The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-15
Recount by Committee and
Rejection of Contested Bal
lots Increases Majority
BEFORE
COMMITTEE TODAY
Dispositions Read Last Night
and Counsel Will Argue on
Charges by Opposing
Counsel This Morning

Special 20 The Richmond virginian.
| PETERSBURG. VA, Oct IA
/ total gain of nine votes, making a
majority of seventeen for Judge Wal
I Ter A. Watson over Congressman
Turnbuli. In the Fourth district pri-
mary of September 2tst, was shown
,, by the official recount OF last Tues
day morning and the decision of the
committee on the Atty or more con-
tested ballots counted this afternoon.
The fifty contested ballots were
those laid aside during the recount last
Tuesday for future c.sion- The an
uouncement of the result of the re-
count of last week showed a gam OF
four votes for Judge Watson. OF
the contested ballots fiye were thrown
out, all OF which had been counted
originally for Turnbull, making to-
tai OF nine gained by Watson. These
added TO his or ginai eight majority
give him majority OF seventeen
The Night Session.
After the committee had finished
" ssss the contested ballots al adsaarn-
ment was taken for supper. Al about
& O'Clock the committee reconvened
and the matter of the charges
brought by Congressman TurnbuIi
contestant, and the counter-charges
brought by Judge Watson, the con-
testee was taken up. the first work
being the reading of the numerous
dispositions taken by opposing counsel
dur ng last week.
VIII ehever candidate loses will
appeal 10 the state committee. wh CHI
has been summoned to meet in Rich.
mond tonight To sit In the case.
The committee decided that ne
groes had no right to vote In the pri-
mary and that all votes cast by them
should be thrown out. Counsel for
each side contends that this help his
client.
Watson Gains Four.
with all members present except
Herber, Hutchinson, of Mecklenhurg.
present. the committee met at
o clock this afternoon in the Hastings
court room. On motion OF Commit
teeanan Thompson, the committee
ruled That upon the taeulation of the
recount. there il gain of seven for
Watson and OF three for Turnbuil,
showing net gain OF four for war
son. which added to the previous count
Of the ballots as shown by the alb
ST. acts, shows The majority FOR Wat
son to be twelve instead of eight"
Following are the changes shown by
the recount of last Monday. and which
formed the basis of the Thompson
resolution:
Fifth ward. Petersburg. gain for
Watson and loss for Turnhuli: Rock
store Brunswick. 1 gain for Watson:
Crewe, Nottoway. l gain for Turn
bull: New Hope. Dinwiddie, gain for
Watson; Roydton, Meckienburg. gain
for Watson: Blackstone. Nottoway. l
gain fer Watson, los for Turnbuii:
Prince George. gain for Turnbuli,
loss for Watson--a net gain in the
district for Watson OF votes,
Construed Literally.
The committee then went into the
consideration OF the fifty contested
ballots laid aside last Tuesday for flu
ture determination. r. f.. BYRD, of
counsel for Watson. commended that
the intent Of the voter should be con-
sidered in deciding whether the un-
properly marked ballot. was cast for
Watson or Turnbull. which E. p. Blu
ford, of counsel for Turnbull, con-
tended that the election law. which
provides that the name OF the man.
against whom voter intends TO cast
his ballot must be scratched three
fof,rths of the way. should be the
final word The committee, with
Chairman Gillian voting In the mega
tive, decided to consider the intent
orally. as urged by Mr.. Byrd.