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Story
April 13, 1910
The Manning Times
Manning, Clarendon County, South Carolina
What is this article about?
Citizens of Dillon County report election fraud involving liquor and money to buy votes, and coercion at a cotton mill precinct. They seek advice from Attorney General Lyon on prosecution and invalidating polls. Lyon plans investigation.
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MONEY AND LIQUOR
SAID TO HAVE FLOWED FREELY
IN DILLON ELECTION.
Citizens Tell of Crooked Acts Said to Have Occurred and Asks If Election is Impaired.
Fraud by the use of liquor and money in securing votes in the recent election held in the new county of Dillon is charged in a letter received Saturday by Attorney General Lyon from citizens of that county. The letter says:
We have just had our first election in Dillon county and while we had hoped that it would be a clean one, I regret to say that it was one of the dirtiest I know of and there are a few things that came up that I would like to have your advice me on.
"I have been reliably informed that at several of the precincts, both liquor and money were used freely. In fact, I have understood that at one of the precincts, two parties were arrested and have made sworn affidavits that they were given liquor and money.
"One of the parties states that he knows of several voters treated as he was. I have understood further that men were carried to the polls so drunk that it was necessary for them to be bodily supported.
"Would not a condition like this not only lay the parties liable to prosecution, but throw out the poll?
"Another case brought to my attention is this, one of the cotton mills here has a voting precinct and the voters are controlled entirely by the president and superintendent. In fact I have understood and am free to say that I believe it: that if the operatives refused to vote as the president and superintendent directs, they are promptly dismissed.
"The same precinct counted the votes with closed doors and would not make known the result, until certain other results had been announced.
"These are conditions that exist here and if it is possible to not only throw out these polls that were so rotten, but bring the guilty parties to justice, I shall be glad to have you advise the course of procedure."
Attorney General Lyon has taken the contents of the letter under consideration and will make a thorough investigation.
SAID TO HAVE FLOWED FREELY
IN DILLON ELECTION.
Citizens Tell of Crooked Acts Said to Have Occurred and Asks If Election is Impaired.
Fraud by the use of liquor and money in securing votes in the recent election held in the new county of Dillon is charged in a letter received Saturday by Attorney General Lyon from citizens of that county. The letter says:
We have just had our first election in Dillon county and while we had hoped that it would be a clean one, I regret to say that it was one of the dirtiest I know of and there are a few things that came up that I would like to have your advice me on.
"I have been reliably informed that at several of the precincts, both liquor and money were used freely. In fact, I have understood that at one of the precincts, two parties were arrested and have made sworn affidavits that they were given liquor and money.
"One of the parties states that he knows of several voters treated as he was. I have understood further that men were carried to the polls so drunk that it was necessary for them to be bodily supported.
"Would not a condition like this not only lay the parties liable to prosecution, but throw out the poll?
"Another case brought to my attention is this, one of the cotton mills here has a voting precinct and the voters are controlled entirely by the president and superintendent. In fact I have understood and am free to say that I believe it: that if the operatives refused to vote as the president and superintendent directs, they are promptly dismissed.
"The same precinct counted the votes with closed doors and would not make known the result, until certain other results had been announced.
"These are conditions that exist here and if it is possible to not only throw out these polls that were so rotten, but bring the guilty parties to justice, I shall be glad to have you advise the course of procedure."
Attorney General Lyon has taken the contents of the letter under consideration and will make a thorough investigation.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Story
Deception Fraud
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Deception
Crime Punishment
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Election Fraud
Liquor Money Votes
Voter Coercion
Dillon County
Cotton Mill Precinct
Attorney General Lyon
What entities or persons were involved?
Attorney General Lyon
Citizens Of Dillon County
President And Superintendent Of Cotton Mill
Where did it happen?
Dillon County
Story Details
Key Persons
Attorney General Lyon
Citizens Of Dillon County
President And Superintendent Of Cotton Mill
Location
Dillon County
Event Date
Recent Election
Story Details
Citizens allege fraud in Dillon's first election using liquor and money to influence votes, arrests with affidavits, drunk voters carried to polls, and coercion by cotton mill officials who controlled voting and delayed results. They ask if polls can be thrown out and guilty prosecuted; Lyon to investigate.