The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-17
THE ELECTION TANGLE
IN KENTUCKY YET FAR FROM BEING
UNRAVElED.
COUNTY BOARDS STILL AT WORK
Contests 4 N Many Counties-Several In
junction Suits-Federal Grand Jury
Convened nj Louisville Judges
Charge on Election Frauds Excite
ment Over Rumor that the Governor
VIII Declare Martial Law IT Vote OF
Certain Counties Is Thrown Out.

Louisville. ky. November l3.-The
tangle resulting from asst weeks cleo
ton grows worse each day. This was
h third day OF the official count, but
the work of the county boards Of AN
vassers disclosed little information TO
clear the situation. Chairman Long. OF
h republican campaign committee, TO-
day repeated his claim OF a plurality
of 3,111 for Taylor. based on official re-
turns from 10 counties and unofficial
returns from the remaining nine.
The democratic papers and leaders
here have ceased to give figures, but
specials from Frankfort quote Candi-
date Goebel and other party leaders
as saying they are confident OF the
success Of the Kenton county man.
The complexion of the returns TO be
presented to the state board of election
commissioners when ii meets in Frank
fort next month. still depends upon the
determination of the contests which
are being raised in several parts OF
the state, notably the strongly repub-
lican counties of the Eleventh district.
where the democrats claim tissue bal
lots were used. These contests have
III ONc i1d%Ai "a III NHS
effected. One OF them involves the
vote of Knox county, which gave Tay-
lor 1895 plurality. Today Barbourv1lle,
the county seat, was visited by hun
dreds of people interested in the result,
their avowed purpose being to see that
justice is done.
Counsel for Taylor began action in
the Knox county circuit court to COM
pei THE county election officers to GER
tify THE vote to the state board of cleo
'tion commissioners. The contention is
over forty-two ballots from the first
precinct, butt the petition filed by Tay-
lor's counse asserts that the election
officers propose to throw out the en-
tire county. Judge Brown granted a
temporary injunction against such ac-
ton.
Johnson and Lewis counties are af-
fected by the democratic charges of
irregularities and there, too, legal COM
plications are likely ito arise.
AT H~opkinsville a conte over a pre-
cinct which gave. Taylor a plurality OF
95 is delaying the official return of
the vote of Christian county, which
gave Taylor a plurality of $50.
Slow progress was made in the count
of Louisville and Jefferson counties to-
day, the commissioners being at work
on the Third ward when they adjourn
ed Until tomorrow. Both sides are
fighting every inch of the ground. A
number of precincts are in controversy
on the grounds of alleged irregularities.
In one such case, the seventh precinct
Of the First ward, the anti-Goebel peo-
pie today secured an order from Judge
Toney to compel the precinct officers
to sign the tally sheets. The Goebel
people, however, lain the ballot box
had been opened before 1T reached the
county election officers.
The vote so far shows little change
from the unofficial eturns.
FEDERAL GRAND JURY CON-
VENED.
The federal grand jury which was
adjourned over the election, reconvened
this morning, and was charged by
Judge Evans regarding election viola
tons, particularly with reference to
the intimidation of colored voters. He
recited the charges which had reached
the ears of the court, described in
detail the offenses upon which indict-
ments should be found and continued:
"Conspiracies may be hard to prove,
but it is by no can impossible to
prove them, both by direct and cir
cumStantial evidence, and If you should
find the evidence and indict those who
engaged in these conspiracies,s o
would get at a class of men most likely
Of higher, or ait least of more preten-
tious grade, han their tools. This
class is far more dangerous to the COM
munity, and their punishment much
more desirable in every way han the
others. However, both classes should
be indicted The highest duty is inn
posed upon you to vindicate the law,
and you will the more efficiently and
commercially discharge that duty if
you probe matters to the bottom, and,
without fear or favor, indict every
a however, prominent or however
obscure, who has engaged in any con-
spiracy to perpetrate the wrongs de-
nounced by the statute.
1.-THE court also suggests to you that
1t is by no mean impossible for Off
Gals of high or low degree to engage
in such schemes. and, where that Is
the case, the demand for punishment is
all the more imperative, because an
example should be set in the case u
those who are charged with the en-
forcement OF the law who make them
selves the instrument of its violation.
RUMORS OF MARTIAL LAW.
Frankfort, KY, November 13.-Sena.
tor Goebel n h democratic leaders
the county BOARD Of election in Jeffer.
son, Christian, Knox. Johnson and
other counties. 1t is claimed thaf
enough fraudulent votes will be thrown
out in these counties Ito give Goebel a
majority on the face Of the returns.
The city is excited tonight over a I'll.
NOR that the governor intends to de
clare martial law in the evenk that
Know and Johnson counties are thrown
out and that he will refuse to recog.
nize Goebel as governor under such
conditions. This rumor of martial Law
is nor generally credited.