The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-11-10
BALLOT BOXES
 FOUND IN RIVER. New York Contest Takes on
 Spectacular Features
HEARST HAS SUPPORTERS
Mcclellan Retains Counsel and Will Defend His Interests in the Fight-McAdoo Issues
 Statement.

New York, November 9-Attorney Gen. oral Mayer stated tonight that he had received information of the recovery from the North river of certain ballot boxes used in the election of Tuesday last He said the matter was under Investigation Attorney General Mayer left his office at midnight saying expected develop ments had not taken place and that noth- ing now could be gained by his remain ing down town longer. MT. Mayer refused to discuss the reported finding of the ballot boxes in the river further than to say that such reports had come to him, it being said the boxes were picked up by q tug. ballot box said to have been stolen and discovered by accident to- night, was sent to District Attorney Jerome's office and will be examined
 Contest Becomes Spectacular.
 The contest over the mayoralty cleo tion inaugurated by William Randolph Hearst the municipal ownership candi- date, develops interesting and spectacular features today.
 For twelve hours the boxes containing nearly six hundred thousand ballots cast in last Tuesdays election choked the streets in the vicinity of the headquar- ters of the board of elections in Sixth avenue, between Forty first and Forty second street. The ballot boxes had been gathered during the night by the police and conveyed in patrol wagons to the election boards headquarters. There the officials refused to receive the ballot boxes and the police acting under a court or der signed by Justice Gaynor, compelling the police authorities to turn the ballots over to the election board, had nothing to do but remain outside and wait the pleas ure of the election officials.
 Anprised of the situation the attorneys for Mir. Hearst appeared, before Justice pickey of the state supreme court and secured from him an order compelling John R. vorhis. president of the board of elections, to accept the ballots. The order was served promptly and the bal lots then were receipted for by the elec- ton board Under strong guards the pa trol wagons containing the boxes were driven to various warehouses in this city, and Brooklyn, where the ballots were stored subject to the orders of the elec- tion boards.
 State Attorney General Julius Mayer had a conference this afternoon with Dis frict Attorney Jerome after which it was announced that the attorney generals or flee would remain open till midnight to- night.
 Will Probe the Wrong Doing.
 Superintendent of Elections Morgan ap- peared before Messrs. Mayer and Jeroma with six of his deputies and placed evil dence before the prosecuting officials.
 Another feature of the contest today was the announcement of the Citizens union that it would join the forces in- yestigating the charges of fraud and wrong-doing at Tuesdays election; it's prime object being to secure a new elec- tion law in the state of New York.
 Attorney General Mayer said tonight:
 ..District Attorney Jerome has placed at my disposal the machinery of his ofhce and will cooperate with me in every way, as I will with him in the prosecution of offenses against the elective franchise. Assistant District Attorneys Perkins and Sanford are to devote themselves to this work in conjunction with Deputy Attor- ney General Mason, and assistants
 The attorney general received a large bundle of subpoenas from the district at torney and immediately put several elec- ton deputies at work serving them.
 Charges that several ballot boxes had been stolen before the returns were re- ported and that others were found un- sealed were made during the day. The investigation of the election promises to be the most thorough ever made in New York City.
 Mcclellan Issues Statement.
 Mayor Mcclellan today engaged coun- sel, among them being Alton B. Parker, ex-judge of the court of appeals. and democratic candidate for President last year, to represent him in the contest.
 Mayor Mcclellan tonight made public the following statement
 'sThe election returns show my election by plurality of 4lS0 votes. The returns are the result of procedure prescribed by law, and they are expressly declared by the law to be presumptively correct. 1 believe they are correct. Therefore, I will take all legitimate means to protect my rights as well as those of the voters. If my adversary appeals to the law to over- throw what are now the legal returns of the result of the election, I will meet him fully prepared to vindicate these re- suits. To the courts where these differ- ences must be passed upon, every candi- date and every citizen should readily submit"
 Should Have Counted for Hearst.
 A statement was issued from MT Hearst's headquarters tonight saying that examination of the alleged defective bal lots which were thrown out on election day, shows more than 5000 which he de. clares should have been counted for him It is asserted that these ballots were marked with a cross beneath the munici. pal ownership emblem and directly over MT. Jerome's name. MT Hearst says these ballots should be counted for him pend. ing judicial decision as to their validity He asserts that if these were accredited to him, he would be elected without g recount of the entire vote
 Police Commissioner McAdoo issued a statement tonight formally explainne how the police came to have possession of the ballot boxes He says that accord < ing to the custom for many years past the board of elections by resolution, has asked the police department to take cars of the boxes. The board had no facilities % at Its command for caring for the boxes < as the commissioner says was illustrated # today when the ballots were kept waiting in the streets for more than twelve 1ours.
 x Policemen have been detailed to guart z |1hs various warehouses where the bal l4nD ere stored