The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-30
"T. c. RUFF1N, Chairman.
"E. s. KEULUM, Secretary

Like thunderclap from a calm and
unclouded sky there came last night to s
a little knot OF Henrico people gathered
roisily at the courthouse on East Main
Street the above announcement from the
Democratic committee of the county, de-
clnrlng the nominee OF the party guilty
of an offcnse punishable with fine and
Imprisonment. and refusing to him the
certificate of election. otherwise lawfully
his as the choice OF the voters.
To say that CONSERVATION and utmost
dismay prevailed among the supporters
OF the nominee Is to put 1t mildly. Had a.
tombshell exploded in their very midst,s
all suddenly, their surprise and amaze
ment could not have been more complete
Confident, with loud-voiced assurance +
that found vent during the period of the
retirement of the committee In a general
clatter of felic,tations that fillsd the
court room to the exclusion Of all else.
they awoke suddenly and concernedly to
realization of the fact that the day
supposed to be won was lost, the victory
n defeat most dismal They were literally
struck dumb; not a whisper was heard
in the room while the brief paper was
being read.
Dramatic Situation.
The situation was In more respects
than one a dramatic one. The day had
been long and tolsome one. and with
the exception of a single hour for dinner
had continued uninterruptedly from "
o'clock in the morning until $3.50 O'Clock
at night. 1t was the latter hour now and
the courtroom, whore the committee sat.
was filled with jaded and supperless. but
eager folk. Most of them were Brauer
men, and 1t Is no venture to say tnar
every man of them believed in their heart
that the treasurer would receive hand
some yindlcation from the committee us
soon as 1t saw fit to leave the room
where for an hour and a half 1t had sat
in executive session, All the evidence
was in and the defendants case was be-
lieved by him and his adherents to be
utterly impervious. A brilliant argument
had Just closed. moro brilliant perhaps
than some of them realized for the mas
terly effort of one of the counsel for the
prosecution undoubtedly did much to ac-
complish the end attained
Mr.. Bramer himself was among the
most confident. He expressed surprise at
the delay Of the committee. and talked
of his case In manner that indicated
belief that nothing but vindication
of himself could possiblS%fnappen. His
friends We're scattered all around the
room and We're making a good deal of
fuss incident to the expression of their
.vlews. Among other pleasant things he
did, Mr. Brauer congratulated one of the
opposing counsel on his brilliant speech.
He said later that 1t was the finest
speech OF the day. considering that the
speaker didn't have any case to talk
about M
The Decision: Notice of Contest. @
Then the committee filed back into the
room, an hour and halfs hard work
showing In their faces, They took their
places and the crowd gathered around
expectanty, the majority of them antlci-
patlng unanimous pronouncement IN
favor of the defendant, The chairman
called upon the secretary to read and the
secretary responded He was staunch
Brauer man. and he did not make much
rapid hesdway with the decision. The
crowd was hanging upon his words nF
, stirred impatlently when he stopped and
asked the chairman to declpher an i'll
written letter, At last he got through and
sat down.
In the midst OF profoupd silence
Major w. II, Sands. representing Mr.
Brauer. arose. He served formal notice
on tho committee that his client would
appeaI to the State Central Committee
that meets on Friday next at noon, THIS
higher court VIII be asked to review the
decision OF the county body and to con-
slider such evidence as the defense may
decide TO lay before 1T, Then, said Mr.
Sands. the defense II 50 advised, would
ask the new committee OF Henrco to hear
case that the old committee really
had no authority to consider
Proceeding Major Sands referred to the
charges against Mr.. Hechler himself, I
He thought that the proper time for a
~ oh luH nag lsI
was when he wished 10 open the matter
Yesterday. but was shut or by the COM
mittee. Still, II the committee wished to
Investigate they We're at the service OF
the gentlemen They stood prpared to
prove that both Ischler and Todd have