Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-11-20
GRAND JURY
IS SUMMONED
IN BURLEICIH
Probe Of Local Election I'm
derstood to Be Object of
Petitioners.

Bismarck, N. D., Nov. 20.-No limi-
tation Is placed upon the scope of the
deliberations which will be started by
a Burleigh county grand juryN to be
nvene here on December S under
an order Of Judge.James A. Coffey of
district, court. filed with the clerk OF
court Here late Saturday afternoon.
The calling Of the grand jury fol-
lowed petitions to Judge Coffey bear
ing 1928 names Of men and women,
mostly of the city Of Bismarck, which
was more than 10 per cent required
under the law for the calling of a
grand jury on petition. While the
petitions asked for an investigation Of
matters Of grave import" the pet!-
tions originated with persons much in
terested in the recent political fight,
eral local candidates.
The complaints voiced were mostly
regarding absent voters ballots cast
in the City Of Bismarck andSin at least
ono outside precinct, It being charged
that persons voted absent ballots who
remained in the city election day and
persons absent fromthe city for a con-
siderable period of time voted.
n, Close Races.
There were several close races In
the county, the closest being that for
sheriff. The unofficial county showed
Albin Hedstrom, NOnpartisan winner
over Joseph Kelly by 80 votes. The
official canvass has increased He'd
strom's majority to 81 votes. EGG.
Patterson defeated Josepht Spies for
county commissions in a limited dis
trict by 81 votes. increasing his ma
jority over the primary when it was IA
votes. F. E. McCurdy, states attorney,
was defeated by a larger margin, ex-
pected to be shown by the official can
vass at about 200 votes.
Grand jury petitions were verified
by the committee consisting of B. o.
Ward, former county commissioner,
Mrs. J. Kenyon and II. r. Benny, at
tested by H. F. Chase and circulated
by a number Of persons active in local
candidates. particularly Of Joseph
Kelly for. sheriff, Joseph Spies for
/ Curdy for states attorney, their sue
cessful opponents being respectively
Albln Hedstrom, E: G. Patterson and
While most Of the signers of the
petition were workers for Independent
candidates in the election the indie.
pendent county headquarters was moi
concerned in petitions, it was stated
"A correction Of the official count snow
II. L.. Best for legislature, defeated by
108 votes and e. A. Williams by lit
votes. ~ "A. ~ "
Other Contests Possible.
r. l.. Best, one of three individual
nominees for the legislature, lost by
q margin Of about 60 votes, and ha.
stated that he is considering, a con,
test for himself or for General e. A
Williams, who also opposed therregu
lar Observation-Disclosures candidate
Mr. Williams i was defeated by few
: more votes than Best It is main
tanned by Mr.. Best that in several cit.
precincts voter marked their ballo
for all three regular Republican can
didates and then for one in the indi
vidual column. The practice of elec
ton officials, he said, was to canoe
one vote for one Of the regular Re
publican candidates and then the vot
in the Individual column. The inten
Of the voter was defeated, he main
tains. holding the voter intended tina
the vote in the individual column
should count.
Should he launch atcontest an,
either he or Mr.. Williams be success
full it would marrow the regular Inde
pendent majority in the lower house