The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-02-01

opened by them. in their several and re-
Spectivc election districts as stated in
paragraph > of this petition. and while
pretending to follow the directions con-
tained in Section GG of the Act of 1901.
Chapter >. of the Laws of the State of
Maryland. improperly. dcceitfully and
fraudulcntly refused and omitted to count
II large number of said ballots that had
been voted for your petitioner. to-wit:
five hundred ballots, but instead thereof
marked the same 'dcfrctivr' on the back
thereof: that said ballots. 50 refused to
he counted aS aforesaid and marked "de-
frctive" by said election Judges, aS af0re-
said. were good and legal ballots and en-
titled by law to be counted for your pet-
TONER and not ''defectivc" ballots. as
improperly, dcceitfully and fraudcntly
decided by the said Election Judges in
their several and respective election dis
trictS and precincts: that said ballots
which the said election Judges. in their
said several and respective election dis
triCts and precincts, refused and omitted
to count for your petitioner. hut instead
marked "defcctivp" us aforesaid had
been east by legal. registered ard quail
fed votcIS. citizens of the State of Mary
land and residents of Cecil county. and
marked in every respect according to
law; that each of said ballots. so as
aforesaid rejected and refused to be
counted for your petitioner. had been
marked by the voter with an indellble
pencil. after the name of your petitioner
and to the right thereof. in the blank
space provided thereof. by cross that
each of said ballots had marked
thereon the name or initials of the
Judge holding the ballots: that
none of said ballots had any mark on it
other than the cross mark in square
| opposite to the name of Il candidate
whose name had been printed thereon:
that on none of said ballots had the voter
marked more names than there We're
persons to be elected to an office; that
some of said ballots were deceitfully
folded together; that had said judges. in
their several and respective election dis
trictS and precincts, counted the said
ballots cast for your petitioner as aforc
said, but marked "defectivc' by the
said election Judges in their several and
respective election districts and precincts.
your petitioner would have had Il large
| plurality of the votes cast for said office.
and would have been declared elected to
the said office of County Commissioner
of Cecil county by the Cnnvassing Board
of Cecil county.
>. Your petitioner further shows that
said election Judges, in their several and
respective election districts and prec-
inctS, in canvaSsing. counting and an
nouncing the ballots cast at said elec-
ton and found in the ballot boxes when
opened by them, in their several and
respective election districts and precincts.
rs stated in paragraph of this petition
and while pretending to follow the dircc
tionS contained in Section G6 of the Act
of 1901, Chapter =. of the Laws of this
State, improperly and fraudcntly counted
as legal ballots for the said William h.
Davis, Il large number of ballots, to-wit:
two hundred ballots. which were defcc-
tive ballots, in this, that the voter had
marked more names on each of said bal
lots than there We're persons to be elect
ed to the several offices at said election.
and none of said ballots had mark
ed thereon the name or initials of
the Judge holding the ballots.
and which ballots therefore ought to
have been rejected as legal ballots and
marked by said judges as 'defectivc":
that had the said Judges. in their several
and respective election districts and prrc
inctS. marked the said ballots. "dcfec
| tive US required Ey law instead of
counting the same aS legal ballots which
they were not. for the said William Is.
| Davis. your petitioner would have had
Il large plurality of the legal ballots cast
at said election ANA would have been de-
clnrcd elected 10 said office of County
Commissioner of Cecil county by the
CanvaSSing Board of Cecil county.
Il. Your petitioner further shows that
said election Judges, i'll their several and
respective election districts and precincts
of Cecil county, in canvaSSng. counting
and announcing the ballots east mt said
election and found in the ballot boxes
when opened by them in their several
and respective election districts and prcc
inctS, as stated in paragraph two of this
petition. and while pretending to follow
the direction contained in Section 66, of
the Act of 1901. Chapter >, of the Laws
Of the State of Maryland. improperly,
and fraudently counted as legal ballots
for the said William Is. Davis. Il large
number of ballots, to-wit two hundred
ballots, which were defective. III this,
that each of said ballots contained
mark thereon other than the cross mark
in the square opposite the name of the
candidates on said ballots. and none of
said ballots had marked thereon the
name or initials of the Judge
,holding the ballots. and which
ought therefore to have been rejected as
legal ballots and marked 'defective' by
said judges in their several and respcc-
tive election districts and precincts afore
said; that had said judges. as aforesaid,
marked the said ballots ''dcfective' as
required by law. instead of counting the
same legal ballots, which they We're not,
for the said William b. Davis, your peti-
TONER would have had a large plurality
of the legal ballots cast at said election
and would have been declared elected to
said office of County Commissioner by
the said Canvassing Board of Cecil
county.
I. Your petitioner further shows and
AYERS that at the said election mentioned
in the first paragraph of this petition he
received a majority of the legal ballots
| l. A.