Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-22
'ISUPER|0RiC0URT.
Second Day Of the Ward
Three Election Case,
Several Witnesses Examined
Evidence Not Very Tangible.
The Case Will Be Resumed at $50
This Morning.


morning the case of George H. Bangs
was called, and the city clerk, Elmer
f. Newbert, who was on the stand at
the adjournment Thursday. took the
stand again, and was placed under a
rigid cross examination by Mr.. Heath.
He rehearsed what occurred at the
Investigations, of how he opened the
ballot box broke the seals. and eX-
hibited one by one each ballot to the
interested parties. The investigation
of the night of March - was the first
time that the defaced ballots were
called to his attention, and this was
done by Joseph Williamson.
On cross s-examination Attorney
Heath asked: These ballots were
handed back and forth through the
hands of the committee for two hours.
were they not?" Answer, Yes sir.
They did what they pleased with
them didn't they" Yes sir There
We're five Democrats and two Republi-
can aldermen, and some spectators
there. wasn't there" Yes sir" And
all had free access to them didn't
been passed back and forth for two
hours, then Mr.. Williamson called
Your attention to the four defaced
ballots. didn't he?" Yes sir.
Mr.. Williamson: Never at any
time We're these ballots put together 50
they could be compared, We're they"
Mr.. Heath: Il object. He has been all
over that once. / want to see this case
finished some time
Mr.. Pattangall: Then shorten your
cross examinations
Mr.. Williamson then wished to in
troduce evidence to show that the cleo
tion had been close in Augusta for the
past two or three years. Attorney
Health strenuously objected saying:
The idea, close, have a painful
recollection that it hasn't been close"
Mr.. Williamson maintained that it
was public records and material. and
getting angry shouted: Il would have
jected.' Mr.. Heath answered. Il am
standing on my legal rights.
Judge Hall requested the attorneys
to leave out feeling, whereupon Mr..
Heath answered: Il was only guarding
myself against the assault of the
county attorney"
On further cross examination by Mr..
Heath. Mr.. NeWbert was asked
Wasn't there some contests as to the
city officers in the Democratic
party" Pattangall: 4 object. That
is too remote"
Mr.. Heath: Mr.. Williamson ex-
onerated all the Democrats saying they
had no motive in doing it. l want to
show that there were contests inside
the party"
Mr.. NeWberts answer Was: Il was
not member of the Democratic eau
Gus Don't you know as an honest,
intelligent member of your party. that
there were contests" Answer: Il
think there We're some" This finished
Mr.. Newbert's testimony, he being on
the stand from $50 to 11.15.
Charles H. Dill, machinist in the
employ of the Edwards Manufacturing
Co.. and warden for four years in
Ward 3. was called and he gave the
different locations of the tables, ballot
boxes and ward officers on election day
during the counting of the ballots,
stating that the respondent vas seat
ed at the end "t the table and used
the ballot box. which was placed on
end. as a stand. He closed the polls at
O'Clock and stated that no one came
inside the rail or had an opportunity
To touch the ballots after the polls had
closed. He stated that about % or 30
persons We're outside the rail during
the counting. and that the ballot box
was never opened during the day. At
the sorting of the ballots all the ward
officers were around the tables but
WadsWorth. County Attorney Will
hanson then wanted Mr. Dill to show
just how the ballots were counted. Mr.
Heath objected saying it vas con-
fusing. whereupon Mr. Williamson
remarked: Needless objections are
confusing Mr.. Heath: That isn't
just right
Mr.. Dill was shown some ballots
and said: "These are nos in the same
condition as they We're on election
day. When these ballots We're first
called to my attention l thought |
Continued on Page Twelve.)