Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-26
LESLIE CLAIMS
HOLDS OFFICE
2YEARSM MORE
Says He Was Elected
In 1926 for a 4-Year
Term; Replies to
Contest

EDINBURG, Dec. 2S.-The claim
that he was elected to the position
OF district judge in 1926 to serve q
four-year term is made by J. E. Les
lie, judge Of the 10th judicial dis
trict, in his answer to the election
contest recently filed by Gordon
Griffin Of McAllen.
A test case 10 determine the ten
ure Of office of 4 district judge, APP
pointed 10 fill an unexpired term
and elected ut a general election be-
fore such term has expired, is ex-
pected to result.
In his answer 70 the contest re-
Gently filed by Gordon Griffin, Dis
triet Judge j. L. Leslie declares that
in 1924 l.. j. Polk was elected judge,
rcsigning the position in June. 1925,
at which time Leslie was appointed.
In 1926 Leslie was a candidate fJr
the position and elected. In his an
swe Leslie contends he vas elected
for a four-ycar term and not for the
remainder Of the term 10 which Polk
was elected.
Attorneys for Griffin claim the
question raised by Leslie has been
passed upon and the courts have
held where a judge was elected fol-
lowing his appointment to an unex-
pired term. the tenure # office was
only for the number of years to
which his predecessor had been
elected.
Attacks Griffin Vote
Leslie in answer TO Griffin's allie
cations contained in the contest
which was filed several years ago
states that while the election board
declared Griffin received 3iS4, in
reality Griffin Only received 1913
legal votes.
The difference between the cleo
ton board figure and Leslic's are
charged to be Illegal votes. The
votes are described as illegal BY Les
lie who states in his answer that
they were east by persons who did
not have the legal right to vote.
The answer sets out that 231 per-
voted for Griffin who had not
resided in the state for IL months;
that 1lS votes were cast for Griffin
by persons who had not resided in
the sJunty for six months preceding
the election; that 120 votes were
cast by persons who had not resided
in election precincts in which they
cast their ballot; that rs votes cast
for Griffin were cast by persons who
did not reside in the election pre-
cinctS in which they cast their ball
lot on the date of the election; that
$50 persons wrorgfully cast a ball
l1t in the McAllen box Upon which
the presiding judge Of the election
had not written his signature as
provided for by law: that % per-
sons East their ballots for Griffin who
were not citizens of t he United
States: that 800 votes were cast for
Griffin ~ persons who had not paid
their poll tax for the year 1927; that
3S3 were counted BY various cleo
tom judges for Griffin when as a
matter Of fact these votes had not
been cast for his opponent. Griffin;
that 101 votes were cast for Griffin
by persons who had not reached the
age Of 81; that 315 votes were cast
for Griffin By persons whose names
did not appear on the poll lists and
that they did not make affidavit be-
fore presiding judge that they were
entitled 70 n vote; that All persons
voted for Griffin who made false
for the purpose of voting;
that 234 persons cast their ballots
for Griffin who after having r%eceiv-
cd n ballot used a paper, card. a
box. n vanity case, n spec
case. the hand. cuff sleeve or
other thing upon which was a written
memorandum or lists Of persons for
they intended TO vote; that
200 persons wrongfully voted in the
San Juan box and that their ballots
void because the presiding
Judge failed to write his signature