The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-11-30
THE FAMOUS
MONONGAH
PRECINCT
1t Turned Out Bad
For Democratic
Contention

tOOh up anu COuu(eu Tue VOJeS al MO
nongah precinct. It will be recalled
that 1t was about the returns from
this precinct that the Democrats train,
ed upon the county court their first
big mandamus gun. They claimed the
gun Fas loaded from breech to muzzle
and such 1t seemed to be. but when
their expert gunner (Attorney ]. w
Dayls) pulled the firing pin, the pow,
der, If any had been used, appeared tc
be wet. and it failed to force the
"wad," consequently the only explo
sion felt or heard was in the columns
of the Times. the echo there, even
was soon smothered by the voice OF
Judge Mason calling attention to the
fact that they had omitted a very es
seRlal ingredient, to-wft. the primer;
and that the load remained in the
brcech. 1t was an attempt to FIRE n
modern thirteen-lnch gun with a Aint
aud 1t was the flash of the nint that
was heard by the Times, only this
and nothing more
When the county court examined
the returns from Monongah more than
ten days ago it was discovered that
Clarence Curry, who was the Demo,
cratic clerk of the election, had mark,
cd on his tally sheet 1874 votes for Cal,
vim D. Conway for sheriff. and that
the returns made out in Curry's hand.
writing and signed by the commission.
ers also showed that Conaway had re.
Ceived 1874 votes. Inc tally shee,
made out by the Republican clerk
who was w. E, Hsggerty, showed only
1872 votes tailed for Conaway. TIC
take the tally sheet and return OF Cur.
W the Democrat clerk, would show
Gonaway elected. To take the mum.
Der of votes shown by Mr.. w. A. Hag.
gerty's tally sheet would show Mr.
Amos elected. II was Mr.. Haggerty's
book that was returned to. and laid be,
fore. the county court; the one made
by Mr.. Curry was .e,urned to the
clerk of the circuit court. The county
court did not see how there could be
1874 votes for Mr.. Conway when he
had only 1872 tallies marked on the
tally sheet, and they therefore accept
ed the number of tallies on Mr.. Hag
gerty's tally sheet as the correct mum
ber OF votes cast thee Tor Mr.. Coma
way.
The Democrats claimed this was
wrong and insisted upon bringing the
election officers before the county
court to prove that Clarence Curry's
tally sheet was correct and that Mr.
EIaggcrty's was erroneous. The coun
ty court did not think it was neces
Fary to summon the election officers
and were advised that 1t was improper
10 do so. The Democrats then asked
Judge Mason to compel the county
court to bring in the election officers
and bystanders at the election and
take evidence 10 ascertain which clerk
was right.
1t was En account OF the courts de-
cision over these returns that the
Times broke loose on the morning Of
the 18th under the circus poster head
line: Watchers Uncover pIaboIiea
Scheme to Steal County From Demo
Gratis" under which 1t proceeded tc
abuse the court. mfsrepresent Mr.
Haggerty, and to praise Clarence Cur
ry's work in the election. It would be
interesting to hunt up the Times Of
the 18th and read 1t since the actua
result OF the election at Monogah has
been ascertained.
1t said in part: There were there
as in all other precints, two sets o.
books and tally sheets. One was ad
mirabIy kept and every detail wa,
faithfully and fairly set out. The 9th
er was full Of mistakes, was blotchee
and almost IIIesibIe, and was the
worst election return that ever cam,
before the court. On this book. full
of other mistakes and inexcusable er
rors, Mr.. Conaway was found to have
only 132 votes. On the other book II
showed he Dad 1884,"
The Times and Democratic lawyers
and members OF the old court house
ring wanted to bring in Mr.. Curry and
others and prove that Mr.. curry's tai
iy sheet was correct. This they doubt
less knew they could do. Mr.. Curry
himself was kept in attendance before
the county court daily, no doubt wait
ing an opportunity to testify. whai
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