The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-05-02
GRAND JURY TO
PROBE ELECTION
Legal Investigation to Be Made
OF Irregularities at Second
Jefferson Precinct.
WILL NOT AFFECT THE RESULT
Even Were Precinct Thrown
Out the List OF Winners
Would Remain the Same.

Numbers of the CITY Democratic
Committee stated last night that the
alleged irregularities in handling bal
lots IN the vicinity Of the Second JEFF
ferson Precinct in last Tuesday, ,lec-
tion would be placed before the Crane
jury on next MONDAY. II necessary.
members OF the comnitte. are prepared
to produce all books and papers in
tbclr possession and TO give the mem
bers of the grand jury such .nlorna-
ton as VIII assist In getting at the
bottom of the situation. 1t is conceded
mat "A marked and torn ballot was in
the hands of T. w. tolkes jan!tor of
the First Regiment ArmOry. a worker
at that precinct in Nthe interest OF j.
Il. Welsh. elected To the Common Coun-
ell and it is charged by the friends OF
Messrs. Mills and Wiltshire that the
ballot was being used 10 vote repeat
:rs.' The trick. IL IL was used, is an
old one, known 20 many willy politi-
clans. The professional worker Sc
cures in some Illegal manner a ballot
and marks it properly ror thos. can
didates for whom he IS working. The
marked ballot is then put in the hands
Of the willing voter, who consents TO
be instructed In preparing his ballot
with or without compensation. The
voter merely secures from the judges
OF election new official ballot, votes
the marked slip. and returns the new
ballot to his prompter for use again.
Mr. Folkes has denied the use of any
such means in this instance lie can
not recall from whom he received the
ballot, but says he tore away the upper
portion, with the name of Mayor Rich
ardson. and merely used the list OF
candidates for Council as a slate to
guide 'oters whom he had prompted.
Demand Clean Elections.
An Influential mca.ber Of the City
Committee said last night that he be-
lieved the committee was a unit in d.
far as he had talked with his asso-
ciates, every one OF them favured the
most rigid grand jury investigation,
with the prosecution OF any parties
VINO may be found guilty to the full
extent OF the law. Reports are cur
rent that the number Of ballots at
other precincts Will not count up cor
rcctly. and that as many as IL half
dozen ballots were being used in the
committee room when the returns came
in. merely As lists OF candidates, with
4 memorandum Of tbs vote cast. Any
such use OF printed ballot or the talk
ing OF one away from an election pre-
cinct, for any purpose whatever, is
Illegal. and subjects the holder OF it
~ .aSdN liHS- MI ! ones lS JlnltOr. oil
the First Regiment Armory, ard has
been for many years city employc.
HIS interest in the candidacy OF Mr..
Welsh. clerk in the office Of the City
Treasurer. as against Captain Morgan
r. Mills and Mr. Wiltshire, Is shown by
the statement that during the day he
made Il bet wiki W. L. Leaman Of $50
that Mills would not beat Welsh on the
Jefferson Ward ticket. The returns
place Mr.. Mills in third place and Mr.
Welsh in fifth, so that Mr.. Foli5es lost
his bet Mr.. Leaman admitted the bet
and the fact that he had won.
No Recount Asked For.
In view OF the difference between the
vote east for Mr.. Welsh. 9l6 ballots. AMI
that for Frank l.. Butler. tha next
lower man on the ticket, who received
II? votes. or %s1 less. il is not antici
patcd that there Will be any demand
for a recount or any contest before
the City Democratic Committee The
further proceedings in rcS.rd to the
alleged irregularities must be AT the
hands OF the grand jury.
The first information in regard to
the use Of an Illegal ballot outside of
the Second Jefferson Precinct came to
the attention of the City Committee in
protest from Captain Mills. and was
later sustained by the statements of
the election officers. The ballot is in
the hands of Ward Superintendent l..
c. Hicks. who is prepared to place il
before the grand jury when called
upon.