The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-04
SMITHS NAME IS
TAKEN OFF BALLOT.
MYSTERIOUS CANDIDATE FAILS
TO APPEAR.
Application Of George r. Smith to
Have Man of Same Name Kept Off
Ticket Is Granted by Judge Holt
Grand Jury Will Probe Alleged
Fraudulent Reg ration.

Judge Andrew Holt today granted
the petition Of George R. Smith, candi-,
date for probate Judge, and ordered
the name Of Eugene V. Smith removed
from the republican primary election
ballot.
This, however, does not end the mat
case, and u Careful inquiry into the
identity and the motives Of the men
who caused the Eugene V. Smith fling
will be made by the grand Jury when
it convenes, on the 10th Of the month.
County Attorney Al J. Smith was in
Judge Hollis court during the hearing
conclusion he. said: II shall lay this
whole matter before the grand Jury,
and if possible bring the person or per-
sons who have been tampering with the
primary election lays to Justice. AS
long as l am county attorney of this
county [ do not propose that anyone
shall violate the election laws with i'm
punity. The primary election ballot
belongs to the people and not to indi-
vidausl, and anyone wyho uses it fraud
ulently to further private ends must
answer for hits actions in court if I
can find any way to make him.
Smith Is Absent. ~
AS was expected, there was no Eu-
gene Vincent Smith in court when the
case was called today. No one ap-
peared for him, and the ATTORNEYS for
George R. Smith, the petitioner, intro
duced evidence that convinced the
court that if there is such person as
Eugene Vincent Smith,, his filing was
not bona fide and was simply made for
the purpose Of confusing the voters and
of Defeating George R.. Smith.
The petitioner was the first witness
called, and he testified as to his fling
and that Of the "bogus Mr.. Smith. y
He asserted that he had been unable
to find any such person as Eugene Vim
cent Smith. An affdayit by Daniel A..
lodg cling house that f. Y. Smith gave
as his residence, was then introduced.
He swore that he knew Of no such per-
| son, that no man Of -, that name had
ever, to his knowledge, lived at his
house, and that Chris Purcell: pri-
vate detective, had registered the name
Of "E; V. Smith & Coz on the morn
ing following. the filing and had paid
other private detective, was then called
| and testified that he had made thoro
search for b. V. Smith, but had failed
to find him.
Auditor Is Willing.
County Auditor Hugh R. Scott ap-
peared and stated that he had no OBJ
Jections to urge against the petition
which asked that The county auditor
be compelled to remove the name from
the ballot. Charles E. Bond then stated
Of Eugene V. Smith s name on the
ground that he was fictitious person;
that his filing was not bona fde, but
made for the purpose Of fraudulently
defeating George R. Smith, and, further,
that the filing was not legal because it
was made on Aug. 80, after the twenty
day limit fixed by law had become ef-
fective. The court did not pass upon
the latter contention, holding that E.
V: Smiths failure to appear, together
| with the petitioner g evidence, was suf-
ticlent to warrant the removal Of his
name. =, ..~
There is considerable speculation as
to the real movers in the scheme and
several names, prominent in local politi-
cal circles have been mentioned in con-
nectiOn with it. An Investigation by
the grand jury is expected to bring out
some interesting developments.
johnson Pulls Out.
The republican primary election ball
lot was further shortened by the remov-
date for county commissioner who filed
on the last day of fling. Mr.. Johon-
son himself petitioned the court to have
his name removed on the ground that
it was for the good of the party, and
the benefit of the voters who might
confuse his name with that of j ohm B.
johnson, county commissioner and a
candidate for denomination. Judge
Holt issued the order.
| -----------------4---
PRESIDENT TO SPEAK.
Oyster Bay, Sept. 4.-President Roosevelt
will leave Sycamore Hill for Washington, Oct.
!. Three days later he will make a flying trip
to Harrisburg and York, Pa. where he viii
deliver speeches The date Of his departure
from Oyster Bar was announced today 8. .--s,--.