French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1916-1919, 1918-05-30
THE BRITT-WEAVER CASE.

The court of last resort has finally
been reached with the claims of for
mer Congressman James j. Britt for
the seat in the House of Representa-
tives awarded to Zebulon Weaver and
a decision will probably be reached
before adjournment of the present
session of congress-. The case has adj
vanced step by step through the dis
trict and supreme courts of North
Carolina, the result at each turn of
the way being favorable to Mr..
Weaver. The final scenes are now
being enacted and from the findings
of the House committee and the
House itself there can be no appeal
except to the voters of the tenth dis
trict.
Mr.. Britt first complained that the
Buncombe county board of
ers failed to confne their calcula-
lions to marked ballots cast for the
congressional candidates and con-
tended that counting unmarked bal
lots was illegal. Accepting this chal-
Ienge, Mr.. Weaver and his supporters
offered to count the ballots either
Way-marked and unmarked-and
abide by the result. Mr.. Britt would
not agree, but continued to affirm
that he had been elected on the face
OF the original returns from the nre-
clncts OF Buncombe county and de-
cIared his intention of pursuing the
certlhcate to the floor of the House.
IN the event the State Board Of Elec-
tons should award it to Mr.. Weaver
He lost before the local canvassinu
board, Judge Adams, of the Superi-
u court, deciding against him. and
tne Supreme court found no error.
Tue State ~Canvassing Board awarded
TIE certificate to MI. Weaver. Con-
gresham Britt Immediately filed no.
-tlce Of contest and the counties of
the tenth district have since been
Scombed with a fne-tooth Comb for
evidence to sustain his contentious
M e92vert the nine majority accord
60 to Weaver into a victory TO rMr.
Britt,
, "A new element entered into the
case last December when it became
known that Mr.. Britt had challenged
the returns from the county of Ruth
erford in his brief filed with the
House committee. He charged that
a deliberate error had been made in
making up the final returns from that
county which removed ten votes from
the total number that should have
been credited to him and added to
the vote of his opponent. Mr.
Weaver admitted that a clerical error
was made in copying the abstracts
from three precincts, but contended
that n original returns filed with
the clerk of the Superior court show
ms majority in Rutherford to be 446.
the number needed to place his vote
IN n district nine above that of Mr..
Britt. These original returns have
been placed in evidence before the
house committee having the case un-
der consideration, but over the pro-
test OF Mr.. Britt. However, the lat
Ter, who is conducting his own case.
mas been granted the opportunity to
into the authenticity of said
documents and given a chance to be
heard relative thereto.
IN his argument before the COM
mlttee on Thursday, Mr.. Britt vir-
CuaIly admitted the charges of fraud
through the use of liquor and money.
Young lunatlcs and delinquent poll
Tax payers, but attempted to justify
ms S by suggesting that a candi.
uaCe could not control the morals OF
the men who work for him. This is 2
remarkable admission for a man OF
MI. BIRTHS professed moral standard
to make. He has contended all a1ono
That he wanted no fraudulent votes
cast or counted for him. ACCORDING
to his w virtual admissions, if he
was elected at all last year the result
was accomplished by includino vote,
secured by the dram-drinker and the
vote buyer, for even the former con.
gresham himself claims that his ma,
JorlCy IN the entire district wa,
around "a bakers Dozen" That Mr.
nIiIC would accept a certificate faint
10y any species of fraud is a reve
Enno ne q have been mis-
41oIeo.