The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-19
THE CONTEST BEGUN.
Opening OF the Proceedings I'm the
Kentucky Contested Elections.

Frankfort, KY. December 15.-The
contest boards in the governor and
lieutenant governorship cases met to-
day, every member of both boards at
tending. Several hundred witnesses,
mostly from Lexington, were present. 1t
was announced the two boards would
sit together. Taylor's attorneys pro-
tested that his charges of disqualified
ton of several of its members were
overruled without investigation, which
if had would nave left the committee
without a quorum. Mayor Weaver,
Chief of Police Haager and General J.
B.. Castleman are among the wit
I, nesses.
! Kohn, of Goebel's counsel, f:led the
affidavits of all members of the contest
board who are under challenge and also
the afidavits of the clerks of both
houses of the legislature. These deny
the allegations in the Taylor protest
and in ~affidavits submitted during to-
day. The objection of Taylor'S couns
Oh all of these matters were overruled.
Attorney Edeln then proceeded to ar
que the exceptions filed to the notices
of contest. The notices, he held, were
insufficient and defective in that they
arrogated to the contest board judicial
powers not conferred on tina body by
law; that there was no allegation hat
the several thousand persons kept
away from the polls would have voted
for Goebel. in any event; that the allie
cation regarding alleged unlawful man.
datory injunctions issued by Judge
Toney in Louisville failed to show that
the alleged unauthorized persons who
entered the polls did anything that at
fected the result of the election; that
the charge of intimidation of railroad
employees by railroad officials were IN
supported by names.
Mr.. Phelps responded for the Goebel
side, claiming that lone of the objec-
tions cited by counsel on the other side
were really in the way.
Mayor Charles p. Weaver, of Louis
vile, was examined to show all pre-
cautions had beer taken for an order
ly n fair election and that the use of
the troops operated as an intimidation.
Mr.. Weaver said, among other things,
that he favored Goebel for the nominal
ton and nae heard that all of his Up
pointeeS supported Goebel. Mr.. Weaver
said that, owing to incendiary speeches
and publications in the newspapers,
there was a feeling of unrest, but not
such, he thought, as required the mill
tary. The local authorities he regarded
as amply equal to the occasion. He de-
tailed the steps which he, as mayor
had taken to preserve order, mention
ing the appointment of special police,
etc.
H. P. Mcdonald, a democratic cleo
ton officer, the second witness, at
tributed the democratic falling off in
his district to threats of intimidation.
These witnesses were examined at
the night session, at which also the ex-
ceptions filed to the notices of contest
had been elaborated on before wit
nesses were called. By a strictly par
ty vote, the exceptions were overruled.
Judge Yost filed a demurrer which was
promptly overruled. Judge Yost then
filed answer to the motions of contest
in both cases and was granted until
Wednesday to prepare and file counter
notices. The boards then adjourned un-
til tomorrow.