The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-06
Challenges Watson S
Right to Certificate
of Election.
ALLEGATIONS OF
IRREGULARITIES
Defeated Candidate Makes Sen
sational Charges of Illegal Vot-
ing, Which Will Be Heard
at Meeting of Fourth Dis
trict Committee in Peters
burg on Monday Night.

Charges of illegal voting and various
other irregularities arc made by Con-
gresham Robert Turnbull ia his
formal contest before the Fourth Dis
trict Committee. A copy Of the charges
was served yesterday. on Judge walter
A. Watson. the cOntestec. by r. Il.
, Turnbuii. Jr.. at his home In Nottoway
County. while a copy was fiied with
/, Chairman Robert Gilliam.- Of the Dis
Itrict Committee in Petersburg.
Nat TurnbulL a son of the Con-
gresham, came to Richmond yester-
day. bringing other copies. He did
not present ono to State Chairman J.
Taylor Ellyson. since Mr.. Turnbuu is
satisfied that he must bring his con-
test first before the District Commit
tee. He has not expected meeting
Of the State Committee to be called.
nor does he desire one except In the
event of an appeal from the District
Committee.
waats Records Exanined.
The charges will be heard at . meet
ing of the Fourth District Committee.
to be held In the Chesterfield Hotel
in Petersburg. Monday evening at
o'clock. Mr.. Turnbull will then pre-
sent anidavits In support Of his accu-
sations. and will ask for an examina-
ton Of the poll books and OF the bal
lots from tho precincts affected. he
has. he says. made no charges except
such an can be substantiated either
from the ballots or the poll books
Chairman Gillian yesterday sent
teleGrams to all the county chairmen
! In the district summoning them to Pc
tersburg Monday night. and instruct
ing them to bring with them the bal
lots and poll books used In the con-
tsys~siausl primary Of September II
The Expenses OF the chairmen arr
guaranteed.
DOea Net Cbange RHoaa.
Nowhere In his petition does Mr..
Turnbull make charges Of fraud. He
complains, however. that the rule OF
admission Of voters TO the primary
was not enforced all ever the dis
trict For instance. in Brunswick
County. he says. men not Democrats
were refused the right to vote. be-
GAUGE the District Committee had
specified that those taking part should
be Democrats. although they had voted
for the Democratic nominee for the
House Of Delegates in the last Novem-
Der election In other parts of the
district, he AYERS. citizens voted In the
primary who had not even voted for
the Democratic candidates last year.
notably in Dinwiddie. where men voted
for Judge Watson. according to the
petition, who had voted for IN indie
pendent over T. e. Clarke for the
House Of Delegates
Further. says Mr.. Turnbull. the negro
n,,yn - n n a.
toway County voted for Judge Watson.
Because Of unequal rulings he 10 con-
WINGED he lost many votes throughout
the district.
He does not charge that Hunter Wat
. On, bother Of Judge Watson. is in pos
session Of the primary poll books. but
does say that he Is in possession Of
the poll books used in the special
courthouse election on the same day,
IL being the desire OF the contestant
to Compare these poll books with those
used In the primary. and which are In
possession OF County Chairman J. =
Harris, OF Backbone.
TAaDks EvSAe1ee Do A0pse.
II is the idea of Mr. TurnbuH that
his charges can be examined and proven
or disproven by examination OF the bal
lots and poll books. Then, he thinks
any charges that Judge Watson may
desire to make can be similarly exam
ined and decided up,n- with the facts
before IL. he sees no reason why the
district committee should not be able
to Judge Of the situation, throw out
such baIloes a. II deems Improper.
count the corrected returns and award
the certificate Of nomination, with the
right Of appeal. If course, to the state
committee.
Il, is hardly possible, all are agreed
,o prosecute a regular contest, inelud-
ing IN. giving Of formal notice, with
the taking Of depositions IN the pres
ence OF both sides and argumeuss BE-
fore the committee rne time ID tos
.bort
The text VI Mr.. Turnbulrs petition
ia as follows:
ruruausrs Pessssss.
Your pes'tioer. kooe a'nSa OF
IN