Jasper County Democrat, Volume 7, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 January 1905 — WAS A STRING TO IT [ARTICLE]

WAS A STRING TO IT

That Is What Is the Trouble with a Ballot That Puzzles the Solons.: POTENT IN A CONTEST CASE Elect* or Defeats a Legislator— Brazil Man Finds His Stovewood “Loaded" - Notes. Indianapolis, Jan. 13. Does the contest for a seat in the house of representatives from Jefferson county hang by a little red string? After working an entire afternoon members of the committee on elections are convinced that it does. The little red string, which is scarcely more than half an Inch in length, was found in one of the ballots when it was canvassed by the election board. It was a straight Democratic ballot, and though it was counted for Joseph M. Cravens, the Democratic candidate, it was contested by Samuel Wallace, Republican, on the ground that it was a distinguishing mark. From present appearance it would seem that this ballot will determine the tie. Wallace Wouldn’t Ban Again. For two hours the committee listened to the arguments of the attorneys for both sides. The attorneys had gone over the sixty-six disputed ballots and had thrown out a part of them as they were too badly mutilated to give room for argument. According to the Democrats the vote was a tie, but by the count of the Republicans Wallace should have been elected by a majority of seven vote*. In case it be decided i that it was a tie Cravens will probe- ' bly be seated, for another election was held, as provided by law, and Wallace refused to take part Only Sixteen Good Ballot*. All ballots have been thrown out by the election committee as bad but sixteen, and these were about evenly distributed between the two candidates, so that it would seem that there is really a tie. It is the ballot of “the little red string” that is putting the committee in a quandary. “To count or not to count it,” that Is the question. According to William I* Taylor, who represents Wallace, the ballot should be thrown out. He cited a case | settled by the supreme court of Illii uois, in which a small piece of red paper was found in a ballot, and the ■ ballot waa declared bad as having a distinguishing mark. ~ . q*v Cuw tha Bad String Thant “If we only knew whether the man that voted that ballot put the red string in It IntenttonaUy, or by acci-

dent It dropped from his coat while he was folding the ballot, the decision would be simple. If there is any detective who thinks he can run down the voter by moans of the red string as a clew, and settle the matter we will gladly turn the string over to him.” said Howard Mounts, chairman of the committee. FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW They May Lead to the Punishment of • Han Who “Loaded*' a Stick of Stove wood. Brazil, Ind., Jan. 13. —The grand jury is Investigating an occurrence at Cartwn. this county, which has created a sensation. A man named Johnson found a stick of wood ih front of his gate, but it was too large and he cut It in two. The cutting revealed two deep holes that had been filled with rifle powder, the holes being cleverly concealed. The stick qontained nearly two pounds of powder, enough to have killed all the members of the Johnson family, who were in the room at the time. Footprints in the snow led directly from Johnson’s home to that of a well known citizen, who is said to be a bitter enemy of the Johnson family. There is a probability that the grand jury will return an indictment.

Btwird Oat for Thngs. Red Key, Ind., Jan. 13.—A reward of $250 offered by the postal authorities, augmented by a subscription of SSO, has been offered for the arrest and conviction of the robbers who blew the safe in the local postofflce and seriously wounded J. C. Turpen, a merchant. Charles Manning, aged 33, has been arrested at Portland, and John F. Duchesse, claiming Van Wert, 0., as his home, has been arrested at Hartford City. Both men are being held as suspects. Boy Is Mruplj Afflicted. Shoals, Ind., Jan. 13. —Lome Sims, 7 years old, son of Dr. J. N. Sims, is alarmingly 111 at the home of his father at Dover Hill. While at school, playing with his comrades, the boy slipped and fell, slightly bruising his thigh, lu a few days the leg began to swell. The swelling now reaches from his foot to the head. One of his eyes Is swollen shut At times there has been an eruption on the body. Ballot Woo After th* Billot*. Richmond, Ind., Jam 13. While examining a revolver which he thought was unloaded. Don Lanert was shot through the left hand as a result of an unexpected discharge of the weapon, and Willie Burkett, nearby, was struck in the right hand by the same bullet. Costly Fir* at Haw Albaay. New Albany, Ind., Jan. 18.—The Hedden block, occupied by a department store company, was destroyed by Are. Loss, $90,000, with soo,ooo insurance.