The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-18
WYOMING ELECTION CONTEST.
The Court Makes Necessary Orders
for Furthering the Case.
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

Special to the Scranton Tribune.
Tunkhannock. Dec. 17.-The court
of common pleas met here today for
the purpose of hearing the matter of
the contested election of a. II. Squier
for the Office of representative in the
general assembly. The court con-
vened at 1 o'clock and Immediately
upon the opening of court q motion
was made by the attorneys for re-
spondent to quash the petition of
contestants. on the ground that the
petition was no of sufficient particu-
l1rity, inasmuch as the names of those
whose votes were alleged to be ille
gal were not set forth. Arguments
upon this question were heard on both
sides and the court promptly over
ruled the motion. Attorneys for the
contestant and for II. D. Tiffany then
presented two propositions to the
respondent, tending to simplify and
shorten the contest. 1t will be re-
membered that upon the count of the
vote by the return judges an alleged
mistake was discovered in the re-
turns from Monroe township. The re-
turn sheet, signed by the election
officers, showed los votes cast for Mr..
Tiffany in that town. The tally sheet.
which was unsigned, showed only 103
marks opposite the name of II. y.
Tiffany The returning board, with
out any investigation into the facts
to ascertain which was correct and
without even opening the list Of voters
which was filed with the returns to
find how many votes were there cast.
decided that the tally sheet should
govern their count and gave Tiffany
but 1O3 votes in that town. This gave
Squier plurality in the county of
three votes. AS soon as Mr.. Tiffany
was Informed of the action of the re
turning board he came before them
and asked that the vote of Monroe
be recounted. He was met by an in
junction sued out at the instance of
friends of Mr.. Squier, restraining the
returning board from sitting to fur
ther consideration of the matter,
which injunction upon a hearing had
before the court, was dissolved. The
returning board refused to further
consider the vote of Monroe and is
sued certificate to A. Fl. Squier.
There was then no way for Mr.. Tiff
fany to get at the vote from Monroe
except by a contest. The PROPOSE
tlOHS Illduc Ill open court toudv were
as follows: First--That the court
send for the ballot boxes in the diff
ferent precincts, open them, count the
ballots therein and issue certificate
to the one who should appear by such
count elected, both parties binding
themselves to abide by the result OF
the count. Second-The court to send
for the ballot box of Monroe town
n,
therein, and taking the vote as re-
turned from the other towns, ascer-
tain who was in fact elected. and is
sue a certificate accordingly. These
two propositions being made both for
the purpose of saving costs to the tax
payers of the county and for the fur
,thering of the business. These two
offers comprise all that Mr. Tiffany
asks for, namely fair count of the
ballots of the county and especially
in the township of Monroe.
Attorneys for respondent refused to
consider the propositions in any way.
The court then made the necessary
orders for the furtherine of the con.
test as follows: Contestants We're or
dered to file their bill of particulars
within twenty days from this date,
setting forth, specifically, the names
of the persons whom they ailege were
illegal voters, and the causes. etc, ana
that respondent file within twenty
days after a copy of the above bill
of particulars is served on him. his
answer and likewise a similar bill OF
particulars. In regard to the collect
ing of the ballot boxes. Asa S. Keller
esq.,, and H. S. Harding. esq, We're
appointed by the court to collect them
and deliver them to the sheriff of
Wyoming county as soon rs possible,
and to report the condition and place
of custody of each box. Court then
adjourned to meet on Tuesday, the
first day of January, next.