The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-09-19
MORE ABOUT THE
ELECTION CONTEST.
Editor Hattiesburg Daily News:

Editor Hattiesburg Daily News:
In order that the public may be
'ully advised of all the facts connect
ed with a certain charge filed against
me in the justice court of A. D. Hart
field desire space to make this state |
ment Soon after the second pri-
mary held in this state on August the
%, A. D., 1911, filed a contest as pro-
vided by law to the election held at !,
on that day in so far as re-
lated to the nomination of a candidate |
for the office of Supervisor, and in the !
petition filed by me alleged fraud, and
set out therein the names of some |
twenty-six or twenty-eight men who
voted in said election who were not
qualified. My opponent, George Lee,
who had been declared the nominee
by majority of only thirteen votes,
was made defendant to the petition
and was given due notice of the filing
of said petition in the manner requir-
ed by law.
This contest was heard at the time
and place designated in the notice and
the proofs and records submitted in
the hearing on my part in support of
the petition proved conclusively that
more than twenty illegal and fraudulent
votes had been cast and counted more
than a sufficient number to change
the result of the election whether TAX
en- from Lees vote or added to mine,
or vice versa, and the Commission so
found, threw out the McLaurin box
altogether and canvassed the returns
of the remaining boxes and declared
me the nominee by the legal vote cast
in the election.
In the meantime before the hearing
on the petition filed by me, but after it
had been filed, my opponent, George
Lee, appeared before A. D. fairfield,
justice of the peace in Beat Four, and
made affidavit against me on informa-
ton and belief charging me with Of
fering to furnish one ]. B. Cooper
with money to buy place on condi-
ton he would cast his vote for me.
This case was set for trial at Nc
Laurin on last Saturday and appear
ed without an attorney and announced
ready for trial, in fact insisted on
trial, but jury satisfactory to the
state could not be had and the case
was continued.
l made inquiry as to where and
from whom Mr. Lee had obtained his
information, and was told that he got
it from one Mr.. J. B. Cooper and his
wife, and went to see Mr.. Cooper
and asked him about it, and he not
only denied telling Mr.. Lee any such
thing, but also made the affidavit
which follows, to-wit:
The State of Mississippi,
County of Forrest.
Before me, A. D. Carter, justice of
the Peace OF said county, in Justice
district No. 4, of said county, ]. B.
Cooper makes affidavit that w.
A, Conn, during the campaign
1911, in the county aforesaid,
in said Justice District, that
the said w. A. Conn did not offer a
bribe in any shape, manner or form to
influence him to vote for w. A. Conn.
Nor was there any intimation to con-
| troll my vote. J. B. Cooper.
| Sworn to and subscribed before me.
this the 18th day of Sept, 1911.
A. D. Carter, ]. P.
When the court met Mrs Cooper did
not appear, although she had been
subpoenaed by the state, and | in
sisted that she be sent for and her
statement heard in open court, and af-
ter considerable insistence on my part
she was. sent for and was brought to
court, and when she appeared instead
of corroborating the allegations in the
affidavit against me and testifying to
the truthfulness of the affidavit, she
fatty denied any knowledge of any
| such offer on my part, declared it was
false and she was excused by the at
torney whom Mr.. Lee had employed to
prosecute me.
say to the public that this charge
is false and slanderous, utterly with
out foundation, and is a malicious at
tempt to disgrace and degrade my
good character, name and reputation
The original affidavit made by Mr.
Cooper is in my possession and any
desiring to see and read it may dc
so by calling upon me.
Respectfully,
w. A. Conn.
!