Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-31
Hundreds Of officers Guard the stsirs,
Ballots and Room.
BOARD MAINTAINS STATE OF SIEGE
Prepares to Resist Expected Coup, VIII Oh q
However, Delayed.
JURIST DlscLAIMs INTENDED SECRET ACT
Declares Any order He May Issue
wn1 BE Made I'm Open Court
and Executed I'm Usual
Manner.

CHICAGO. March s0.-In spite OF Judge
Hanecy's injunction IN the Lorimer- Dur
borrow contest, and In the face Of threats
Of contempt proceedings the election COM
mlssioners opened and counted the ballots
cast IN one precinct OF the Sixth congress
slonai district, in the election OF last No
vember. Their action constituted, in the
opinion Of Judge Carter a technical vindi-
cation Of the election law.
The count finished. the commissioners
remained In a state Of siege throughout the
remainder of the day with police massed
inside and outside OF the board rooms,
awaiting an expected attack by the forces
Of Congressman Lorimer. Upward of 300
policemen, drawn from the various stations
Throughout the city. were on guard. but
the day passed without a clash. Even
after the adjournment of Judge Hsneoy's
court, however, and in spite Of his decla-
ration that no writ had been issued. the
vigliis..Se of the commissioners was not
relaxed. owing to fear of a coup on the
part OF their opponents.
Early In the day the chairs and tables
we're removed from the board rooms In
preparation for the count and a squad OF
police was distributed throughout the
rooms and corridors.
Judge Hanecy, whose injunction was thus
dehed, when apprised of the action OF the
board, announced that he would issue no
bench warrents for the arrest OF the COM
missioners for contempt until the afternoon
session OF court. II at all, and that what
ever action was taken would be in open
court.
start Count of Ballots.
The conference between the commission
ers and attorneys continued until long after
the hour announced for the court to begin.
When the commission eventually was
called to order Judge Carter. as legal ad-
wiser TOR the election board. announced that
the counting Of one precinct would preserve
the sanctity OF the election law. and the
principle for which the commissioners was
eontending, and that in view of pressing
matters in connection with the coming mu-
nicipai election he was willing TO postpons
/. ths counting S-of the remaining precincts
leaving his opponents 60 carry out theli
wishes by process Of law or otherwise.
The board Of election commissioners, IN
the face Of objections by Lorimer's attor-
neys, decided to count the ballots in one
precinct. Thereupon they began to count
the ballots with locked doors.
The counting of the ballots proceeded
without interruption and when finished an
adjournment OF the hearing was taken until
April 10 at 10 O'Clock. The election board
however, remained In session, for the pur-
pose Il was announced OF transactinl
further business, although its primary OBJ
ject is believed to be the maintenance o.
authority over the police guard in anticipa-
tion OF any move on the part of Judge
Hanecy and the Lorimer supporters
Later in the day rumors gained currency
that Judge Hanecy had issued a writ i'm
pounding the ballots and ordering the vaul
In which they were locked to be seized b.
force OF deputies. which was said to b
awaiting his orders. The rumor created
intense excitement throughout the cit,
hall and caused Chief of Police O'Neil t
mass several hundred policemen ON thu
stairs and halls leading TO the board rooms
No one was allowed to pass in or out o
the rooms.
While these preparations were beinl
made In the city hall, Judge Hanecy pro
ceeded hearing his calendar in the ad
Joining building. He denied having tssue'
the writ in question, but declined to sal
what he intended doing. you may res
assured" was his reply to a query, "tha
what / do will be in the open court ant
In the usual manner"
wish TO Indict Judge.
Chief Of Police o'Neil tonight expresses
his intention to carry out the instruction
given him by the counsel for the election
commissioners.
~ anyone comes here to serve a wri
or legal document" he said. "our force 1
here 10 see that the paper has merit an
authority sufficient to admit the bearer
am ready and willing to accept the judg
ment OF the counsel fer the commissioners
on that score.
''If necessary can have 1000 men her
within a few hours. should It come to
brush could swear In a lot OF specia
policemen. / am not going to let thos
ballots be seized"
Intervention by the grand jury was aske
OF States Attorney Deneen tonight by AZ
torney John ]. Knickerboeker. who de
manded that william Lorrlmer Eldridg
Hanecy, John A. Cook and j. A. Linn
summoned into the jury room on a chars
OF criminal conspiracy. Linn and Cook ar
included because of the alleged closing {
their odioes in the superior and circu
courts on Saturday afternoon with the SUP
posed object OF preventing the eleetio
commissioners from securing writs
habeas corpus in the event Of their arreI
for contempt OF court.