The Hartford republican., 1913-11-21
CONTEST BY
DEMOCRATS
Sandefur and Renfrow not
Satisfied with Result.
Allege Mistakes Of Election Off.
GERS In County In Certifying
Result.
Vr-YI, u

VrEI1 u TL-
Failing to win Mt the forum Of the
people. J. p. Sandefur. late Demo-
crat candidate for county attorney.
and j. b. Renfrow. late Democrat
candidate for County Court Clerk ,hav
each< filed election contest suits in
the Ohio Circuit Court against their
successful opponents, c. 4. Smith
and W. G. Blankenship. The suits
we're filed late Saturday afternoon.
November 18th. at the very last mo-
ment allowed by law, In the hope. 1t
is believed, that no retaliation suits
would o" could be filed by defeated
Republican candidates.
The complaints set up in the two
petitions acr vrey similar. and al
lege that IN Narrows precinct the
election officers counted and certi-
fled the vote wrong. giving each
Smith and Blankenship four votes
more than 1t Is claimed they were
entitled TO. and failing to give San
defur and Renfrow four votes that It
Is claimed they were entitled to:
that in Beda Sandefur and Renfrow
each received two votes that were
not counted for them; that In West
Hartford each received one vote
that was not counted for either and
that Smith and Blankenship were
credited with vote each that Meth
er were entitled to. same being the
<Ste Of Frank Collins. of color, who
was permitted to have his ballot
stamped by the clerk and not re-
quired to go into the booth. z be-
ing alleged that Collins was neith-
e!ab!ind nor physically unable to mark
hid ballot: that In North Rockport
precinct the election Officers made a
mistake In counting and certifying
the vote to the prejudice OF Sande-
fur, affecting % votes, and Renfrow
8; that In East Fordsville precinct
the officers failed to count one vote
to which Sandefur and Renfrow
claim to be entitled. and In West
Fordsville Elben Cheek. Sam Kirk.
and Walter Malone each voted for
Smith and Blankenship and neither
were entitled to vote In that pre-
cinot; that In Ralph L. J. Pierson
likewise voted for the Republican can
didates and was not entitled to vote
In said precinct; that In Sulphur
Springs the officers failed to count
4 votes for Sandefur and Renfrow
to which they were entitled.
As a final coup they wantArnold
precinct. which is q strong Repub-
lican precinct. giving Smith 80 and
Blankenship % majority. thrown out
disfranchised because no booths were
altogether, and the voters thereof
-disfranchisde because no booths were
p,1yided. and the voters were COM
PEELED to cast their ballots In cor
ner OF the room. which was parti-
toned off by calico curtains. In Rem
frow's petition he claims that In
Ach of the remaining precincts he
received or votes that were not
counted for him, and he asks that
these also be added and given to
him. He further asks that all the
ballots be re-countsd. while 6ande-
fur will be satisfied, SO he alleges.
II the ballots of Narrows. Beda. West
Hartford. North Rockport. East Fords
Vile and Sulphur Sprinss be recount
ed. and alleged Illegal votes knocked
off of Smiths majority in several
other precincts.
All this evidently looks good to
Messrs. Sandefur and Renfrow. but
In, the light Of grave irregularities
reported and extraordinary means re-
sorted to by these candidates or their
.henchmen TO Get votes before and
ON sleCtion day In many parts Of
the county. Il would seem that they
should have been satisfied with the |
results a. certified by the honest elec-
tion officers Of the various precincts.
II il Understood that their Repub- |,
iiean opponsats. who ~ now defend
ants In these suits. viii be able 70
show Q vast numbsr ef Illegal votes /
thai were cast fol-. both Sandefur and
Renfrow. and In addition thereto, ar I,
rQrs in favor Of both sandsfur and
Rlnfrow which In the end wiil more
than offset the claims Of contestants.