Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-02-18
JACKSON AND SMITH
ELECTION CONTEST.
Testimony for jackson Being
Taken In the Court House
Here This Week.

Testimony in the election contest of
William II. jackson VS.. Thomas A Smith
is being taken in the Court House here
before Horace PAYNE. Notary Public.
Mr.. Jackson is represented by John
@. Rose. Esq, of Baltimore. and A. p.
Barnes. of Snow Hill. The interests of
Mr.. Smith are being looked after by
Alonzo Miles. Esq. of the law firm of
Miles & German. Baltimore. and r. ID.
Jones, of Snow Hill.
The first witnesses examined were the
Republican election officials of the First
District (Pocomoke). several of whom
testified that the paper upon which the
ballots were printed was of an inferior
quality and of light weight. On cross
examination they admitted that they
had not heard any complaint of the bal
lots during the day Of the election, but
while the count was being made some
one made such complaint. Shortly
after the testimony of these Pocomok-
ians was taken, the ballot b ,xes were
brought into Court and the ballots eX-
amined They were found to more than
meet the requirements of the law. an ID
later on in the proceedings Mr.. Rose
very justly stated that they were of the
same character as were used in the other
districts examined.
The recount of the First District show
ed there was So ballots upon which
there were distinguishing marks, and
for which cause they had been thrown
out during the count of the polls on
election night. A majority of these had
been marked for Roosevelt aud jackson
The contestant claims that these ballots
should be counted. The contestee says
they should not be counted. because the
law forbids it,and the marks were made
by voters for the pur pose of Identified
ton.
The result of the recount of the First
District shows net gain of votes for
Smith in the conceded ballots
| The Republican election officials for
the Third Election District were next
examined. Their testimony did not dis
close any evidence As TO how the dis
tinguishing marks We're made upon
ballots thrown out because of such
marks being found upon them. On the
re count of straight ballots iii this dis
trict Mr.. Smith gained votes The i'm
properly folded ballots. go in number,
which Mr.. Jackson in his notice of CON
test claimed were cast for him. were
counted Thursday for the first time
% of these ballots We're for Smith and
% for jackson, the remainder having
been cast for various other candidates
The ballots on which distinguishing
marks were found and for which cause
they were not counted at the election,
numbered 33. and were voted for various
candidates, although a large majority
were voted for Roosevelt and Jackson
The result of the official count is gain
of votes for Smith.
| In the Ninth Election District the re-
count showed ii ballots which the con-
testant claims should have been counted
for him. but which had been thrown
out because some were improperly fold
ed and others improperly marked,
and there were II ballots which the coh-
testee claims should be counted for him
if the IA before mentioned are to be
counted for Mr.. Jackson. Seven of these
seventeen Smith ballots are seemingly
perfect in every particular,and it Is sur
prising they were not counted on the
night of election.
The Republican election officials OF
the Eighth District testified that the
election was fair i'll their district and
they had no complaint TO make.
The Republican Judges of Election
for Snow Hill District testified that the
election here was conducted in an order
~ manner. About the only result OF
the investigation is the poor opinion
johnson Lewis has of some Snow Hill
Democrats, and that A. p. Barnes at
tempted to influence che Republican
election officials not to sign the returns
even though the officials saw no reason
at the time for not signing. a recount
of the district is now in progress.