Evening journal., 1916-11-27
AND FARRA
fined $3.50 each
Continued from First Page.

list. thereby showing 200 more
votes than were actually voted.
The contest in the Seventh ward
was particularly keen at that time be-
tween men advocating Governor
Charles r. Miller and Edmund Mitch
ell Jr.. for delegates to the National
convention. A majority of the Sew
enth ward delegates returned as
elected were favorable to Mr.. Mitchell
for national delegate.
Governor Mllers friends attacked
the Seventh ward election as fraud
ulent before the State committee at
Dover. but the committee did not
change the result, and the committee /
on credentials reported the temporary !
roll as the permanent roll Governor |
Miller's friends claimed that II three !
Seventh ward delegates had been un-
seated the governor would have Deen
the choice OF the Wilmington caucus
instead of Colonel Mitchell.
/ Addressing the defendants, Judge /
Boyce said:
"All combinations by two or more
persons TO defeat the true result Of
an election as by falsifying the just
returns thereof are indictable con-
spiracies. Conspiracies are espe-
clally dangerous, since numbers, mu-
tual encouragement and support. IN
crease the power and the probability
of mischief to the injury of the pub
/ lie. or to portions of the community,
or to the. rights Of an individual.
"In a government like ours. where
the popular will is given expression
bv means of elections, whether gen
eral special. municipal OF primary
the offense of which each of you IS
convicted. has only to be mentioned
To bring to mind its gravity, and its
train of evil consequences. Your Of
fense was a most fragrant wrong, IN
mrious not only to the community OF
which YOU we're and are members, but
TO those persons against whom 1t was
directed
ELECTION officers. not less so of a
urinary than OF a general election
hold nositions of great trust not only
for the candidates to be voted Tor. nut
the nublic as we'll. Indeed. the public
has a very special interest in the Just
returns of an election.
THE primary election is OF Very
great importance to the public Tor II
not only determines. or may deter
mine. the candidates to be voted TOT
al the general election, but it may, and
often does, determine the character
and fitness OF the officers to represent
and serve the people The purity OF
a primary election is every whit as
important to the public as is the cleo
ton to follow.
1T has been suggested that an inn
preston had existed to the effect that
primary held to elect delegates to
State or county convention was or Is
not safeguarded by law hke a direct
primary. Be this as it may, it is ap-
parent TO every right thinking per-
son. that a wrong committed against
the first kind is as reprehensible ana
immoral and in this sense as Illegal,
as when committed against the second
kind. A laxity Of opinion on the part
. of some in respect TO the nrst kind
OF primaries has been suggested as
something OF an extenuating circum-
stance in these cases. We allude TO
this. because it may be the suggestion
Of fact. Laxlty Of sentiment among
any portion Of a community can never
excuse a gross public wrong.
Addressing Mr.. Farra in particular
the court said
1--WE have reason to believe that
. You are fully conscious of the grav'
ity OF your offense. and grieved be-
cause OF II: and that you fully real
ize the damaging effect 1t has upon
q your otherwise good name and stand
ing in this community. Your offense
: Is apparently inconsistent with your
antecedents. You we're evidently in
duced TO do what you did by the
strong influence OF another OF others
Your presence here. under the circum
% stances at your age of life is pitiable
D and is humiliating to the members o.
4 your family, enjoying the goodly es
p teem of the community. We under
e stand YOU are in feeble health anc
{ that your wife is very much of an In
4 valid. needing your personal presence
/ and assistance. The situation is dis
e tressing. and affects the court as wei
K az vou. Indeed the situation per
nlexes the court. The way to the ful
n performance of our duty has not beeI
o clear We have consulted with th'
. state as we'll as with your counsel
n and under all circumstances, 1t ts no
4 deemed necessary in vindication o
n the law. or of the public, that yo'
should be sentenced to a term o
Imprisonment.
at should be said here, however, Una
,bis court is not likely ever again I
o relieve from imprisonment a person co,
victed of the offense, either individual
Z or as conspirator. Of tampering with
N fraudulentiv subverting the just return
"a of a public election For imprisonmer
Is seems to be the only fitting punishmer
"a for so great an offense--an onens
i3 which The right thinking portions ot u
i3 community will not, and the court car
'S not, tolerate
70 addressing Bowers, the court said;
Your case does not appeal to MS Il
ir any of the reasons stated; yet there
no special reason why We should mpoi
a different sentence upon you. You WI
Id have. in addition 90 the sentence wh''
il we are about TO impose, the sense
e. loss of whatever degree Of conhdtn
and respect of the community You ha
II You should carry with you feelings
Great humiliation, and let us hope
renorse. from which you can only hol
be 10 recover by repentance and habits
honesty, fair-dealing and correct liVing
.r,.u ua.MnTnM IAN THUpr