Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-11

piled for sixteen indictments and it's
members said the names Of some very
prominent politicians were among the
indictments requested
Mayer Threatents Indictments.
Mayer announced that the evidence
In his possession would Justify him in
asking for the Indictment of several
persons both on charges of violation
Of the election laws and also for COM
mitting assaults at polling booths on
election day.
More Ballots Stolen?
Hearst made public a postal card
received today and signed merely
Truck Driver which read, "On We'd
nesday night five ballot boxes were
taken from the boarding stables at 232
Front street"
William Randolph Hearst's fight for
the mayoralty took new and startling
turn last night when Attorney General
Mayer announced that he had received
information of the recovery from the
North river of certain ballot boxes used
in the election on Tuesday.
1t Is not known what significance
this discovery will have, but 1t is
claimed by the editors supporters that
1t undoubtedly will prove the charges
of fraud well based.
They believe that the missing votes
will give the margin to their candidate.
Mr.. Mayer had no details to give out
He said the matter was under investi-'
CATION
The first round in the legal battle
which Hearst's attorneys are to make
in all probability will be fought on
Tuesday, when the alderman Of the
city meet as county boards of can
vassers They may take some legal
steps in the meantime, but If they do
get into court it probably will be to
get warrants in matter of criminal pro-
ceedings which they assert they are to
bring along with the civil contest.
Hope In protested" Ballots.
Under the election law the alder
men, as canvassers, go over all the
| figures in the returns certified by the
election boards. They can also exam
inc all ballots marked protested" and
void" These are put in separate seal
ed envelopes by the election inspect-
ors and are sent to the county clerks
and are not put into the ballot boxes
turned over to the board of elections.
| From results of the investigation
which already has been made by mem
bers Of the large legal staff working
for Mr.. Hearst, the lawyers, twas as
serted today, already feel confident
that the examination of the ballots SO
marked will disclose enough which
should have been counted under the
law and were not counted to change
tho roturuc rnotpria11v
They do not say that the changed
returns will elect Mr.. Hearst mayor.
for the reason that they have no way
as yet of ascertaining how many such
ballots would, if counted, go to Mayor
McClellans total and how many to Mr..
Hearst's. They have, however, they
say, the statements, many of them
backed up by affidavits, made by the
Hearst watchers. to the effect that in
spectors in many districts held up bal
lots as protested" which the lawyers
| believe were not counted as they
should have been and eventually will
be counted.
| Mcclellan's Margin in Danger.
1 These were, according to the state
ments of the watchers, in the vast
4 majority of cases Hearst ballots which
had been either split or in regard to
I which the Tammany watchers could
find any reason for protest. a ballot
is protestable when it appears to be
marked in such way as to be open