Rensselaer Republican, Volume 25, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1893 — "DISTINGUISHING MARKS." [ARTICLE]

"DISTINGUISHING MARKS."

An elaborate decision by tho commisioners in the IJible-Davis Montgomery •ount.y contested election case, has been made known. The board ruled that distinguishing marks on ballots must consist if marks that had been purposely made by the voter, and not marks which had been made by blots from tho stamp mark made by the voter. It was also held in the matter of the tally-sheet showing five more votes cast for Davis than tho certificate had on it, that tho tally-sheet was preferable evidence, and that even if the ballots were cast by illegal voters it wa 9 not conclusive evidence that they had voted for a certain candidate of a certain party, merely because it was proven that said illegal voters had marched in a certain political■ procession. The board was also of opinion that certain students voted illegally, but there was no power that could bebronght to bear on such persons to force them to state how thev had voted, and it was impossible to surmise for wl at candidate they had voted. The election return gave Davis 3,824 and Bible3.Blß, and the board gave Davi3 3,827 and Biblo 3,823, a gain of three for Davis and five for Bible. These gains were all made by the board counting ballots that were thrown, ant by the election judges on account of “distinguishing” marks, tho board deciding such marks wore not made purpose' Iv, and therefore wero not “distinguish ing” marks. Davis was therefore declared elected. - - ■