Weekly journal-miner., 1917-03-21


 uuent rcccsscs were taken during the canvass of the returns, and that the election board was composed entirely of Democrats, some of whom were betting heavily on Governor Hunt, appeared in the testimony that was brought out during the examination of the three witnesses who took the stand during the gubernatorial con test in Judge Stanford's court this morning.
 The alleged confession of H. II. Hart, judge of the election board, in which he is said 10 have admitted that he and others of the board changed ballots from Campbell to Hunt, was related by Assistant County Attorney Bruce Stevenson of Cochise county, the first witness on the stand. Hart was to be the first and chief witness of the contested, but at the opening of the conrt a telegram was read from that individual stating that he was i'll and unable to attend the pro ccedings.
 Sensational disclosures of alleged fraudulent canvasSing and irrcgulari- ties on the part of the election board were revealed by the witnesses throughout the morning session. With the exception of one member, the board was made up of Democrats from precincts outside of Douglas No. l, two of the witnesses testified. Frequent recesscs, during which onL member of the board was left alone with the ballots; betting while the counting was going on, and numerous other Irregularities were related by the witnesses.
 Bruce Stevenson, assistant county attorney of Cochisc county, was the first witness called. The witness tcs- tiicd that he knew every one Of the S4NNlIOl DOdlu NllNl SIlNtu dL iliC November election board and was positive that four of them lived out side Of Douglas No precinct.
 When asked ii he was present dur ing the evening when the election board was counting the votes boiled during the day and whether he notic- cd any Irregularities, Stevenson re- piled that he had seen Art Pearson, who was taking the ballots from the box, holding short pencil in his hand carefully concealed in the palm. Several times he saw Pearson make a motion as if marking a cross on the ballot just before handing it to the member Of the board who was calling the names off 10 the tallymcn, the witness stated. Stevenson stated that he called the attention of other pco- pie in the room 10 the actions of Pearson and then went in search oi Deputy Sheriff Cross.
 Tn the cross-cxamination Senator Ives asked Stevenson if he was aware that he could bc made party 10 the crime by not ordering Pcarson's ar rest when he discovered him tampcr- ing with the ballots. Stevenson re- piled that there were two reasons why he did not interfere: first, be- cause he was not certain Pearson had marked thc ballot, and secondly, be- cause he was not certain whether a civilian officer could arrest an cleo ton official. He stated further that since the election ne had investigated quietly and when the ballots now iu custody of the court could be obtain cd as evidence he intended 10 prose cute every member oi the board.
 Just before the Campbell attorneys were ready to turn the witness over 10 Senator Ives, they asked him if he had ever held any conversation with Hart since the November election. Probably realizing what the Camp bell attorneys were attempting to dj- yulgc, Senator Ives raised strenuous objections to allowing the witness to answer and after long and heated argument on law questions pertaining 10 testimony at conspiracy trial Judge Stanford ovcr-rulcd the objcc- ton and the alleged confession CT Hart 10 Stevenson was related in detail
 Hart came to the office of Steven son or March l2 and asked for a few minutes private conversation. The request Was granted and when thcy were alone. Hart told how he had changed one ballot from Hunt 10 Campbell because the crasurc after Canpbclle name was loo apparent He admitted, the witness said, that he