Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-12-06
THE RECOUNT OF
NANTUA BALLOTS.
Sharp Declared Elected by 8 Majority

Sharp Declared Elected by 5 Majority.
On petition Of Elmer L. Sharp, the Re-
publican candidate for Chosen Freeholder
in Mantua township in the late election,
and who was declared defeated by one
vote, recount Of the ballots was begun
in the Court House yesterday morning,
December 5, before the County Board of
Elections-George E. Pierson and Samuel
D. Beckett Republicans, and Thomas G.
Dilkes, Jr., and Charles J. Wolferth,
Democrats. Candidate Sharp was repre-
sented by Senator Avis, and A. b. Swack-
hamer and William J. Kraft represented
Freeholder Bender.
J. Mason Tomlin, of the Mantua Board
of Registry and Election, opened the ballot
box.
The tally sheet was the first paper re-
moved, then followed package of unused
envelopes and then the poll list showing
shat 1858 votes were cast at the election,
then the string ballots and envelopes were
removed.
The first ballot was one with the
appropriations printed and Mr.. Avis OBJ
jected to the counting Of this ballot. Mr..
Kraft insisted on counting it, and quoted
from the election law, wherein it was ex-
pressly stipulated, that the appropriations
shall be printed on the ballots.
Mr.. AVIS said his objection was on the
ground that appropriations were not certi-
fed to the County Clerk.
Mr.. Pierson made a motion that the
ballot be counted, and same was lost BY a
tie vote, the Republican members voting
"yes'' and the Democrats sno-" No. 2,
Sharp ballot, was laid aside because of
two marks on the envelope. Ballot 3, for
Bender was laid aside, because OF an idea
that the name of Fl. G. Bender was writ
ten with. an indellible pencil. Another
ballot with 'Bendlen was also laid aside
by partisan vote.
A Republican ballot, with appropriations
on was objected to by Mr.. Kraft, who said
he proposed to object to % Of them. The
ballot was ordered counted by vote OF 3
10 1, Wolferth voting with the Republi-
cans.
| A ballot with no appropriation was OBJ
jected to by Mr.. Kraft because of the word
appropriations" printed thereon and no
amounts following made it marked ball
lot. This ballot was rejected by partisan
vote. Ballot 10, Sharp vote, was laid
aside. because she envelope was SCARED.
| Thus the count proceeded until late in
she afternoon, at which time some so bal
lots had been objected to by one side or the
other. The inspected ballots were referred
to Justice Garrison who arrived about 30
O'Clock. After argument by counsel he
allowed the ballots printed with and with
out appropriations to be counted, as both
seemed to be ssofficial, y and he would take
the ballots as he found them. Those in
Scared envelopes were also counted.
He then rejected the following ballots
A Republican ballot with she name Bend
ler'' written in for freeholder, also one
with the name iBendle'' and Republican
ballot with a Henry G. Bender sticker
oyer the word Freeholder before the name
Sharp.
! A Prohibition ballot with Bender
sticker on for Freeholder was rejected be-
ca1se the voter had torn the appropriation
from Democratic ballot and folded it in
his ballot.
| A ticket with Bender sticker over the
name Loudensager was counted for Sharp,
as was also ticket with Sharp sticker
diagonally across Bendler's name. A ball
lot with E. L...Sharp written was counted
for Sharp.
This construction Of the contested ballots
gave Sharp majority Of three, and the
contest was decided in his favor.
This result Of the contest is disappoint-
| ing to Democrats and proportionatly en-
couraging to Republicans, but if our infor-
nation is correct other features Of this
election will next occupy the stage.