The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-12
LAW VIOLATED
NOONE'S INDICTED
Grand Jury Admits 1t in
Formal Report
to Court.
STRAY BALLOTS
FROM PRINTERS
Far-Reaching Inquiry Ends
Without Sensational Results.
Candidates and Ex-Alder-
men Who Proved Alleged
Fraud Find. No Evil
dence of Wrong.


ton laws OF Virginia were not viii
consumed most OF last week In ilves-
tigating alleged irregularities at the
Second Precinct in jefferson Ward in
the councilmanic primary. yesterday
morning failed TO return any lndict-
ments against any or the men said 10
be implicated. The report OF ITS
labors. which was subn tied TO Judge
X. u. Southall in tho Hastings Court,
set forth that the inquiry showed that
tie stray ballots came from the es-
Establishment where they were printed
and were used merely az guide tickets.
stray ballots We're found not only III
Jefferson. but in other wards of the
city. but the jury confidently voted
legal purposes. The jurors were GER
tain that the primary was honestly
conducted.
In view of the new ward line ar
rangemcnt the jury found That some
few errors We're committed. but evil I
dence which was Submitted by the
witnesses examined satisfied tho IN
quisi,orial body that they were not
done wiltuliy.
Fonnd No Trickery.
In SO far as the inquiry went, no Pc
iitical trickcry was disclosed. and APP
parently the only conclusion reached
waB that the ballot IS not adequately
protected under the existing statutes
governing elections. This difficulty. IT
10 expected, Will be eliminated when
the Byrd primo law becomes ettec-
tive.
The hndlns OF the grand Jury was
apparently not unexpected b. hand
fui o; politicians who gathered In the
courtroom 10 hear il read by Captain
Charles +. Taylor, foreman. II became
known generally Friday night that no
indictments would be returned.
aIny begin New Inquiry.
In view OF the jury's failure to In
dict, an effort VIII be made TO have the
Council Committee on Grounds and
suggestion that searching inquiry be
made. much as r. ". Folkes, whose
published Interviews did much to-
bring about the investigation. is jani-
tor OF the First Regiment Armory.
under the control OF tho city. IN his
testimony before the Jury. according
TO It's report. Folkes cmphatically de-
MED many OF the statements attribute
cd 10 him and said that the interviews
were erroneous. When the Mayor
letter was presented TO the committee
on Thursday night, Councilman SclPh.
OF Jefferson Ward. in %-hich the ire
sularit!es We're said to have occurred.
moved tEdt the mater De lall on the
table until the grand jury had report
ed.
Two members OF the grand jury
Robert Whittet. Jr. and Captain Tay
lor, president Of the Board OF Fire
Commiss ioncrs-are candidates for the
Administrative Board. John Mann. Jr.
a. former member of the Board OF AL
dermen, now represents Marshall Ward
as fire commissioner. L. II. Elicit is
IA hos har
whose names appear under the re-
port. have served time and again on
the grand jury.
Grand Jury's Report.
When Foreman Taylor finished read
ing the report the jury was discharg-
ed by Judge So .thali.
The report IN. full follows:
The grand jury. to whom the hon
orable court referred for considera-
ton the possible irregularities in con-
nection with the recent primary cleo
ton. have diligently directed their ef-
forts TO the investigation OF this mat
ter. and after interrogating very manv
officers conductir-; the election, as well
other witness :, make the follow
ms report of such facts as they have
been able to ascertain:
I'VE have. with the very able assist
ance of Mr.. Charles L. Page, acting
as the Commonwealth Attorney. who
these matters. along with the lucid
Interpretation of parts OF the Code
touching election laws. furnished us
by the honorable presiding judge, ar
rived at the conclusion that the ballot
Is not adequately protected under the
existing statutes governing elections.
THE law requires all unused ballots
to be destroyed at the close of the
polls.
THE jury believe that every ballot
should be accounted for. When they
arc delivered to the judges they
should be counted in the presence OF
the authorities who deliver them. and
ut the close OF the polls all used ana
unused. a Well as mutilated ballots.
should be returned TO the authorities
and a tally made to show their proper
disposition ana use
"rhe destroying of the unused bal
lots by the judges OF this election
would have seriously impeded this
investigation, had we not been able to
trace the ballots which were found
to be mysteriously absent from their
proper places.
"No Higher Duty"
1--WE can conceive of no higher duty
than to protect the ballot
1T is the weapon placed in the
hands of the voter by the Constitu-
ton, for the protection of his citizen
ship: disarm him, and he is power
less to exercise his sovereign right
of will
= This ballot must be sacredly guard
ed and kept inviolate from any pollu-
tion. corruption or trickery. which
might lead to the defeat of the Will
&C the people.
THE iury's examination OF the plan
submitted TO the voters shows that in
their opinion 1t was wisely devised.