The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-04-12
His Friends Will Ask Its Correc-
tion by City Committee.
Mr.. SMITH WANTS RECOUNT
Some Further Inaccuracies and Dis.
crepancies in the Returns-Winning
Candidates Receive Congratu-
lations from Their Friends.
New Men in City
Council.

AS a result OF after developments in
connection with the great primary struC-
Xlc for municipal Offices here on Thurs
day. there are strong indications that
1ltcrc will be recount of the entire vote
Of tho city, cast for the candidates for
CITY Sergeant
The face OF the returns shows Sergeant
James c. Smith TO have been renomina-
lvd over his opponent, Mr.. IL Claiborne
Lpps, by majority of forty-seven. but
S.s,cIday afternoon The trends OF the
latter put forth the claim that there
hud been an error in the count OF. the
vote cast in the second precinct of Mar
shall Ward, which. If established, VIII
change the result and nominate Mr.
Gpps by a majority OF fifty-three votes
The face oil the returns show that In
this precinct the vote for City Sergeant
was Smith, 46S; Epps, 293, mallnS the
formers majority over the latter 1lu.
l8ut the total vote for the precinct as
reported falls about 100 below the aGErc-
gate vote for the two candidates 1or
Sergeant. This alleged discrepancy was
discovered and maze known yesterday
afternoon by Mr.. Howell c. Wcisiger,
who witnessed the count for Mr.. Epps,
and who during the day went more care
fully over his tally sheet to verify the
addition. He brought it to the attention
OF Ward Superintendent c. L. Hughes
and Phil Bagley, registrar Of the precinct,
and after referring again to their figures
,Iese gentlemen concurrcd in the deduc-
1ions of Mr.. Weisiger, and stated that
they were sure there had been an error
III the count OF about 100 votes against
Mir. Epps.
The friends of the apparently defeated
candidate quickly got together and held
conference ct which Mr.. Smith was
present. 1t was determined to ask that
the con mittee meet and corr. ct the ALLEGED
error in the precinct named ABOVE, recon-
slider the vote by which Mr.. Smith was
declared the nominee for City Sergeant
and declare that Mr. Epps had been duly
nominated In the primary.
MIR. EPPS' COUNSEL.
Mr.. /. @. Wendenburg was retained as
counsel for MIR. EppS and he declared last
night that an effort would be made to get
the committee together o-day. Mr.. Wen
dcnburg and other of Mr.. Epps' friends
expressed the utmost confidence in the
result and said they We're sure Mr.. Epps
had been nominated and that the correc-
ton OF the alleged error would enuue
him to the official certificate.
on the other hand, Mr.. Smith and his
friends do not concede this, and will make
r counter request OF the committee Cor
cast for City Sergeant. Mr. Smith has not
employed counsel, though he may do so
to-day. He said last night that if there
had been all error as indicated he desired
1t corrected but If errors had occurred
in this precinct he feared there had been
others, and he would therefore, seek an
entire recount
NO REQUEST YET
Chairman Doherty was seen last night
md asked IL anything had been done to
correct the alleged error in the count in
the Second Marshall. The Chairman had
Just come from his home. where he had
been asleep all day, and said he had re-
ccived no request from any one in regard
to the matter. you may say he added
that if errors have occurred anywhere
in the city. and the matter is brought 10
the attention of the committee, that body
Will be quick to correct them
II is probable that an effort will be
made to get the committee together to-
day. but it is not likely that a meet
Ing will be held before Monday.
1t was evident from the wide discus
sion Of the matter last night, that moth
ing short of a. recount of the vote of
the entire city for sergeant viii satisfy the
voters. and especially Mr.. Smiths friends.
rnd it looks now as if the committee will
order a general recount.
NOT UNNATURAL.
In handling such a great mass of fg-
,,rcs errors do not seem unnatural There
have been several other discrepancies dis
covered in the calculations OF the officers
or election and some that Were made by
tho committee themselves, SO it is likely
that the proposition for a general re-
count will be popular and will finally
prevail.
In the Fifth Monroe. the total vote
cast is reported as being 3a7. That return
ed for High Constable Garrison, there
is 2s4-about 100 short Of that given the
other candidates. who had no opposition
The latter having gotten about aSo each
In the Fourth Monroe. the vote as re-
ported for City Sergeant is Epps, lta. ane
Smith, 1884, and yet the total vote re
ported is only 29T, or one short OF the as
rrecate for the two candidates.
AGAINST CAPT. MCCARTHY.
There is a mistake of; 100 in calculating
,'ao,ain McCarthy's total vote for Jel
rerson Ward The vote by precincts 4
n. follows: First q: Second, Al; Third
~; Fourth, lae. Total. 217. 1t will be see,
that these numbers added correctly max
;. total of Sl7 instead of 2l!, as reportes
,,v the committee. So 1t is contendedE D!
nv smiths friends that with such
narrow margin between himself and NJ
Ems there should be a full syeriiicahol
or the entire vote, II one precinct is Z
be recoAnted.
NOT THEIR FIRST BATTLH.
Messrs. Smith and Epps are old tlln
antagonists and Thursdays contest wa
their second one against each other. Nj
Epps was appointed by Judge witt :
succeed his la.nented father upon tne la
ser.s death some years ago and was de
feated by Sergeant Smith two years ag
by 147 majority. They are both gam
fighters and have apparently about a
cn.,ai l,,,,--,he- or f-'e,,.'- rnc.~ the Dem
cratic voters OF the city. The ontcon
OF tho struggle will be watched Wit