Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-21

lDt luedifs men alleBbu tHak inc
greatest discrepancy was in the Third
district OF the Tenth ward, and when
il became absolutely certain that the
ballots would be counted. and that by
the count the real state Of affairs would
be laid hare, two Of the Tenth ward
election officers came down to see what
the outlook was. They we're accom-
panied by friends, who went to mem
bers OF the election committee and i'm
plored them to devise some other means
OF settlement rather than continue
with the count. II was shown to the
committeeman that il the alleged dis
crepaneies materialized they might put
the inspector IN a bad position, But
the committeeman were obdurate and
decided to continue the work at all
hazards.
Sergeant-at arm William B. HAZEL
is also under fire. lie is accused Of
being a Cheairs man against Dickey.
He was approached by Representative
Short of Sussex county, a friend Of Mr..
Dickey, who stated that it was all he
tShOrt) could do TO prevent the Dickey
men from Offering a resolution to de-
pose HAZEL. Mr.. HAZEL inquired as
to the cause. and was informed that he
was suspected of lobbying among the
members against DicEey. The sergeant
alarms is cousin to Chairman HAZEL,
AMI as the latter is accused by the
Dicke, men of being unfagorable to
Mr.. Dickey, that may have something
to do with the feeling against the
sergeant alarms.
The Ninth ward was reached about
3 o'clock Saturday afternoon, and
james W. Ponder, of counsel for Mr..
DicKey, objected to one OF the boxes
from that ward, basing his grounds on
the fact that two colors of cement had
been used 10 scaling the box. the
objection was raised because MIR.
DICkey ran two votes behinu.
II came to light on Saturday after
toon that an effort had been made by
strangers to have a private conference
with at least one of Sheriff Films
deputies, who were guarding the boxes
before they were turned over, but the
aeputy would not pay any attention to
the invitation, anu the effort in this
direction failed.
The certificate from one OF the Fifth
ward districts, was tied on top of the
box, which was tied together. and 10
putting it insids tine seal wac broken,
but this has no Significance, as no
fraud was alleged in the diatrlct ami il
was purely an accident that things
were in such shape.
When the box tor tho Second district
of the Eleventh ward was reached no
ballots were found, but the certificate
was intact, and as no fraud had been
alleged, no question was raised.
The disturbance which arose over
the counting of tho ballots in the
| Cheairs. Dickey contest here ON Satur.
day night did not prevent the com
| mittee from continuing the tabulatian.
The action of Mr.. Ponder IS de.
pouDceu hero and he IS held RESPONSE.
Bile for the conduct of Herman +. First,
who would not have rrecipitated the
| disturbance had it not been for the
advice Of Mr.. Ponder
Mr.. Kurtz says that he ia satisfied
| that those who pursued Mr.. Ponder
| when he fed from the county building
| did not capture him, as personal
alteration was thus avoided, which
would have been unpleasant all around.
| With regard to tho facts as they
occurred there is but little difference
between counsel. Mr.. kurtz was inter.
| viewed yesterday and his statement of
| the occurrence was "a follows: From
the beginning Of the count Mr.. Ponder
tried to compel the committee to
interpret all resolutions strictly and
| altogether in his favor. Counsel for
Mr.. Cheairs objected TO this and the
committee finally otganiZed by making
concessions to both sides and every
thing seemed agreeable. From the be-
ginning OF the tabulation until tine
afternoon session on Saturday things
ran along smoothly. at this time it
seemed very probable. that the COM
mittee would be able to complete tho
entire count at reasonable hour on
Monday, when counsel for Mr.. Digkey
entered CaptiOuE protests on several
occasions. Besides. the clerks on two
occasions during the afternoon disa-
greed in their tHbulation OF districts.
Each time the disagreement was over
QUE vote. Mr.. Ponder insisted on n
recount aud one Of tho boxes was
actually recounted three times. These
discrepancies in the clcrga' tallies were
becoming more frequent as the count
progressed, and the time consumed was
causing unnecessary delay.
''The committee, when il adjourned
for supper, had finished counting all
the districts in the city of Wilmington
up to and including the Third district
| VI tue Itulu AdEh. Up 10 IDen all INC
ballots had been tabulated by reading
off the names OF each candidate on
each ticket, which necessitatsd unusual
and unnecessary labors on the mart OF
the committee. When counsel for Mr..
Dickey began ia add to this burden
their apparent tactics for delay, the
committee concluded to count the bal.
lots by a different method, which would
not only insure greater correctness, but
would save much time and labor.
when the committee reassembled
at s O'Clock Mr., Johnson moved that
the committee proceed by sorting the
straight tickets and counting them il
bulk, as is done by election officers al
! over the State, and the split tickets
were of course still called off name by
name. Mr.. Ponder, counsel for Mr..
Dickey, protested against this manner
Of counting and instructed Herman II.
First, one of the clerks, TO refuse tC
tabulate any further vote. Messrs
Ponder and DAILY with NV. First, ther
; put on their coats ana hats aud started
! TO leavesto the room. Mr.. First returned
! to the table and picked up the tally
sheets Oh which be and Mr.. Francis
another clerk, had been tabulatiug tht
, returns. Several of those present i'm
mediately called out that tho tall,
sheets were the property of the com
, mittee. and Chairman HAZEL ais
! notified Mr.. Ponder and Mr.. First
! The latter replied that ne was actin
, under instructions and refused TO sur