The Portland daily press., 1900-10-03
Outcome of Election
Day Controversy.
Chairman of Democratic City
Committee Loses His Temper.


municipal court yesterday morning to
against Edgar &. Rounds by Chairman
Samuel l.. Bates of the Democratic city
committee. This action grew out OF the
trouble which occurred in ward three
polling place on the morning Of the last
election. 1t will be remem bered that Mr..
Bates posted in this ward room notice
Offering a reward for detection OF persons
attempting to influence voters. MIR.
Rounds tore this notice down whereupon
Mr.. Bates put another one up which was
also torn down. Out OF this grew MIR,
Bates action against Mr.. Rounds for
trespass.
When Mr.. Bates came to make his
argument he used such language in
speaking of Mr.. Rounds that there ensued
a very dramatic incident.
City Clerk Edwin l.. Dyer appeared for
Mr.. Rounds and Mr.. Bates represented
himself. In his opening Mr.. Bates be-
came somewhat excited and characterized
the acts of which the defendant was
alleged to be guilty as the ''coWardIy
acts Of a bully and thug" He was
reminded by Judge Hill that his personal
opinion OF the defendant was not perth
nent to the case on trial.
Mr.. Bates called himself to the stand
asshis first witness. He said that on cleo
tion day he was in Ward as the law
full representative OF the Democratic party
and had reason to believe that bribery
was being resorted to with voters. There
fore he purchased for five cents a piece of
cardboard and wrote on it notice offer
ing $50 reward for the detection OF any
person so engaged and posted it. first as
certaining that Warden Staples had no
objection to such action. Shortly Mr..
Rounds discovered the placard and,
growing red in the face, made rush for
it and tore it down. He posted another
and again the Ward leader laid it low,
this time tearing it into fragments. He
next hired painter to execute similar
notices which were posted and remained
undisturbed
Ex- Chairman Levi Greenleaf of the
Democratic city committee was called
upon by Mr.. Bates and corroborated his
testimony relative to the posting and
tearing down OF the notices of which he
said he was an eye witness.
"Mhat were you doing in Ward 8?''
ing uired Mr.. Dyer.
"Oh, legitimate errand, assure
you, responded the witness.
The plaintiff rested, and Mr.. Dyer
opened for the defence, begging the par
don OF the court for engrossing its at
tention with matter involving aEnickel.
lie claimed that Mr.. Bates; notice was
posted without the assent OF the ward
and Nthat as a constable of the city
Mr.. Rounds had a right to tear down
document dishguring the walls OF a
public building.
Mr.. Rounds was the first witness for
the defence. He said his first warming
Of prospective trouble in the ward was
''big piece in the papers and the
next the notice posted on the ward-room
wall. Some voters objected to it as an
INSULT and he asked the warden if he
gave permission to have 1t posted The
warden replied that he did not and as
sented to a query whether he would like
to have it taken down.
'That doesn't matter here,'' sharply
Interrupted Mr.. Bates.
"What business is it OF yoursp' the
witness responded. "I'm telling this
story
ut may be we'll to continue the exami-
nation by questions of counsel re-
marked Judge Hill, and hereafter the
WITNESSES flood of eloquence was perceptl-
bly, diminished. He said he tore down
the notice merely because as a constable
he thought 1t his duty to protect public
building from being disfgured.
Mr.. Bates announced that he had no
questions to ask Mr.. Rounds, and the
audience settled back with sighs OF dis
George S. Staples, warden OF Ward 8
testified that he had given Mr. Bates no
to post any placard on election
day.
Superintendent of Streets William f.
Morse, election clerk of the ward, at
tested Mr.. Rounds election as constable.
Here both sides rested. Mr.. Dyer
summed up briefly for the defence and
then en- sued one of the most dramatic
scenes ever seen in local court room.
Mr.. Bates began argument in his own
behalf. speaking in a low even voice.
But as he progressed his tones rose higher
and higher in his delivery OF a scathing
denunciation of the defendant.
Gradually turning from the court he
ia ced Mr.. Rounds, who sat in the rear of
the court room, and, pointing his finger
at the ex-alderman, he ironically COM
nented upon the patriotic fervor of the
which led him to destroy |
two signs and then when three more
had been posted to sneak quietly way.
This is Edgar Z. Rounds, the noble,
high minded constable, u he remarked.