Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1919-06-05
CLERK MUDD[E
GROWS SERIOUS
II. A. Moore Elected as Tempo
rary City Clerk By COmmis-
siOners. Stephens Refuses
TO Yield Place.

The mayors office is the scene of
confusion.
The town now has four commission
ers instead of three, or at least four
men claim to be commissioners.
The situation is somewhat acute, it
is alaming-it is ridiculous.
1t seems that the city of Oxford is
very unfortunate of late. We have
had all sorts of trouble with the light
and water plant. On the heels of
that the water supply gave out en-
tirely. Commissioner Lawshee re-
signed. An election was held to fill
his place. There were three or four
candidates for the office, but Louis
Stephens received the greatest num-
Der Of votes Mr.. Stephens is a fine
young man, and is very popular, es-
pecially in fraternal circles. He is a
tne bookkeeper and a good business
llaa. No one can question his ability
nd qualifications to fill the office to
Which he was elected. But it de-
NelopCd after the election, that Mr..
'teph ms was not eligible to the Of
flee, on, the grounds that he had not
been resident Of Oxford long
enough.
Mr.. Ste)hCns received his commits
&ion made bond and went into the
.
Beanand and Commissioner Furr re-
fused to recognize Stephens in the
capacity Ct City Clerk, for the fact
that contest proceedings had been
fled by the city attorney, John Falk-
ner, with a view Of clearing up the
matter. The Treasurer refused to
pay any warrants issued by Stephens,
and the mayor would not sign war
rants issued BY him.
This morning a meeting of the
Commissioners was held and H. A.
Moore was elected by the commission
ers to act as City Clerk, pending the
outcome of the contest.
Stephens Holds On.
When the newly elected Clerk was
inducted into Office this morning by
the mayor and Commissioner Furr,
Mr.. Stephens refused to yield his
place to Nj. Moore. The situation
then grew serious, and town Marshal
Roach was called. The marshal was
placed in the Office with Cor between)
the two clerks to keep order.
A hearing will be held within a
day or so, and in the meantime all
Oxford is wondering what the out
COME will be.
1t seems that the election commits
tion to Governor Bilbo, merely stat
ing that Stephens had received the
largest number of votes. There was
I no mention made to the late develop
ments-tne question Of Stephens not
being eligible to hold the office. Gov
elnor Bilbo no doubt acted in good
faith and with good intentions when
he issued the commission to Mr..
Stephens, but it is believed by many
that had the Governor known that a
question had arisen as to the eligibil-
ity of Stephens that the commission
would have been withheld pending the
outcome of the, contest, which was
filed Immediately after the election.
The Funny Side
Go into the Clerks office and you
will find two anxious clerks beaming
with an unusual eagerness to serve
you. The town marshal, with his big
stick, in the midst of the little Office
ready to take hand in anything that
his services should be need for. The
customer looks on with amazement,
not aware of the fact that sereneness
and quietitude is liable to give way to
a rough house any moment.
Mayor Beanland and Commissioner
Furr are in one and the same accord
in seeing that legal" justice be
meted out to the people.
The town of Oxford is thoroughly
worked up over the situation, and it
is said that recall petitions would
likely be circulated before night,
asking the resignation of all the COM
missi&ers, and petitions sent to the
Governor asking him to appoint a
mayor and board of aldermen for
Oxford.
The people of Oxford should act
slow if they are asked to sign any
kind of petitions. Every one should
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