Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-09
VOTES EXAMINED.
Senatorial Com. Looks
Over Chelsea Ballots.
situation Seems to Hinge On
Use Of Distinguishing Marks.
Action Of the Committee will Be
Given Out This Afternoon.

~ 19lCuUVVUg
The votes from the town IF Chelsea
were examined by the comnittee. or,
senatorial election at the hearing i'm the
, Senate chamber Tuesday afternoon.
II was evident from the opening re-
marks of Attorneys Herbert NJ. Heath
and William T. Haines for the contest
ant, Hon. George w. Heselton Of Car
diner. that the question of distinguish
ing marks on ballots was the crux Of
the entire situation.
Senator Stearns of Penobscot was
made clerk Of the committee and the
taking of evidence began
At the opening, Mr.. Heselton's at
torneys filed a detailed claim that the
vote in the several towns was, after a
detailed statement at great length
properly totaled as follows for the
kennebec senator's:
, Fred I. Brown, G12S
! George w. Heselton, 6092
William NJ. Aver, G0s6
| John r. Reardon. 6072
, Thomas J. Lynch, $3.50
! Simon :. Brown, 6031
| Mr.. Williamson for the Democrats
filed a counter claim that of the legal
! ballots cast there was no question of
| the election of Fred /. Brown or the de-
| feat of Thomas J. Lynch and Simon 5.
Brown. He presented a claim that of
| the other three candidates, there We're
, Of absolutely legal ballots. without re-
gard to the voters intent, the following
number of votes:
Reardon, sOS3
! Ueselton. 6076
Aver, 5O66
Town Clerk n. NJ. Hemcnway of
! Chelsea was present and produced the
/ ballots cast in that town at the Sep
! TENDER election. They were examined
by Mr. Stearns with the other members
! of the committee closely watching the
| work. Several times question was
raised and a ballot was laid aside for
/ further consideration. AT the close of
! the examination, Mr.. Stcarns an
! nounccd that he had returned 10 the
! town clerk Of Chelsea 9S straight DEM
/ ocratic votes and ]? split Democratic
I, votes which were all straight aS fay
! as the senatorial candidates We're con-
, cerncd: Il straight Republican votes.
| nine split Republican votes which Wtr"
/ straight as far as the senatorial vote
/. was concerned. two Socialist votes anu.
|. nine defective ballots about which no
: quest ION had been raised. III" also an
I n0unccd that thc committee had Bell
! out six split Democratic votes. four
split Republican votes. ana enc ;'lleSt Il
, defective ballot for further considrrl-
tion.
/ Attorney Joseph Williamson. il be
half Of the Democratic senator. Roy.
|, John II. ReardOn of Oakland who's"
7 seat is the one contested. asked dhiNs
4 the ballot with the IIeselton nam"
crossed out and was informed that it
4 waS one of those held out by the COM
\ mittce for further consideration. TIL"
L count of senatorial votes as far as the
\ unuucstioned ballots was concerned,
! WAS then accepted by common consent.
| Mr.. Heath. for the plaintiff, asked
| that tho ballots be marked as exhibits
by the official stcnographcr. Nj Mill
| ken. ana deposited with him until the
| committee should be ready for further
action.
! Senator Hastings Of oxford. chair
man of the committee, thought it
would be well Ia settle the Chelsea bal
lots now and establish presidents for
| the consideration If ballots frCm other
| towns.
Senator Stcarns thought NJ. Heath's
| idea was a good one and that a genera!
clearing of the troubles might well
| come before an executive session after
the evidence was Ill presented.
Senators Deasy of Hancock and Mer-
riu of Cumberland agreed with the
| committee chairman. and action was
| taken to make that plan effective.
| Mr.. Heath called for the ballots. and
| presented them to the StcnoSfapher TOT
! numbering as exhibits. Then he had
| Town Clerk Hemcnway called 10 the
stand for examination.
On Ballot No. Of the exhibits. the
name of William Henry was found on
| The back. Mr. Hemenway testified that
Mr.. Henry signed it there by order Oh
the selectmen who, through their chalr-
man. refused to allow Mr.. Henry 10
vote unless he did so. Mr.. Henry $
name was not on the check liSt, nut
Chelsea is one Of those towns Where
the law permits names to be entered
unon the check list on the day OF elec-
tion. The vote was accepted under what
tho chairman of the selectmen called
"protcst" and the names were on there
in accordance with his exposition OF
the proper procedure in such a case
The same explanation was given Tor
the names of Charles A. Jones ana
Fred Davis, similarly written on bal
lots.
on cross-examination. Attorney Will
hanson drew a statement that the
chairman of the Chelsea selectmen is
r. c. Meader. the same man VINO was
the Republican candidate for repre-
sentative in the Chelsea district. AT.
, Williamson then began to ask about
the qualifications of some of the voters:
and Mr.. Heath objected on the srouha
, that notice of such purpose had not
been given. He finally did not INSIST
on the objection. but reserved the right
to present testimony in rebuttaI at
later date. 1t was learned that Mr.
Jones formerly lived in Chelsea. but
Mr. Hemenway believes that Jones now
lives at or near the ''Snow Plow, So
| o.IIad inst across the Augusta line