Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-09-06
PATTERSON WINS
jUDGESH|P Of
BLUE RIDGE
State Committee InvaIidateS
Primary in GiImer Because
of Evidence of Fraud.

The state Democratic executive com
mittee late Thursday afternoon invali-
dated the late iudgoship primary in
Gilmer county, and declared II. L. Pat
terson. Of Forsyth county. the rightful
nominee of the Blue Ridge circuit, in
stead of Judge A. Newt Morris. Of Cobb
county who was winner by some 500
majority. on the face of the returns.
The committee. after a hearing which
lasted two days reached a verdict, aft
er all evidence and argument had been
submitted. upon a motion of Commit
teeman Alexander A. Lawrence. Of
Chatham. that the contesting petition
of Patterson be denied, and that Morris
be declared the nominee Of the primary.
The Lawrence motion was rejected
by vote Of 30 TO 9.
New Primary Motion Lost.
A motion was then made TO order a
new primary in Gilmer, and this, too
was turned down by the committee
Finally. Patterson was formally de-
clared the party nominee by a unani-
nous committee vote.
The Lawrence motion had told the
story
The committee voted in executive
session. but lined up on the Lawrence
motion as follows.
For the motion and Morris. J w
Mayson, A, A. Lawrence, a. Whitaker
". n d. Dixon. W G. Martin. D. w
Blair S. r. Worley, =. b. Billiard and
u. p Meikleham-9.
Voted Against Morris
Against the motion and Morris w
S. West, @. r. Hutchens. Albert How
ell, Jr., j A. Brannen. A. s Hardy. w
r. FHer. W. l.. McElmurray. W. G.
Snodgrass, e. Il. Griffin, w. Il. Saun-
ders, F. L. Rainey, }. r. Hayes. w M
Harper F. NJ. Lonsley, G. f. Battle r.
II. Persons. j. f. Bodephamer. b. H.
Hardy, Joe Hill Hall. Roy u. Stubbs. O.
Roberts W r. Little. = II. Allen. Carl
Vinson, Alvin Gomclc, A, r. Wood
ward. C. W. Griffin. L. y Shannon and
J w. Palmer-29
The Blue Ridge circuit contest was
one OF the bitterest ever brought be
fore the supreme council OF the party
Allegations Of fraud in making up
the registration lists conducting the
election, ana returning and compiling
the vote were maintained by dozens of
witnesses. whose testimony never was
successfully attacked.
The commute allowed the widest
latitude in tpc introduction of evidence
on both sides. and tho examination Of
Witnesses. both direct and cross, was
exhaustive and unhiuGored
Judge Morris himself tooh the stand
and denied specifically many Of the
charges of fraud and intimidation prac-
ticed in the election, ana Bart" Cox.
clerk of the superior cour, Of Gilmer,
righthand Morris partisan and the hub
OF the entire controversy in Gilmer
backed the judge up vigorously
Verdict Is Cheered.
The preponderance Of testimony ap-
.parently seemed to the committee, how
ever, to sustain amply the charges of
: the Patterson contestants. and it was
evident, even before a ballot was
spread, that Morris stood no show
whatever to win.
When Patterson was declared the
nominee and the fact leaked out into
the capitol corridors. pandemonium
broke loose, and for several minutes
the cheering was wild and vehement.
Late into the night the Kimbau house
lobby was fined with persons discuss
ing the judgeShip race and its outcome
Judge Patterson mingled freely with
the crowd in the KimbaH Judge Nor
ris returned to his home in Marietta
before the verdict was reached by the
contmttee.
Patterson win be elected in the reg
, ular October election. his name going
on the ticket as the Democratic nomi-
nee, to be voted on by the people of
the entire state