Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1899-03-16
CASE DISMISSED.
Flint Wins In the Halstead
Contest Case-NO Evidence
of Bribery.
Illegal Votes are Found 70
Have Been Cast in Bloom
enfeldt.
Numerous Russian Citizens
Attending as Witnesses
From Bloomenfeald.

From Bloomenfeald.
The hearing of the Halstead Flint con-
test case for the treasurership OF Stuts-
man county was begun in the district
court tbs morning. Attorneys knaut
and McHarg appeared for Fl. G. Flint
and Attorneys Ellsworth and Murphy
for A. M. Halstesd. There are n Russ-
ian Germans from the Bloomenteald
precinct attending as witnesses. Ttey
are great cigarette smokers, fur coatt d.
and whiskered. Only three or four
speak English.
Attorney Knauf made motion to have
the case dismissed which was denied ana
the trial was begun. Attorney Ellsworth
then read the complaint filed by thecon-
testant, A. M. Halstead. This complaint
was given in substance by the Alert at
the time the contest was begun.
Attorney Knauf again moved the dis
missal of the case on the ground that
the evidence introduced did not state
facts sufficient to contitute a cause OF
action. The motion was overruled.
Auditor L. B. Niemeyer was the first
witness called to identify the document
which contained the Official returns OF
the Stutsman county vote for lo9o..
Ex.Audltor Vennum was called. de
was asked to identify 9 certain ballot
box-supposed to be the End ward box
but could not say to which precinct the
box had been sent. The sheriff had de-
livered all the boxes, witness stated.
Geo. E. Nelson returned the box from
tho End ward to him February IA. Geo.
Nelson acted as inspector IN the 2nd
ward. Mr.. Vennum was examined as
to the keeping Of the box since its re-
tn,n after the election. There was nc
poss,blity he said of anyone tamper,nR
with the ballot box ss 1t was kept in the
vault in the auditors Office. he thought
that the box was IN the same shape as 1t
vss when it returned. A number Of
persons had been in the vault. The key
of the vault was in bis own possession
with the exception of one day since Jar.
1vheu he was in Bismarck. On that
day Vene Vennum had charge OF the
key. Mr.. Vennum stated that there
were no particular markings on the box
to distinguish 1t from another. He was
asked to produce all the keys he had in
his possession. He testified that he had
kept the keys Of the boxes securely since
election.
John Thompson who served as deputy
auditor until Jan. l was tho next wit
ness. He WAS asked to testify regarding
the ballot box which had been lntroduc
ed in evidence. He stated that be had
put all the election returns in one box
and locked 1t after which it was placed
in the vault IN the auditors Office. Many
business men had entered the vault, but
it was not possible for anyone to tamper
with the box. He was asked il he could
notice any distinguishing marks on this
particular ballot box and he said be
didn't.
Attorney Ellsworth called for Geo. E
Nelson as witness. Deputy Sheriff
Dewey stated that he had been unable
to summons him as witness.
Mr.. Venuum was recalled. He stated
that he could not say there was more
than one key to the box or not. He
thought there we're two to each box ae
looks were purchased last fall. With
the object OF showing a mlsoount later
the ballots in the 2nd. ward precinct
box we're counted by Mr.. Vennum and
the poll list of the ward showing l95
introduced IN evidence.
[This afternoon the ballots IN the first
ward we're recounted and one doubtful
ballot thrown out by order of court.
Flint gained one vote on recount.
The recount of the votes of the SEQ.
ond ward Tuesday afternoon resulted
in Flint receiving 1O5, Ralstead 81 with
9 blank ballots. In the recount Flint
gained one vote.
Yesterday afternoon and evening was
consumed IN the examination OF citizens
OF Bloomenfeldt precinct. The inhablt'
ants of that locality we're not the easiest
witnesses in the world to give informa.
ton regarding the happenings on Nov.
8, 1893 aud their lack OF an understand.
ing of English caused some difficulty.
At the conclusion Of the afternoon ses.
sion two votes had been stricken from
81. O. Flint's majority. Jacob Graf and
Jacob Herman we're not qualified voters
at the time Of the election and according
to their own testimony they voted