The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-05-01
JAMES c, Smith Wins
OUT FOR THIRD TINE
Contest for Sergeant Aban-
doned BY Mr. Epps.
MR.. lEAMAN INDICATED
Resolutions Exonerating Him
and Precinct Officers.
EPPS' EVIDENCE ALL HEARsAY
MIR. Wendenburg and Mr.. Meredith
Make Statements, and the Meeting
Melts into a Party Love Feast at
8 o'Clock-Messrs. Smith
and Leaman Warmly
Congratulated.
EPPS' EVIDENCE ALL HEARsAY

Congratulated.
Mr.. James C. Smith was again last
night, and. for the third time, officially
declared by the City Democratic Com
1nittee to be the nominee of the Demo-
cratic party Of Richmond for the Office
Of City Sergeant as a result OF the mu-
nicipal primary held on April 10 last.
All of the thirty-hve members OF the
body were present save three, ana me
meeting was held TO continue the inNesti-
sadon Of the charges OF fraud aueseu
Dy Mr. l.. Claiborne Epps, who was CON
1es1,ne Mr.. Smiths Ilgnt TO the ceruh-
cate of nomination for Sergeant. Betore
Chairman Doherty raped 10 order, now
eyer. =. became known to few OF the
me;nbers that the Epps people hao oe
c,ded to withdraw and that there "oulo
be a speedy settlement OF the case Inc
n,ancipais in the contest We're present
and there was hurried conference be-
tween counsel. AS soon as the chair
mans Eayel fell, a little afterE9 O'Clock,
Mr. Wendenburg, leading counsel ior
Mr.. Epps, arose and declared ihat MS
client was not disposed to press ms case
further on hearsay testlmoES' peuie uit
able TO compel the attendance Oh VII
nesses. He therefore submitted 1t TO the
indement Of the committee without argu-
,,,ent and without further evidence. MT.
Meredith spoke briefly Tor MI smltn.
He had no criticism to oner Oh MI
Epps. and thought his course IN apah-
coming his case at this stage, Tor the
reasons stated by Mr.. Wendcnburg. was
Il manly one. He submitted ms sac
without argument, and moved that
after the committee had examined MI.
Smiths aftidavits. the petition OIL Mr.
Epps be dismissed Hon. r.. =. foihes
MADE a brief appeal for his client, MI
AZ Teamau in which he asked re-
,.ieu Of the fact that no evidence had
,,aen adduced to sustain the allegations
against him, that he be fully and COM
pleIely exonerated
TOOK SPEEDY ACTION.
The committee then went INTO eAeccr .
tive session. ana alIer a,,,t;l.,,. liS s,.e, a
Mr.. Smiths afiidayits resolutions "eie
adopteS unanimously declaring M.
S,nirh the nominee for sergeant, luiiH
generating Mr.. W. p. Leaman ana aii
the election officers in Fourth JACKSON,
and declaring that no evidence had peeh
adduced by MIR. Epps winch leiiueu
show that any fraud mao neeil coiiiiii1.
-ad at any precinct in the city
-rha session Of the committee, Whlch |.
Nd been thought would be a long ano
snirited one, melted into perleGt !os
toast at 9 o'clock. and after fesolu,lons
1hanking the officers OF the comm. ..s.
and the newspaper men iol IT. a'le eon,est' ali N
IDS renaired to the dining-room. Where
so'p~t 4 FAITHFUL OFFICER
Tho committee warmly praised MI. -
G Haake, the faithful sergeant d. o. i,s -,
Who labored in season ana ou. ~, ,i,s s
comfort OF the meliipe4s
;rhe result last night carried no SUI
,;.a IN any quarter. Those VINO knew
air NJ. p Leaman well never nd" ~ ~
slightest suspicion that there !iau 49,
nv yyrong-doing at his pfeciiie'' CIV
when MI. Epps' witnesses oiie d. ,ha,
nther on cross-examinauon, stated .iia .l
s,,a,- Lnaw nothing to Involve MI 10. 10.
@ tho latter's friends became very
,n.,,,. They almost went into ecs1aeies
,ar tho result last. night, ana ne We -
,,..rr,,ay congratulated on all nanus.
DJGN1FIED THROUGHOUT
''..sa of Mr. Smith throughout the
..n,a investigation has been dlgni,leo
"a conservative, and it is evident 'na' ~
,,a hos crown in popular favor as re,
III. -, the contest. He was sho"cieu :.
Nth congratulations last meht. !. - ssiu
.hat a great deal of money Wiici. nis
,,eon .in the air. since the DAY oi ehe
urinary will come down to-day, ana SONY
af the winners were apparently very nap
py last night. ,h,c,, the
,a,nes of candidates may be filed Win
az. clerk of the Hastings Court to be
,,aced on the ticket to be voted Tor II,
.,,a General election. That of Mr. Smith
was filed some weeks ago
UNDER DIFFICULTIES
Mr.. smith has kept the nomination won
on Ap,il 10th under great dit1cultles. and
N1r Enps has been offered every latitude
to make his contest.
Never did man make so narrow an
es,ana from losing an office to which II
is now plain he was entitled. Had there
hecn no clerical error in the returns at
Second Marshall Mr.. Epps would have
been the nominee by about forty ma
iority, and il is not likely that there
r.crld have been any recount
Whatever Mr. Smith might have Thoughts
he had no evidence upon which to base
~ contest, and he certainly could moi
have made any allegations concerning
Second Monroe, in which. upon a genera
recount, an error of SIS votes against Mr.
Smith was discovered, which turned tht
tide back in his favor and confirmed The
nomination which had already been GiyeY
& l.im. Everybody seems satisfied with The
fral result OF the struggle, and all The
committeeman are now glad that they
granted a recount Of the entire vote OF
the city.
CALLED 10 ORDER.
The committee was called TO order al
.:.n p. NJ, and all the parties in Interest
were present. Mri Wendenburg on be.
hsls Of Mr.. Epps. arose and stated il
substance that his client had abandoned
his case. He said the allegations in the
petition OF his client had been based or
information given In good faith. Wher
they went to get positive evidence the.
were handicapped by being unable te
compel the attendance of witnesses. and
had to base their claims largely on hear
sr:, testfm mony.
Mr.. Dpps. he said. was unwilling tc
submit charges TO the committee based
on such evidence. He said their Other