The Penn's Grove record., 1923-12-21
Increase Majority
on Sheriff Recount
Decision of Justice Black on Dis
puted Ballots Gives Kidd
Ill Majority

Robert w. Kidd's right to the office
of Sheriff of Salem County, as a re-
suit of the General Election, was sub
stantiated by Justice Charles C. Black
at the opening of the December term
of Court on Tuesday
Justice Blacks decision on the bal
lots he examined can now leave no
doubt that our former Mayor is en-
titled to the office, which was contest
ed by former Under Sheriff, George
w. Brown, and no more than fulfills the
expectations of those, who were cogni-
zant of the law, that Mr.. Kidd's maj
ority would be increased.
Justice Black based his decision on
the 179 ballots rejected OF objected to
by the attorneys of the eontesting
candidates at the recount of the three
election districts, Lower PENIS Neck,
Oldmans and Penns Grove No. 4, Civ
ing Kidd a majority of Ill votes in
stead of the 16 allowed by the official
count.
Classifying the 179 rejected ballots
according to the respective objections
of the county Board, Justice Black
deemed it necessary to scan only SO
ballots, allowed 50 Brown ballots that
had been rejected because the Christ
ian name of the candidate was omitted,
threw out SO Brown ballots with mis-
placed stickers and allowed rejected
Kidd ballots.
Justice Black expressed the opinion
that if the Sc out standing ballots not
inspected by him were all counted for
Brown it would still give Kidd maj
ority of 35, but in his general summary
adding 163 to Kidd's vote and deduct
ing the 81 added to Browns total,
Kidd's majority is III instead of the
16 allowed by the Official election re-
turns.
When Attorney T. G. Hillard,
Browns counsel, asked Justice BlaclZ
on what laws he based his decision,
his honor replied:
''Why ask me? Why not ask the
Legislature" evidently meaning that
he had been controlled entirely by the
election laws.
The costs of the recount which are
borne by Brown, the petitioner, and his
supporters, were fixed by Justice Black
at $780, This included $126 each for
the four members of the County Board
and the stenographer, at 81 an hour;
$40 each for the election boards of the
three districts. $40 expenses for stem
ographer whose services were rejected
when it was learned the law stipulated
a nonresident of the County and SO
for transcribing the text of Justice
Blacks decision by the Court stenog
rapher.
Attorney Hilliard when asked by
Justice Black if the costs of the re-
count We're not satisfactory expressed
the opinion that the allowance of $40
for each of the members of the district
election boards seemed excessive.
"Oh no." replied the Justice, "on the
other hard think it was very remark
able. You know you must expect to
pay well for thing like this when you
ask for it."
Justice Blacks decision was evident
ly so pleasing to former Judge Henry
Burt Ware, counsel for Sheriff Kidd
in the recount, that it was difficult for
him to repress the smile which pre-
sisted in overspreading his counten-
ance throughout the proceedings.
Both Sheriff Kidd, the victor and
former Under Sheriff Brown, the de-
feated candidate, were present. But
neither displayed their feelings over
the result.
The court room was crowded but
there was no semblance of a demon
stration in spite of the general interest
in the result. AS the spectators filed
out. At adjournment, however, there
was a hum of eager conversation as
the matter was discussed.
-o-