The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-10-12

Thompson for the purpose Of signing
fraudulent ballots.
CIV Manager II. I. Crago Was 'he
flrst witness on tho stand yesterday
morning. his cross examination not
having been completed. lie and Att"r-
ncy r"niit resumed their personal arEu-
mcat If Monday, which lasted for al
most an hour.
Norton's Testimony
John Merton was tho next witness.
He had been one Of the judges at the
third precinct Of tie second ward and
te>t!ile! that he had carried tho box
out - tho precinct.
The ballot hpN. y" said. WAS Allied with
the paraphcrna.ia and was pro-
perry locked Most 81 his examination
was concerning The r"Uj!A" which pre-
cedrs the opening - all election.
He stated positively IN answer TO a
question that Thompson was no: pres
en-; al any tine during tho day. so fur
as he knew.
'Wha, did you Il" n; the t!fnH the
polls cloS"dc" TIA" Examiner asked.
Il took the spar" ballots out and
burned thrm wh!!c the others were TAX
Ing the ru:arh"rna.:t UPSTAIRS
What arrangements were made Tor
going ~ supper
when ,lirr back. IN" others. all
but Esl!N:..c were ready - leave Tor
super
lie made sure that Nail was with tho
company as they started out but he
,Nuld not gay where he went. lie said
that he did not Sec Thompson.
Tho Butts BALLOT
The rest ~ his testimony was purely
on routine until they reached the Butts
ballot.
"psd you SEQ ballot marked no
cho!cc"??"
Il can; ST.. heard no discussion
ahou, such Il ballot"
An attempt 10 bring the witness 10
the point where he would say that he did
not kruw was blocked by the state. lie
then discussed the ballots which "e7e
thrown cut and when the defense al
tornev asked him whether or not there
had been a discussion or oaI!ot WIKI
writing on &. he answered:
IT think II there had been such bal
, lot. |, would have gone on Tho string.
"Was Bcllvii!e appointed by G!l.iHan"
81 don't know.
The challenger for GiNIgan. Mr.
Custer. WAS lie there"
"All the time. except about half mn
hour carly in the morning and two hours
in the evening"
Then he testified that the court mac
been fairly conducted.
The direct examination closed when
| the witness stated that he had peer
called ~ the prosecution and not askc'
TO testify.
on INSTRUMENTATION he denied tina,
L.. l., YcnllIrnh him 10 Keen
| the ballot box in his possession UNI! tne
election opened. and that he had LETT the
box unguarded for n night.
He stood by his story that the rom
| election officials had gone out toGethc'
/ when they left for supper.
Not Sure About Nail.
81 know he started" he said. referring
knew the election official had gone out
II can't say that Thompson WASH
| there" he said. but DO know that
did see him"
Every ballot. counted or not counted
| was put on the string and returned VIII
the hox. wasn't it," the prosecutor
asked.
Yes" the witness replied.
The city managers testimony ahou
| his having tailed a part OF the eleruoT
! returns was corroborated. The witness
could not say for sure whether or not NJ
| had seen 4 CeTllIl'dle p'sleu'
When the challenger. Custer. returnr'
for the counting" the prosecutor asked
why was he asked TO leave
| Somebody objected.
"Who: one OF the firemen:
| Il think So"
He said that Custer had been Kept ou'
about two hours. Including the supper
! hour.
On redirect. he would not say that h
had signed An election certificate. HI
also said that they had offered TO re
count some seventy ballots wnlch nae
been previously strung.
Besides the challenger Henry l.
Walker Of the police force, MANAGE
lCrago, Solicitor o Brien and DeteClive Jo'
! Humer were there. weren't the! frose
| cutor Bachman asked and received ar
| affirmative answer.
Then o'Rrien took tho witness aGair
and before excusing him. asked how Ions
he CO'Rrien) had heen there. The VII
ness replied. only a few moments:
The first questions put 10 Crago "her
he resumed the stand this morning were
concerning his visits 10 various pre-
,incts If the city. He said that he h1t
/ visited a few OF them but that hi!
duties had taken him to those which h
had gone to.
My duties as city clerk" he said
took mo 10 those precincts for the pur
pose Of paying the officials"
The conversation alleged to har'
taken rlace at the oaks was taken vi
and uprn being asked whether or not
took pace answered:
NO. John Stevenson spread a rumo
10 that effect"
Now Mr.. |:aao." Attorney Conf
asked. when did you begin your cam
patgn FOR the city managership?'
II did not even know my namo wa
being mentioned for the managershi.
until after the election. l was can
d!da;c "a succeed myself MS city clerl
opd r.bn, ,bey tried TO beat me, m