Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-13
inspection Of Ballots Cast
In Ward Seven
Shows One More Vote Than
Counted for Skehdn.
Opinion Of Court Will Be Asked on
Two Defective Ballots.

That decision from the supreme
court will be ultimately required to
determine the result of the vote for
alderman in Ward is the opinion OF
representatives of both parties who
were present at an Inspection, Tuesday
evening, before City Clerk Newbert OF
the ballots cast in that ward at the
municipal election of Monday. The
board of aldermen at the canvass at
the election returns. Monday night,
granted a certificate of election to
Roy L. Wardwell, the Republican can
didate. returning 202 votes for Ward
well and POI for his Democratic oppo-
nent, William j. Skehan.
The inspection of the ballots. Tues
day evening, took place in the alder
mems room in the presence of the two
candidates for alderman, Mayor Reuel
j. Noyes, Frank G. Harrington, the Re-
publican candidate for mayor, and
other interested spectators.
The ballots were opened up by City
Clerk Newbert who went over them
thoroughly in the presence of the in
terested parties, all of whom We're al
lowed toeinspect them. The ballots
were counted several times and tally
OF the check list taken 10 see If it
agreed with the number of ballots cast.
The count showed 1S4 straight and
IS split ballots for WardWen, 1871
straight ballots and Is split ballots for
Skehan, making a total OF 202 ballots
for each candidate. The difference Of
one vote from the return made by the
ward officers in the ballots counted APP
pears to have resulted by a ballot,
which had been split for mayor falling
over into the pile of straight ballots
and not being counted in the tally re-
turned by the ward officers. This
ballot while it increased Skehan's
vote by one, also gave harrington one
more vote for mayor in the ward, max
ing his total 209.
Six defective ballots were returned.
Four of these We're clearly defective
The other two will require the assist
ance of the court to pass upon.
The apparent intent of the voter IN
one case was to vote for Wardwell but
the sticker became detached when the
ballot was opened and was stuck by
one corner by the ward officers at the
place where it apparently fell off,
which was underneath the name OF
W. y. ChGitdii w H6tilti llIt JQdSultIlt
of the ward officers as to just where
the sticker was originally placed is
correct or not is question that is
open to discussion. @
The apparent intent Of the voter III
the second case was to vote for Ske-
han. This ballot had a cross in the
Democratic column but it also con-
tanned small crosses to the right of
each name upon the ballot.
Should both of these ballots be
counted in accordance with the ap-
parent intent of the voter or both re
jeeted the result would still remain
tie. Should the ballot with the
Wardwell sticker alone be counted,
Wardwell would have a majority OF
one vote. Should the Democratic bal
lot with the superiority of crosses be
counted Skehan would have ma
jority of one.
1t is expected that the situation in
regard to the ballots will be brought
before the attention of one of the resi-
dent justices sometime during the day,
Wednesday,