Weekly journal-miner., 1917-04-11
NJ FRAUD FOUND IN SNOWFLAKE
 PRECINCT

concerned nothing irregular occurred, was the testimony of w. F. Strattor. who acted as judge, when he testified before Judge Stanford in the guber- material contest this morning. After several postponenents, the invcstiga- tion of the precinct which is likely to determine the result of the contest between George w. P. Hunt and Thos. E. Campbell was started and two witnesses placed on the stand by Senator Ives, chief counsel for. Hunt. ! Neither of the witnesses substantiated the charges of fragrant irregularities which Hunt attorneys promised to disclose when they asked for re- opening of their case. Stratton, the first witness called, was judge of the election board and from his testimony it was apparent that nothing out of the ordinary occurred with the ex- ccption of allowing others than the election board within the 50-foot limit.
 There were two booths in the room with the judges, Stratton said, and several desks which were used by the voters in the absence of screened al- covcs When the two booths were occupied, the desks were used. Strat- ton admitted that Joseph w. Smith, bishop of the Mormon church and one of the most prominent men in Snow flake, accompanied several voters into the polls and conversed with them prior to them marking their ballots. That he did not in any way assist them nor suggest which candidate to vote for, Stratton was almost positive Several of the election board also as sisted voters by explaining the in trlcacies of the complicated ballot but Stratton knew of no incident where member of the board actually marked the ballot for the voter.
 On the cross-examination Stratton admitted that every one in Snowflake district was considered a man or woman of good standing. He said the reputation of Smith was beyond reproach and for this reason he was allowed more freedom than probably was legal The actions of Smith from the time the polls opened until they closed were known to every member of the board and no one raised an objection.
 Senator Ives sought to show that the door leading into room next to the polls and where some of the vot- CTS went to mark their ballots, was lett unlocked. Stratton said he did not know whether the door was lock cd or unlocked but stated that il would not have made any materia difference either way as everything was done open and above board.
 It was the boards aim to conduct 2 fair and square election, regardless of party feeling or afliliation, Strattor said. If there were any Irregularities they were not such that would change the result of the vote in that precinct
 Mrs. Ada Kartchner was the nex, witness called. She testified that when she entered the polls with her sister, Mrs. Flake, on the morning ol the election, she was preceded by Joseph Smith and his fathers wife, ! meaning. it was later disclosed. his 1 step-mother. Mrs. Kartchner said 1 she was busy marking her ballot and ! did not notice Smith until few min utes later when she made a mistake | or her selection for Supreme judge | and glanced around the room to see | if member of the board was near SO as to ask him if it was proper to make ar crasure. It was then she saw Smith leaning over the desk where | Mrs. Jeanette Smith was marking her ballot. She said she heard Smith call | out a name and then saw Mrs. Smith l make mark but was not sure it was on the ballot She interrupted him to ask whether she could erase a name on the ballot and heard him ask his stcpmother to wait a minute and then came over to her. When he had giv- en her the desired information Smith returned to Mrs Smith and con tinued to call off names
 Attorney Clark, for Campbell, asked Mrs. Kartchner if Mrs Smith was not ar aged woman. The witness replied that she believed she must be as she had a large family of grown children. The witness did not know the condi- ton of her eyesight but had heard it was rather dim.
 A FINE EDUCATOR
 FORT COLLINS, Colo, April 7.-l