The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-19

81 /
the room and converse with the witness,
md no intimated that the witness had
been advised to leave He again pressed
Mr.. Manning to know from what place
he had paid his gas and water bills
since last November.
II have not lived at my present resi-
denco since November, and If you Insist
upon stating this. you say what - not
true. was Mr.. A1annings hot retort.
Captain Morgan r. Mills created ap-
n1nuse by saying that SO far as ne knew,
the people and candidates III JEFFERSON
Ward except the contestants, were salts
fled with the results as heretofore as
certlned.
Captain Mills was asked several ques-
tions and In answer to one sald ne pc
l,evod Tia election had been fairly con-
Quoted. Mr.. w. T. Atkinson, another sue
cessful candidate, said he was satisfieh'
and thought tho election was fairly con-
Quoted.
Thought Affidavits Shaken.
Mr., Atkinson said he had heard many
voters declare they would not go into
another primary. He knew Of no senti-
ment for a new election. He had perfect
confidence In the officers
Mr. w. G. Duke argued al some length
on the value OF the ntfldavits, and the
counter statements of some Of the at
fiants.
Wis point was that the signatures Of nf-
fiants, properly witnessed, shoud'tcount
for more than unsivled dffidavits.' ,5
Mr. Montague asked
"Whnt are you going to do about it?'
II know what would do about It"
answered Mr.. Duke. II would dErans
this case for there Is to my mind, moth
Ing in IT,
There was loud cheering around tho out
skirts of the crowd at this utterancc, and
Mr. Duke proccefcd to argue for an alb
solute dismissal
lie said nothing had been discovered
to indicate fraud and that the commit
tee should declare the result AS formerly
ascertained to be correct.
Mr.. Manning made las strong speech
along the |saines linci Felide clarcd ytha a
distinction had bten draw In the mat
ter.
"When anything happens in Monroe
Ward" he declared ut Is a discrepancy,
and when it happens In Jefferson It Is.
fraud.
All Honest Men.
"These arc honest men and stand well
in their community, and yet 1t is PROPOSED
to place upon them brand from which
they may never recover. I ask you Is II
fair to make these men prove their inno-
cence? Isn't the burden of proofon the
conf tants to show fraud2 dl{3 i4tt
"Then ! answer mo fraud has been
proven. and beg you, gentlemen. to eX-
onerate these Officials and let Mr.. Sclph
go to the grand jury and try his case
there"
Mr.. Mcclure argued earnestly OH re
other side. He dwelt upon the affidavits
and said In law it was not necessary that
afflants should sign their names.
This committee cannot dismiss thl]
case" he went on. II am sorry these
officials are in an embarrassing position
It Is through no fault OF ours, but some
thing was wrong In this precinct and
something should be done,
| Mr.. Mcclure moved that new cleo
| tIon be held in First Jefferson next Tues
day, and this was seconded by DR.. Cars
| rington. Mr., Thomson discussed Tho
many complications arising out OF the
matter II n new election should be held,
He offered as n substitute that all tn !.
| candidates for Council and Board in JEFF
| fcrson Ward both successful and defeat
| cd, be allowed to run in the schenl cleo
tion with the approval OF the committee.
Mr.. Phillips said he thought tha would
| leave the Impression that the committee
was of opinion that tho election had been
unfairly conducted,
Mr. rhomason did lot think 50. His
substitute was seconded by Mr. T. w.
Evans.
Moved to Dismiss.
MI Duke followed, and again expressed
tne beliet that the cnso should be dis
missed. Mr.. Saunders opposed Mr..
Thomasons motion, and finally moved.
inasmuch as no fraud has been proven,
tho case DO dismissed.
Colonel Roykn spoke for Mr.. Saunders
motion, declaring that there was no cyl
dcnce of fraud and that the officers should
be eSorerated,
Mr.. Mcclure said although the election
officers had been given forty-eight hours,
they mad brought no piece OF evidence TO
show that the affinnts had not voted Tor
!, Selph. 1t was not n question of whether
these thirty-three men had given attl-
davits, but no one had said they did not
vote for Selph
Mr.. Mcclure met the point about no.
lice. by reading the law providing that
nrimaries, not lcgalzed, may be held In
Mr., Manning opposed Mr. MCGUIRE
motion In a brief speech, and favored
dismlsstng the case
Finally Adopted.
Mr., Welsh favored Mr., Thomason's
motion. and said tho best way out Of The
matter was to allow the people 10 do
eide.
He declared that though opportunit,
mad been given. no evidence had beer
,,rough, here 10 shake the statement:
made by thlrtyone alf!ants, who swor'
they voted for selph,
I'VE cannot dismiss this case" he wen
on ''in. common Justice to all. ] an
anxious TO do justice to the election off
! GERS. the contestants and ihe eontestees
but we must first 40 justice 10 'hs peo
Die of Jefferson Ward"
: oThis committee Is responsible TO N
people, and we cannot SHIFT the burde