the next place he denies that 1000 or
more republicans or any number of re-
publicans in the district who We're entitled
TO be registered and would have voted for
Doyle were refused the privilege of reg
/ istering. and AYERS that all of the republic
cans who were entitled and applied were
registered. The right to all voters to the
privilege OF registration was lawfully and
! rightfully and conclusively determined by
proper boards of registration in all the
! counties of the district, he states
He denies that unauthorized persons
were permitted i'm violation of law TO sign
returns which were not properly signed by
managers of election in any precinct in
Mcintosh or Screven county. or in any
other county in the district. He denies
further that disqualified persons we're per-
mitted to act as managers of election at
the Sylvania precinct in Screven county,
or in any other county i'm the district. He
denies also that there was any failure to
1 4as,Fv 80 -,