Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-08
COP.
MAY ASK RECOUNT
Election Contests Appear
Probable for at Least
Three Offices.
BY a stan Correspondent of The star.

BY a Stan correspondent Of The Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md November "a
petition for q recount of the vote cast in
Montgomery County Tuesday appeared
probable today following action by Re-
publican party leaders and candidates
to insure that the ballot boxes be kept
inviolate.
No statement was made concerning
what offices< would be contested, but
the closeness of three races indicated
that the Republicans would concentrate
their efforts In them.
Karn Race Closest.
The smallest majority of the election
was that of william Frank Ricketts,,
Democrat, over Frank H. Karn, Re-
publican, for County Commissioner of
gave Karn the election, but the convass
of the board of election supervisors
showed that Rickets won by Is votes. 1t
Is felt that the first petition for a re-
count of the ballots will be filed by
Karn, since his race was the closest.
Another election the contest of which
appeared likely was that of Stedman
Prescott, Democrat, as States attorney
defeating F. Bernard Welsh, Republican
It is being talked generally about Rock
vile today that Welsh will petition the
court to order a recount He was
beaten by the fairly decisive margin OF
327 votes, according to the tabulation
Of the election supervisors, but he freely
stated that he was not satisfied with the
count.
Senate Seat Contest Possible.
The third position which may be con-
tested in the State senatorship. Thomas
M. Anderson, 28-year-old Rockville
lawyer, was defeated by Robert G. Hi.
ton, Democrat, by 100 votes majority
| This case, however. would have TO be
| considered by the State Senate, which
| body alone has the power to set aside q
| certificate of election to its ranks. A
| contest of the election of a candidate
u the House Of Delegates is similarly
conducted with the lower Legislative
! House acting as arbiter.
Yesterday afternoon Republican lead.
ers and candidates conferred in the
ONCE Of Walter w. Dawson, who wa
the only Republican elected. regarding
steps to be taken. While there they
were informed that the SO ballot boxe.
were stored in a corridor of the cour-
house basement.
Court Informed on Law.
| A delegation, composed of Paul Sic,
man, chairman Of the Republican Statt
Central Committee for Montgomerl
County; Wilson L. Townsend, HarolC
c. Smith, Walter Dawson and Ander'
son, Immediately went before judge
Robert B. Peter and called his atten
ton to the fact that the law require
that the ballots be kept under loci
and key in the custody Of the clerk O
the court.
Judge Peter called for Preston B
/ Ray the clerk, who could not be 10
Gated. Clayton Watkins, deputy clerk
then was summoned and ordered u
place the boxes in a safe place. Unde
1 Watkins direction the ballot container
were checked carefully and stored In
strong room at the rear OF the clerk
ONCE.
No announcement was made concern
ing the outcome of the Republican con
ference. Mr.. Sleman said, however, tina
no action would be taken today.
The procedure which probably vii
be followed If recount Is requested !
as follows: The defeated candidate, a
plaintiff, petitions the court to have tn
vote recounted and names the success
full candidate as defendant. In tn
petition is the allegation that the plain
tiff believes that ballots were no
counted which should have beel
counted.
The Judge then orders the ballo
boxes produced and appoints represent
atives of the plaintiff and defendan
to count the ballots. Each ballot which
is challenged is submitted to the cour
for determination whether 1t shall b
counted or disqualified as spoiled.
1 "a