The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-10-08
Committee Will Canvass
Returns of Fourth Dis
trict Primary.
REQUEST MADEBY
BOTH CANDIDATES
In Only One Instance Do Poll
Books Differ From Certificates
as Originally Counted-De-
NAL That Turnbull Will
Run as Independent
If He Loses.

Special from STAFF Correspondent
Petersburg. Va. October RE
scinding its previous refusal to open
and inspect the poll books and ballots
used in the Watson-Turnbull contested
congressional election the Fourth
District Committee. tonight began an
examination OF the poll COOKS ana
later began recounting the ballots. A
letter from Judge Walter A. Watson.
requesting that the returns be opened
and thoroughly canvassed was pre-
scented by Richard Evelyn Byrd. OF mis-
counsel. just after the meeting had
been called TO order. and after represen.
tatives Of both parties interested had
guaranteed to pay the necessary ex-
penses OF the investigation The COM
rnittee agreed to the proposed action.
The letter fully and frankly joins In
Congressman Turnbulrs request for
broad and nontechnicai inquiry.
Judge Watson declares that 1t has
been physically impossible for him TO
investigate the charges made In the
Turnbull petition. but that he has
every assurance that they can be
easily met; that he is certain that no
fraud was used in the election: that
he believes only one negro. H l. Jack
son. OF Not.oway. so.eo to' NM
tnat ne Will oeeHne 'he e''n
depends on JocAson So'e'
Thorough Investigates.
In nresent;n1 the letter. Mr.. Byrd.
-ho to1.tber With r II. Mann. re-
presented Judge Watson. declared that
we don't desire to have the lid on
anything. and he made IT emphatically
n,.,n that Iudre watson concurred in
-. -.ar..+ =, ron~re..ynap Turnbuil.a
soun..s o. thorouoh investigation
~ ..,,,~. shortIs. f+.r a o,cloe,r
e. .s.i,,s. h.v.n "a in.nact tic
III, hoo~. n,.cin~ hv nrectnct and
.sST Lii ~ontinn. far into Tie
1870
xfutcbtn.oo az MeckIenburx.
-. Sne o,lv r,e,nberr Of the t,omnuitte
.n~.nt whsr -. neefinr ma. caIIed
- 80, 4, ~. r.,h.ieller NJ fhe Chez.
t~r0.ld r5nxeI vhich VA. hacked with
oh..rv.r. Richard lcveIvn Rvrd who
80 -, n,.v,on.Iv anneared for nudge
Ws,.on nre.ented = letter from him.
~ toIiovs
w.t.o.,. ra<Her.
80 IN. Damocratic COMMITTEES of the
Eonrth CONGRESSIONAL District:
"centlemen.-On Saturday at 1
-S.,o.t< ~aa seryed with a notice OF
~ T,,-nhr1r. nurnose to conteat INV
1ar,,n.,ion for Conxress ana furnished
.,i,h = conv OF hi. petition nled on that
d.v nth vour chairman was also
a dy-;.ad Of the cal, for the committee
- ~. on the night of this day to con-
slider the matter raised In said petit
tion In tn. limited time elapsed since
the recent Of this notice, it has been
nhvsicaIIy impossible to inquire into
the numerous charges made 50 as to
make satisfactory reply to them In
detail and furnish the committee With
a formal answer at its present sitting.
80 I shall have to crave your indul-
Rence for such limited time ~ you
may think reasonable in which to dle
an answer to this proceeding. Infor-
masion coming to me to-day by wire.
letter and personal statement com
pletely refutes the charges brought
a. far a. have been able TO take them
I'D and 10 Of such . character ~ to
warrant the belief that shau De able
to vindicate entirely the conduct OF
the primary in 20 tar a. the vote ac-
corded me Is concerned, ana may a0d
shall be glad II the same snaA pc
found true OF the vote reeurneo Tor
my opponent
without At this time attsmpe'nS
det41lS ana "ItnOut S~VsesS.c 80