The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-13
1900
THEE WILL CONTEST.
Notice Served on Justice Wickham of
the First District.

tAAt
Mr.. w. F. Thee, with his attorney, w.
+. Slater, Esq, called late yesterday af-
ternoon at the office of Justice G.. f.
Bevans, ex-oficio justice of the First dis
trict, to secure the taking of affidavits in
the contest which Thee has brought
against Justice Wickham, the present
elective incumbent in the district.
AT the recent election for justices of the
peace there was some trouble in the First
district caused by Justice Wickham and
his adherents' refusal to accept Henry
Garwes as Thee's representative on the
board of election managers. The two
members of the board agreed mutually to
accept w. +. Corbett as the third mana
ger, thus leaving Garwes out in the cold.
When Garwes and Thee arrived early
in the morning at the polling place
they were met in anything but a cordial
manner, and admittance to the room was
denied them On their insisting on enter
ing and being given representative on
the board of superintendent they said
Constable Dan Kiley stood at the door
with base ball bat and invited them to
keep out.
After elaboration Thee and his one or
two supporters decided they could not get
the place on the board and withdrew from
the polls. Thee gave it out that he was
not being given his rights, and withdrew
from the race, but wired the governor to
hold Wickhams new commission, as he
intended to contest.
Thee and Garwes and, for that matter.
Justice Wickham and his friends say that
Garwes had been accepted as one of the
board the afternoon before the election.
1t was only decided on Saturday morning
that Corbett might be better man.
1t was stated on the Monday following
the election that Garwes was not a free
holder and In tot cd fc
serve. This was an after-thought, how
ever, as the claim was not advanced when
it was decided to dispense with Garwes'
services. Garwes says his property is re-
turned in his own name
This claim of not being represented is
not the only ground upon which Thee
bases his contest. His notice served on
Justice Wickham, further says that in
timidation of Thees supporters was prac-
ticed early on the morning of the cleo
tion, and that some of them were driven
away from the polls.
Another ground of the contest was that
one, at least, of the ballots cast for Thee
was seen thrown under the table by the
managers. 1t is further objected that the
managers were not properly appointed or
qualified.
Personal notice of the contest has been
served on Justice Wickham. A number
of witnesses for Thee will be summoned
before Justice Bevans.
In cases of contest in magistrates cleo
tions, the governor must be notified
within five days of the contest. Then the
contestant must flotify the successful can
didate of his intention to take testimony
before the ex-oficio magistrate of the
district I'VE days before the date set for
the taking of that testimony. After the
contestants witnesses make affidavits,
then the contestee has ten days in which
to have his witnesses submit counter af-
hdavits
When the ex-officio justice has all the
evidence in hand he turns 1t over to the
judge of the superior court, who decides
the contest, and it is to the successful
candidate, as shown by his decision, that
the governors commission is sent.
The contestant in the Seventh district
had his first affidavits made Saturday
before Justice Cleary King is contest
ing the election of Mcintosh, the sue
cessful negro candidate, on the ground
of illegal votes having been received.
The talked-of contest in the Second dis
trict will probably not come off. Mr..
Helmken telegraphed the governor of his
intention to contest but further steps in
the matter have not been taken, and JUS
tice-elect Nathans will probably get his
commission without trouble.