The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-10-12
ATTORNEYS ron THOMPSON SEX
TO. SHOW THAT BELLVrLhSB
STORY COULDN'T IN 11u1.
1nasE ME1 MAIL SAYS He LEFT
WITH JUDGES AND had NO
PART IN FRAUD.
THOMPSON SEEN IN FHoNT or
HOSE HOUSE SHORTLY BEFORE
POLLS CLOSED.

POLLS CLCSG0'
"
G W Bel!vnle. one of the roll clerks
n Freeing: ;. Second wacd.. IA the CITY
election held Mag % was the objective
OF the attack by testimony suom'tie"
In criminal court Yesterday n tho tr'a'
Of Fire chief A. Bur!ey Thompson. VINO
has been on tr:al for more than one
week charged with helping % 'perpe'TH'e
fraud IN the C.;y election.
For the first time yesterday c"u:'
SPECTATORS cuulh ses that the deeeTSe
hopes 20 coaN;acc the Jury thai II any
ballots were substituted in tie to:'
Henry hose house precinct for" those
actually voted by the voierA Re.N'''e
did tho ballot switching. and that the
substitute ballots. Z AMY we're
"swi,ched. were taken ny beIINh'S
from a stack on the clerks table and
placed in the ballot box by Reuvilse him
eelt while the three election commits
k;oners and Bessemc~ Nail. tie other
poll CLERK. were absea: n supper in the
hour tina, followed the closing OF the
polls. Even this. /: Is plain the defense
IL trying 10 convince the jury ~ouia
have been impossible. through the tes-
timony OF Charles Wurtzhacher. one OF
the election judges. that he vas IN pos
ness!on Of the two keys 20 locks on me
halo, box all % election day. Including
the time that he was at supper on elec-
ton day evening.
Nan says He Loft TOO.
Defense w:tnesses-that Is. the three
election judse5-corrohorated {. W.
R.lly,ue's statement that the three
.udKes all wen. home 70 supper at one
time, ten or ffteen minutes after the
oolls closed. The three judges testified
they thought Ressemer Nail. the otner
clerk. also went TO supper as soon as
they did. Nail himself. on tho witness
stand last night, swore positively that
he left the hose house with the three
.I.ction Judges, John Norton. Charles
Iurezoacher and G. ". Watkins: that
ne did not remain behind In the upstalr
bedroom A, tho Fort Henry nre sta
ton. and that Bel,v!l,e lied II he testi-
ned that Nall helped Burnley Thompson
and Bellv.l,e TO open the ballot box ana
substitute other ballots for those Toteo
Two defense witnesses. both fire de-
oar,ment employees. testified last night
that Burley Thompson was on the pave
uent In front Of the Fort Henry hose
house approximately Is minutes BEFORE
the election polls closed. Not witness
OF tho defense testified. directly. nor
could they be madeto admit on cross
examination. that hurley Thompson was
In the hre house during election day OF
on the night Of May Is. The purpose
OF Thompsou's presence In frohe OF the
fire house at this short interval BEFORE
the closing OF tho polls 10 date remains
unaxp,a:ned save for Captain Chester
Deans statement that Chief Thompson
asked him how many votes had beer
cast in the precinct. ..se.-
Mrs Be.semer Nall has beeH called
20 appear In court today 20 teAtin that
her husband came homo 70 supper about
r,Sh O'Clock the evening OK Max 2Si &C
cordinE 70 Attorney J. ]. P.'o Erten
while the POLLS closed only at I'll
O'Clock.
Nail Defends HIS chief.
Bessemcr Nail. who himself stands
indicted In criminal court on charge
Of hslping TO make q false retufn o.
m. vote cast COR Charles l.. GnllIan n
precinct 3. Second ward. in the city
election. took the witness stand las
n,aot m defense Of uts department chef
He went through a rather lengthy rou
tine examination by Attorney J. Is
Nand!an as 20 MS residence. connection
with the fre department.. his trade ant
former occupation. and his family.
Just what Is your connection viii
IN. FIRE department." Mr.. Handlan asked
Nail.
II ma p;remar." he answered.
Have you any trade:
Yes. an ron mO.der
where DID you work before you wen
on the FIRE department?
AT the Peninsula plant OF the wheel
Ing Mold and Foundry
DO you remember the city e.rctoI
held on MAJ 2sc' Nall was asked b.
M. Handlan.
Yes SIR
YOU were resident OF and entltle
70 vote n rreclnc, No. OF the Sec"n
ward in that election?
Yes sir"
Did you &C. as an o't.c.a. Of the cleo
ton n that precinct
IS"
IN what capacity?-
"A poll clerk
&C. W. Beuy.!!H vas the other clerk >