The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1912-09-21
NO BALLOTS in
FIRST WARD BOX
AMDENI.THAr THEY WERE MlSTAK-
ENLY PLACED IN CITY BOX
STARBsuGH BOX is SUSPICIOUS
Seal Which HAD Been Placed Thereon by
the Board Of canvsssers Last Week
Mas Disturbed.


When the board Of comfy canvasseIs
resumed work last Monday morning a
condition of affairs was revealed that
rivals the condition. at Iron River. In
Aae first ward box not the sign of
paper or anything else was found.
While the affair is in one way deplor
able, In another way il is laughable.
The corners of the box were turned
up so that a person, might shove his
hand into the box. It was plain to be
seen that there was nothing in the box
although il was signed and sealed by
the election board. J S. Iacka swore
that he brought the box in and depos
tied il with the city clerk, W. J.
Giibble. Mr. Grbble swears that
there was nothing in the box when il
was brought in TO him.
When interviewed upon the matter,
Harry Fraser, city attorney gave an
explanation that places the affair in its
proper light although the story has
gained circulation TO the effect that
the box vas empty and nine persons
out Of ten ascribe to the affair guilt
upon the part of the election board or
ciry officers of having tampered with
the box The facts are that there we're
two elections held in the city Of Crys
tai Falls on primary day one the
primary election for the selection of
state and county candidates and the
other upon the proposition TO nominate
officers I'M the city OF Crystal Falls by
direct vote. Two ballots were used
and when the count was finished In
the first ward all OF the ballots for
both elections were pat IN the same
box. Thus. one box contained nothing
Aall This box was in such condition
Ut il ought never tc have been used
tcr election purposes AZ the corner
could easily be raised so that the whole
interior of the box was open 10 view.
IL is probable this fact induced
whoever placed the ballots back in the
box 20 putall Of them in the sound
box Botn boxes were before the board
but a. the seal was not perfect on the
smaller box it was not opened. The
other one was not opened either, but
it was unnecessary 20 open it as every
one could see that'it was empty
Mr.. Fraser wanted the second box
opened so that that suspicion of ballot
tampering might be either fully af-
firined or denied but the board would
nt open IL aud 50 the story goes that
all the ballots have disappeared from
the first ward box and that is the-one
that most people believe
The second ward was next taAen mp
and il developed that that box had been
opened by the city council when they
were looking for the returns OF the
special election What authority the
City council had 10 open the box was
not manifest but IL was opened and for
that reason was rejected.
The third ward box was not opened
for the reason that the lock WAS not
sealed. No other reason was given for
not opening that box As it WAS in pro
per condition otherwise
Ilie township Of Mastodon was
dokted as the box there was in proper
shape aud the count Of the ballots
showed things pretty correct out. t.there
Abbott lost 3 votes at the Dunn and
Rite so that honors were pretty well
divided
The tally Of the precincr Is AZ fol
lows
Abbott 9
Ritze-2 2
The ballot box Of the first precinct Of
the township Of Crystal Falls was
opened although 1t was objected to
for the reason that the box had not
been properly sealed. The ballots were
counted showing that i35 ballots had
been cast and the board was about 20
start the count when Rite withdrew
- edition and the proceedings stop
Bates township was the first one 10
get the attention OF the board Monday
morning hut the box was not opened
for the reason that IL had not been
properly sealed.
When the continuous vaudeville
ia the primary election recount was
adjourned ON Monday 10 be resumed on
Wednesday morning. the petition Of NJ.
s. MoDonough was up for q recount OF
the first precinct OF Stambaugh village.
This precinct had been recounted for
prngate Judge aud during the count Of
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