Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-14
AFFAIRS AT SOUTH OMAHA
Probable Legal Contest Over Recent
Primary Will Come.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES OBJECT
Charles Loses Limb-YounR
Man Dragged by CRr-Gua
Curtis Killed on Union
Pacific Track.
DEMOCRATIC CANDmATEs OBJECT


Rumors were rife Saturday concerning
the probable contest OF the primary cleo
ton before the Douglas county court, and
It comes from a source which is reliable
that the only reason that a petition has
not been filed 70 date is the fact that the
~canvassing board has up to the present
time failed to make the proper report OF its
finding, both as to the canvassing OF the
returns and as to the recount demanded.
The board consists of the mayor, the city
clerk and the treasurer. The city attorney
was instructed by the board to make up it's
findings in legal form, and he is said to
have done this and delivered It, as he
thought. to the board. They, In the con-
fusion Of the last few minutes OF the re-
count lost the document and failed to file
it with the city clerk for approval before
the city council The mayor said last night
that the report Of the board would be filed
Monday. After that has been done the con-
t~estants may proceed by petition before
the county court within twenty-four hours.
1t Is said hat the petition is already drawn
by a prominent legal firm and is sworn out
in the name Of certain candidates OF the
democratic party who are convinced that
the Irregularities and frauds perpetrated as
they view them have been sufficient 10 re-
suit in their defeat. The petition will prob
ably be filed before Monday night, alleging
fraud and illegality.
In the first instance the contention will be
made that the city attorney, s. L. Winters,
was wrong in his opinion which permitted
the unregistered to swear In their votes by
offering any one of the valid excuses which
are accounted good on election day, but
which the wording Of the present primary
Law expressly prohibits. Mr.. Winters opin-
ion is said to have been based on his belief
that this feature OF the primary law would
not stand the test Of constitutionality.
illegal
Further, 1t will be alleged that illegal
affidavits were submitted both in their
technica aspect and in their integrity as
expressing the truth. Further, it will be
alleged that voters were brought in from
outside the limits Of South Omaha to vote
at the South Omaha primary, constituting
absolute fraud. Other allegations will show
that more official ballots were found in
the ballot boxes on their return to the
city clerk than were charged to the pre-
clnct by the city clerk, or which were
Acknowledged by the election boards, whose
duty 1t was TO check carefully the num-
Der Of ballots received. This, IL is con-
tended, is evidence Of the endless chain
ballot in which one or two official ballots
were either forged or stolen and exchanged
in the booth for the ballots handed out
by the clerk. 1t has been discovered fur
Their that two precincts either lost or de-
stroyed the affidavits received from un-
registered voters. Some Of the affidavits
for removals were unsigned by any of the
judges and clerks. The most casual glance
at the affidavits will reveal numerous
omissions Of vital Importance. Lists Of
voters are being examined and it is said
many OF the addresses given are fictitious.
It is reasonable to predict that whoever
the parties shall be who stand behind
these petitions and contest the election,
they will find strong support in the citi-
Gems who believe in good government at
any cost.
Charles johnson Loses Leg.
Charles Johnson was found last night on
the railroad tracks at Thirtieth and A
streets bleeding and unconscious from being
ground under the car wheels. He had his
right leg badly broken and crushed above
the knee. 1t is thought at the South Omaha
hospital, where he was taken, he will lose
the leg, although amputation was not at
tempted last night because the man was
suffering too much from shock and loss
of blood. He was a man about 6S years
old and lives on Lamont street, Omaha
He has a family and he was living with
them. DIR. John Koutsky attended him at
the hospital.
Johnson was formerly a paint contractor.
He fell in Denver some years ago and hurt
his head. Since that time he has at times
showed mental defects. He had wandered
away from home during the afternoon and
the Omaha and South Omaha police had
been notified to keep a lookout for him.
He apparently wandered down the tracks
and in his irresponsible condition got in the
way Of a passing train on the Union
Pacific.
Gus Curtis Killed on Track.
Gus Curtis, Thirty-slxth and F streets,
South Omaha, was instantly killed on the
tracks OF the Chicago & Northwestern rail-
road within the confines of the roundhouse
at Thirty-sixth and d streets. He was an
engine wiper and was working nights. One
Of the road engines was coming into the
roundhouse after a trip and 1t is thought
Curtis either attempted to board the engine
OF that he was busy on the tracks and did
not see 1t at all. The engine knocked him
down lengthwise Of the rail and upon It
and the trucks Of the pilot passed over him.
Curtis was a man nearly 80 years old and
has a family. He had been engaged for a
long time as an engine wiper about the
~roundhouse. The police examined the case
and notified the coroner, who will arrange
for the inquest later.
Young Man Nenr Death.
A son Of Councilman c. M. Davis of
the Omaha city council, came near death
Friday afternoon IN South Omaha by
being dragged under the wheels OF a
street car. The boy was delivering a
package in South Omaha and jumped off
the moving car at Twenty-fourth and NJ
streets. His overcoat caught in the front
door Of the car and he was thrown and
dragged half a block at a rapid rate. For
tunately for him his foot on the first
swing landed fairly on the oil box of the
journal of the front truck and his hand
struck the beam of the truck which sup
ports the car and he was able to hold
himself away from the tearing wheels
while his coat held fast in the door. He
screamed with all his might, but neither
| conductor or motorman heard him appar-
emily and neither could see him dragging.
A. II. Murdoch saw the boy as he fell
and being half a block down the street he
ran out upon the track and wildly waved