The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-13
9TH DISTRICT CONTEST
CRAWFORD'S BRIEF DISPOVES
CHARGE AGAINST MARTIN.
ANoTABLE CAROLINA SOCIAL FUNCTION
North Car oIna Was Well and Largely Repre-
scented at the Presidents Brilliant Dip
lomatic Reception. The Lee Mon
ument Ball Tonight.
ument Ball Tonight.

Washington. u. c.. jan 12.-(Special.
"A prominent citizen Of Raleigh who
has just arrived in this city. tells me
that Governor Russell, Judge Spenceh
Il. Adams and others are fixing up the
most mixed State ticket that was ever
heard of before. A distinguished anti
amendment Democrat is to head this
ticket. and PopuliStS and Republicans
are to fill the minor places.
Somebody has reported that my CORE
Spondence for your paper contained
paragraph unfriendly to Mr.. Harry Mar
lin. the only son of Mrs. Senator Vance.
Also that Judge Linney said my alleg
ed interview with him was incorrect.
Judge Kinney has this moment told me
that always quoted him with absolute
correctness. / have never used Mr..
Harry Martins name as you well
know, in any but the most friendly spirit.
and all l ever said about him was TO
show that he had been active as young
Democrat in the campaign in the Black
Mountain precinct. If | did not like
him, and if | had not believed him to he
thorough-going gentleman. | would not
hesitate to say what | thought about
his actions in any public matter With
his private acts | have nothing to do.
though having known him from his child
hood. l have always hoped and frequent
ly said that he was q good Congressional
possibility from the Ninth district He
is polished. wealthy and clever
An unpleasant episode which confront
ed ME this morning has induced me to
get two pamphlets now being largely
circulated here containing the briefs of
Messrs. Crawford and Pearson, and
which VIII be before the Elections Com
mittee next Wednesday. To my surprise
/ have just found that Harry Martin is
in Il way held responsible for the vote
of the Black Mountain district by Mr.
Pearson. This official record now be-
fore me shows that the attorneys for MIR.
Crawford are f. III. Busbee James II.
Merrimon, j. ID. Murphy. r. ID. Glmer.
Mr.. PearsOn's lawyers are: J. NJ vii
son, Thomas Settle, j. ]. Hooker
The brief of Mr.. Crawford contains
the following:
BLACK MOUNTAIN PRECINCT.
1T appears from the testimony that
the election law in existence in Norm
Carolina in 1898 had been enacted by
RepublicanPo pulist legislation as here
inbefOre set forth. and that under that
election law the entire election machin-
cry in Buncombe county was under the
control and Management of the Repub
lcans: that these Republicans had the
appointment of all judges and officers
of election i'll the county: that they APP
pointed Mr. j. H. Martin as n Judge
of the election for Black Mountain
township. and NY this act it is shown
that the Republicans of Buncombe
county believed Mr. Martin to be a gen
tleman of high character, and contestee
AYERS that Mr.. Martin is gentleman
of the highest character Mr.. Martin
swears positively page 174) that the
election at Black Mountain Precinct. SO
far as he took part in it. and so far
as he knew. was absolutely regular and
fair in every particular. He also swears
that he did not substitute ballots during
or preceding the count of the county box.
Mr. Martin is supported in this state,
ment by C.. W. Savage page 259). T.
Il. Sutton page 26D. L. G.. Watkins
page 1922, and C. l.. Stepp page. 263D
These witnesses last named are as high
ly honorable gentlemen as there are in
Black Mountain Township. and they all
testify in substance that the count of
the ballots at Black Mountain was fair
ly and justly made, and that Mr. Mar
tin did not substitute ballots, as alleged
by contestant. Against this testimony
is placed the testimony of r. w. Ingle
page S3), y. Z. Walker (page 80. NJ.
e. Walker page SS), and c. l.. Nor
ris page 90) T. w. Ingle is proven
TO be a man of bad character pages 263
266, 2G0 \. =. Walker is also shown
TO be a man of bad character page 26G)
and G. l.. Morris is shown to be Il weak
minded man and easily influenced page
216) 1t further appears that \. L. Wal
kerr was a man of such character that his
own mother charged him to his face
with committing perjury page 1922
Now let us recall the circumstances
under which this tampering with the bal
lot-bOX is said to have occurred. The
polls had been closed at Black Noun
tain and the count was proceeding.
There were two lamps in the room. ana
some twenty or thirty electors, compos,
ed of both parties. were present In
the light of the foregoing testimony.
how absurd it is to believe that Mr. Mar
tin, who is admittedly an intelligent
man. and who was acting Judge by vir-
tue Of the appointment of the Republi-
cans of Buncombe county. would de-
liberately and publicly take ballots our
of the box and substitute others there
for.
1T further appears that J. Y Walker.
a Republican judge appointed by the
Republicans of Buncombe county. was
in three or four feet of Mr.. Martin dur
ing the time that contestants witnesses
say that Mr.. Martin was tampering with.
the county box.
1T further appears from contestants
witnesses that Mr.. Martin had on his
oyercOat, and it was buttoned. Contest
ants witnesses further say that Mr..
Martin twisted his mustache, and when
he would take a handful of tickets out