The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1902-11-20
RECOUNT
REVELATIONS
Ballot Box Disclosures Re-
suit in Kimmerly's Elec-
ton and Increasing
Of Notices Vote.
VAIN CHARGES OF FRAUD.
Great Majority Of Disputed
Ballots viii Be Allowed
Candidates by the
Court.
VAIN CHARGES OF FRAUD.

The recount Of the votes east at the
recent election in Bayonne, which was
completed by the County Board of Elec-
tions at the Court House, at seven o'clock
last night, disclosed conditions unparal-
| leled in this county since 1899, and has
| apparently resulted in the election of
Frank H. Kimmerly, Democratic candi-
date for Freeholder, who was declared
defeated on the face of the original
| returns by Patrick Flanagan, Republi-
can Fusionist, by plurality of II votes;
has increased the plurality of Charles
McGee, Democratic candidate for Coun-
cilman-at-large, from 80 to 80: and has
assured the election of John J. Nealon,
Democratic candidate for Councilman in
the Second Ward, and School Trustee
Garaghan, Of the same ward, whose
right to their seats was disputed by their
Republican-Fusion opponents.
As was to be expected the disclosure
Of the apparent attempt to count out
successful Democrats has resulted in in
timations of fraud being made by the
defeated Republican, Fusionists. They
make no direct charges, but by insinua-
tions would have it appear that they are
in possession of evidence to prove that
some of the ballot boxes were tampered
with after election. The. slightest appar-
ent irregularity, such as the appearance
of ballot numbered differently from
that of the envelope in which it was en-
closed, is quoted in support of their cry
of fraud, and even the fact that some of
the numbering on the official ballots and
envelopes is in different handwriting from
that which appears ON others in the same
string is used as an argument In sup
port of this serious charge
BOXES IN SAFE KEEPING.
The fact that the boxes, when .deliv-
cred at the Bayonne City Hall on cleo
ton night, were placed in charge of City
Clerk, Hamilton an honest and reputable
Republican, who has the confidence Of
every resident of the city, would seem to
be conclusive evidence of the absurdity
of the charges made, but this is not re-
ferred to by those who are trying to cow
er up their own disclosed tracks in the
cry of fraud
While the exact results of the recount
is not yet known, owing to the fact that
fully 500 ballots were objected to by
counsel on either side and referred to the
court for decision as to whether they
should be counted, it is now evident that
the candidates mentioned above are
elected and their election is practically
conceded by their Republican-Fusion op-
ponents.
Many of these disputed" ballots were
set aside for trifing Irregularities such
as blur from the dirty fingers of vot-
er, slight tear, printers ''offset'' and
other technicalities which Justice Col
Inns has before decided does not consti-
tute a marked ballot within the meaning
o fthe law. Indeed, so trivial are many
of the objections that the County Board
of Elections has decided to practically
have recount of these disputed bal
lots before presenting them to the court,
and will meet for that purpose on Fri
day morning next.
1t now seems to be conceded that a
great majority of these disputed ballots
will be allowed by the court for the can
dldates for whom they were cast. so
there is little or no doubt of the election
fthes entire Democratic ticket in Ba-
yonne by safe pluralities.
NO GROUND FOR ACCUSATION.
One of the stories raised by those who
are CRYING fraud is that one of the ballot
boxes was taken to the Democratic City
Club before being brought to the City
Hall. This is explained by the fact that
the election officers on their way to the
City Hall stopped at the City Club and
the box was left outside on the stoop
under the surveillance or two of the
election officers while the others went in
side for few minutes. The fact that
in the strongly Democratic wards large
numbers of straight ballots for that party
appeared on the string consecutively is
another so-called proof offered by the
fraud shouters as proof of the truth Of
the cry, at the same time absolutely no
reference is made by them to the sur
| prising fact that in certain districts
where the Fusion Republican candidates
were especially active the recount dis
closed mostrsuspicious conditions and the
returns made were in many cases re-
versed by the official count conducted
| yesterday.
1t is said that the legal representatives
Of the Republican Fusionists will lay be-