State ex rel. Jones v. Flynt, 159 N.C. 87 (1912)

May 1, 1912 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

159 N.C. 87

STATE ex rel D. A. JONES v. GEORGE W. FLYNT.

(Filed 1 May, 1912.)

1. Elections, Contested — Referee — Findings of Fact — Evidence— Evidential Matters — Appeal and Error.

When by consent an order is entered by the court in an action involving title to office, that a certain named referee shall hear1 and determine the controversy, his finding of facts to be final,, and he has filed his report finding the votes cast in certain precincts, resulting in the election of one of them, stating what weight he had given to certain testimony, the issues are those of facts, and his statements as to the weight he has given certain phases of the testimony leading to his final conclusion are not reviewable; and it is not material that he states he has grave doubts as to the competency of certain evidence which he has admitted and considered.

2. Elections — Board of Canvassers — Returns—Evidence—Prima Fa-cie Case — Interpretation of Statutes.

The finding by the board of canvassers as to the number of votes received by a contestant in an election is prima- fade correct. Revisal, sec. 4356.

3. Pleadings — Allegations—Burden of Proof.

The burden of proof is on the relator in a contested election for office, who alleges that the defendant is in possession and that he, the relator, received the majority of votes cast.

4. Elections, Contested — Referee — Election Returns — Findings— Evidence. •

The referee to whom has been referred the determination of facts in an action between contesting parties in an election has the power to determine which of several election returns, in evidence, is the original; and when the referee has identified, in his findings, the original, it will be deemed prima, facie correct.

5. Elections, Contested — Referee — Findings—Objections and Exceptions — Evidence—Principal Issue — Appeal and Error.

An objection to the report of a referee, who was to. find the facts relative to a contested election, for failure to find what occurred when the votes were counted out on the night of the election, is not well taken, as these incidents are merely evi-dentiary on the principal issue of the number of votes cast for the relator and defendant, the referee acting as a jury with power to find the facts, and it being his duty to weigh the evidence and to determine on which side it preponderated, and to pass on the credibility of the witnesses.

6. Elections, Contested — Returns Telephoned — Called by Another— Evidence.

In an action involving the correct number of votes cast for each of the parties in a contested election, evidence of a witness, that at a certain precinct, on the night of the election, he had another to read from a report the number of votes cast there for one of the contestants, as he telephoned the report in, is incompetent, the one who read the list for the purpose of telephoning not having been examined as a witness, and there being no evidence that it was correctly read. Hart v. R. R., 144 N. C., 91, cited and distinguished.

Appeal by plaintiff from Lyon, J., at October Term, 1911, of Eoesyth.

This is an action brought to try the title to the office of Sheriff of Forsyth County..

At the election held in said county in November, 1910, D. A. Jones and George W. Flynt were opposing candidates for said office.

The board of county canvassers declared said Elynt elected by twelve votes,'and he was accordingly inducted into office.

Summons was issued returnable to February Term, 1911, of the Superior Court of said county, and complaint and answer were thereafter duly filed. The case turned'upon the number ■of votes cast for the relator and for defendant, respectively, in Broadbay Township and in Middle Fork Precinct, No. 1, in said county.

Relator alleged that in Broadbay Township he received. 443 votes, and his opponent 214 votes. Defendant claimed that in said township relator received 433 votes only, while he received 214.

In Middle Pork (Precinct No. 1) relator alleged that he received 196 votes and his opponent 49 votes.

Defendant claimed that at said precinct relator received only 186 votes and that he received 49.

The board of county canvassers accepted the contention of defendant as to both of these precincts and declared him to have been elected sheriff by a majority of 12 votes.

At May Term, 1911, by consent of parties, the case was referred to F. C. Robbins, Esq. The order of reference is as follows:

“This cause coming on to 'be heard before the undersigned judge of the Superior Court: it is now, by consent of parties, ordered that the said cause be and the same is hereby referred to F. C. Robbins, who shall, as soon as may be, proceed to hear and determine said cause, and who shall make and file herein his findings of fact and conclusions of law separately, his findings of fact to be final and the conclusions of law to be subject to review upon exception and apjieal as provided by law.

“It is, by consent of the parties, further ordered that said referee shall consider and determine only the number of votes actually cast for the office of sheriff of said county in the township of Middle Fork, Precinct No. 1, and the township of Broadbay, in said county, for the relator and for the defendant, respectively, at the election of 1910, it being agreed that outside of said precincts in said county, at said election, there were actually cast for said relator 2,305 and for said defendant 2,673 votes for said office,, as appears from the returns from the precincts, and that all other questions of law and fact raised by the pleadings are waived.”

It was in evidence that there were four papers before the county board of canvassers, purporting to be returns from Broadbay Township, all of which were signed by the judges of election and the registrar, and they are referred to as Exhibits Nos. 10, 2, 3, and 4.

In Exhibit No. 10, the vote of the relator is 443, in writing and in figures.

In Exhibits Nos. 2 and 3, his vote is 433, in figures and in writing.

In Exhibit No. 4, his vote is 443 in writing, and 433 in figures.

Exhibits Nos. 2 and 3 are referred to in the evidence as the long sheets, and are the official papers sent out to the election officers upon which to make their returns. One of these was returned to the board of canvassers and the other to the county board of elections.

Exhibits Nos. 10 and 4 are referred to as the short sheets, which were not sent to the election officers on which to make returns. J. E. Reynolds, a supporter of the relator, filled out Exhibits Nos. 10, 3, and 4.

There was evidence on the part of the relator tending to prove that Exhibit No. 10 was returned to the county board of canvassers, and evidence on the part of the defendant that it was not seen by the board until the day it met to canvass the returns, and that the said Reynolds then took it from his pocket.

There was also evidence that on the night of the election the votes were called out and counted, and the 'result marked on tally-sheets made by George Clodfelter and others, and that the number of votes were marked on tickets from the tally-sheets, and that 443 votes were cast for the relator.

The tally-sheets were not in evidence, and the defendant introduced evidence tending to prove that they were left on the table where the election was held, at the request of said Reynolds, and that he said they had been destroyed, and also that Reynolds and others were drinking on the night of the election, and that there was some confusion; all of which was denied by Reynolds.

- George Clodfelter, wbo kept a tally-sheet, testified, among other things, that after the vote for the relator and the defendant was counted, some one marked the number of votes on a ticket, and that he took the .ticket and went to a store nearby to phone the result to Winston; that when he reached the store it was dark and he could not see, and he handed the ticket to Luther Snyder, who called out the number of votes from the ticket, and he gave the vote over the phone to Winston.

He also testified that he did not remember the figures on the ticket, nor the vote given by him over the phone; and Luther Snyder was not introduced as a witness.

The relator offered to prove by two witnesses that Snyder called out 443 votes for the relator, and that Clodfelter phoned that number to Winston. This evidence was excluded, and the relator excepted.

The referee found that the relator received 433 votes in Broadbay Township, and it is conceded that if this finding-stands, the defendant was' elected by a majority of two votes, and if he received 443 votes, the relator was elected by a majority of eight votes.

The referee states his impression of the evidence and his findings are as follows:

“Having considered and weighed all of the evidence with care, I here state as briefly as possible some of the points in it which have led me to the conclusion reached.

“Plaintiff's Exhibit 10, showing 443 votes for Mr. Jones, written and in figures, and 214 for Mr. Elynt, written and in figures, is signed and certified by the election officers, and Mr. J. E. Reynolds testifies that he made it out and that it was the first one, and put it in an envelope and Mr. Rominger took it; and Mr. Glenn Hoover, one of the judges, testifies that after they got through signing returns, Mr. Rominger took., charge of them; Sidney Teague, the other judge, testifies that he don’t know whether Exhibit 10, was given to Rominger or not. Mr. Rominger brought the sealed envelope of the county vote to the canvassing board, and Mr. Bynum, secretary, testifies that he took out of that envelope defendant’s Exhibit 2; that there was. no other in it, and that Exhibit 10 was not in it, and Mr. E'oy testifies that he saw Mr. Bynum take Exhibit 2 out of the envelope.

“Reynolds further testifies, on his direct examination, that he made out but two returns, plaintiff’s Exhibit 10 and defendant’s Exhibit 3, and perhaps one other for Congress; but on cross-examination, when confronted with defendant’s Exhibit 4, he admits that he filled out that also. He also testifies that while making out Exhibit 10 he did not say ‘It is easy to think one thing and write another,’ in which he is contradicted by Sidney M. Teague, one of the judges; and Mr. Langston also testifies that he thinks Mr. Reynolds made0 that remark.

“Also, when he came in before the canvassing board, he testifies that he walked up to the table, and one of the board, he thinks, passed up to him Exhibit 10, and he said, ‘There is nothing wrong about this,’ and he also denies pulling out of his pocket Exhibit 10; whereas several witnesses for Mr. Jones, to wit, May, Tavis, Savage, and Boyles, and several witnesses for Mr. Elynt, to wit, Eoy, Shamel, Conrad, Goode, Hinshaw, and others, all testify that he first got hold of the regular return, defendant’s Exhibit 2, ‘and said, ‘It is not right,’ or ‘It is wrong,’ or some such words, and Mr. Beroth and Mr. Stafford testify that he did not get it (Exhibit 10) off the table nor was it handed to him from the table, but that he pulled it out of his pocket — Mr. Stafford saying, out of his left breast coat pocket, and Mr. Hinshaw testifies that when Mr. Reynolds got halfway to the table, on coming in, he saw the paper in his (Reynolds’) 'hand; and Mr. Crouse testifies that that paper was not on the table prior to that time. This, with other evidence on that point, shows, by the greater weight of evidence, that Exhibit 10 was brought "in before the board by Mr. Reynolds.

“In filling out defendant’s Exhibit 3, he testifies he did not say, ‘Now, Doc (M. E. Teague), ain’t that right?’ and ‘Is that right ?’ but Mr. Langston testifies that he did say it.

“It seems to me a matter of some weight, if not of considerable weight, that Mr. Reynolds suggested that the tally-sheets, especially tbat of Mr. Clodfelter, be left on tbe table at tbe counting of tbe votes on tbe nigbt of tbe election, as Mr. Clod-felter testifies tbat be .did; and again, wben it was suggested before tbe canvassing board, in tbé dispute about tbe vote at Eroadbay, tbat tbe tally-sbeets be sent for, Mr. Reynolds said tbey were destroyed, so Mr. Foy testifies, and Mr. Bynum says be thinks Mr. Reynolds said tbey were destroyed. Basing bis contention tbat Mr. Jones received 443 votes upon bis inspection of tbat tally-sbeet, and several of bis party friends also pointing to tbat tally-sbeet as tbe source of their entries on tickets, it is little short of amazing tbat Mr. Reynolds did not see to it tbat tbat tally-sbeet was safely preserved.

“He is also contradicted about drinking liquor tbat nigbt, and about asking some gentlemen to go by bis bouse for Wilkes County corn, and on other minor points which appear in tbe evidence, but which I do not stop to mention.

“It is also very significant tbat, after admitting tbat be took great interest in tbe election, and while contending tbat 443 for Mr. Jones is right because be bad so written it tbat nigbt from Mr. George Clodfelter’s tally-sbeet, as be says, Mr. Reynolds then wrote out defendant’s Exhibit 3, which shows for Mr. Jones 433, written and in figures, and for Mr. Flynt 214, written and in figures, and then another, defendant’s Exhibit 4, which shows for Mr. Jones 443 written and 433 in figures.

“It seems to me tbat these contradictions and this sort of action can only be accounted for on tbe ground tbat-Mr. Reynolds’ memory is treacherous, and on tbe further ground tbat, being anxious for Mr. Jones’ election, under tbe impulse of partisan zeal to run bis vote up, be somehow or other got these figures, 443,* into bis bead, and under tbe force of tbe same zeal now wishes to maintain them.

“A number of witnesses on both sides testify tbat Mr. Reynolds claimed tbat Mr. Rominger knew bow tbe vote was and insisted on bis being examined before tbe board, and yet it is significant tbat Mr. Rominger, after being sworn as a witness for Mr. Jones, was not examined, although be was one of tbe election officers who, Mr. Reynolds claimed, knew all about how tbe vote was and whether Mr. Jones received 443 votes; and it is also noticeable that neither of the judges of election, Mr. Hoover and Mr. Sidney Teague, testified as to what the vote for Mr. Jones was, although both were examined for Mr. Jones.

“These two judges testify that they heard no declaration of the result of the vote when the counting was completed. The statute says, 'The counting of .the votes shall be continued without adjournment until completed and the result thereof declared5; but I have not been able to find any decision defining the meaning and purpose of the words, 'the result thereof declared.’ "Whatever its meaning, I do not think it can mean simply a declaration made by one tally-man to another, as Mr. Clodfelter says he did to Mr. Teague alone, as they added up the tally-sheets, although it may have been overheard by three or four men standing around, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Charlie Teague, Mr. Sides, and Mr. Stewart, as appears from their testimony.

“Andrew Stewart (Ex. 14), Cicero Jones (Ex. 15), S. A. Sides (Ex. 16), and J. E. Reynolds (Ex. 11), all testify that they saw the tally-sheet of Mr. George Clodfelter, as he ran up the vote, and it showed.443 for Mr. Jones, and that they severally took it down on said exhibits. While it seems to me that it would be competent evidence for one present at the counting and figuring by the judges and who saw and heard what they said at the time of the counting and figuring and saw what they actually did, to testify to it, yet it will be observed that the testimony clustering around said exhibits and the entries on the tickets are based on what Mr. Clodfelter, a tally-man, said and did, and, in the absence of the tally-sheet, I am in grave doubt whether such evidence is competent at all, and if competent, its weight is quite another matter, and declarations by bystanders and excited partisans, and entries made by them on tickets under such circumstances, are, I think, entitled to but little weight. W. A. Hege testifies that he got the vote from Mr. Olodfelter’s ticket, 443, and it seems to me that this had less weight than the ones last above mentioned. What J. A. Nicholson testifies he heard George Clodfelter phone, and what Charlie Clodfelter heard him say in the store, is excluded as hearsay. Mr. Cicero Jones testifies that, independent of tbe ticket, be remembers tbe vote was 443 for Jones and 214 for Elynt, but bow be got bis information does not appear.

“Mr. M. E. Teague, tbe other tally-man, and supporter of Mr. Jones, and who must have known what bis own tally-sheet showed, filled out tbe official returns (defendant’s Exhibit 2) sent in to tbe county board of canvassers, signed and certified by election officials, showing for Mr. Jones 433 votes, written and in figures, and for Mr. Elynt 214 votes, written and in figures; and Mr. Reynolds filled out defendant’s Exhibit 3, showing for Mr. Jones 433 votes, written and in figures, and for Mr. Elynt 214 votes, written and in figures; and both of these, Exhibits 2 and 3, were filled out and signed some hours after the entries on the tickets as aforesaid.

“The sworn election officers, when they signed and certified the official return, defendant’s Exhibit 2, notwithstanding some carelessness in signing and certifying too many papers, must have known and seen to it that they were sending up a correct return of the votes cast for Mr. Jones and Mr. Elynt, to the county board of canvassers, at this precinct, Broadbay, which return shows for Mr. Jones 433 votes, written and in figures, and for Mr. Elynt 214 votes, written and in figures.

“After a careful consideration and weighing of ¿11 the evidence, 'that particularly specified and all the other offered by Mr. Jones, I am forced to the conclusion that he has failed, by a preponderance of the evidence,' to overthrow the prima facie case made in favor of Mr. Elynt on said return passed upon by the canvassing board.

“I therefore find as a fact that D. A. Jones, relator of plaintiff, redeived four hundred and thirty-three (433) votes, and that George W. Flynt, defendant, received two hundred and fourteen (214) votes, at Broadbay Precinct.”

The referee sustained the contention of the relator as to Middle Fork Precinct, No. 1.

The judge confirmed the report of the referee, and rendered judgment in behalf of the defendant, and the relator excepted and appealed.

Tbe assignments of error relied on in appellant’s brief are:

(1) Tbat tbe referee beld that the decision of tbe board of canvassers made out a prima facie■ case in favor of tbe defendant, and tbat the> burden of proof was on tbe relator, and tbat be bad not overcome tbe prima facie case by a preponderance of tbe evidence.

(2) Tbat tbe referee beld tbat Exhibit No. 2 was tbe original return, and, when passed on by tbe board of canvassers, made out a prima facie case for tbe defendant.

(3) Tbat tbe referee failed to state wbat tbe facts were as to counting tbe votes and declaring tbe result on tbe night of tbe election.

(4) Tbat tbe referee gave no weight to tbe evidence of certain witnesses, who are named.

(5) Tbat tbe referee beld tbat the evidence of certain witnesses, who are named, was entitled to but little weight.

(6) Tbat tbe referee admitted certain evidence offered by tbe relator, and said be bad grave doubts as to its competency.

(7) Tbat tbe referee said be thought tbe evidence of one witness introduced by tbe relator was entitled to less weight than tbe evidence of another of bis witnesses.

(8) Tbat there was no more evidence to show tbat Exhibit No. 2 was tbe original return than tbat Exhibits Nos. 10, 3, and 4 were such.

,(9) Tbat as there were four returns, and they were not alike, there could be no prima facie case in behalf of tbe defendant.

(10) Tbat tbe referee excluded tbe evidence as to wbat occurred when George Clodfelter phoned to Winston.

(11) Tbat tbe referee found tbat tbe relator received 433 votes in Broadbay Township.

(12) Tbat tbe referee declared tbat tbe defendant bad been elected sheriff.

A. E. Holton, Lindsay'Patterson, W. P. Bynum, and R. G. Struckoich for plaintiff.

C. B. Watson, E. B. Jones, A. II. Eller, and G. II. Hastings for defendant.

Allen, J.,

after stating tbe ease: Tbe controversy between tbe parties is snob tbat a full statement of tbe facts is necessary, and'wben tbis is considered, in connection witb tbe assignments of error, it demonstrates tbat tbe issue in dispute is one of fact, and not of law, and tbat tbis bas been decided against tbe relator by tbe tribunal selected by tbe plaintiff and tbe defendant.

Tbe board of canvassers were acting under a statute (Revisal, sec. 4356) wbicb made it tbeir duty “to judicially determine tbe result of tbe election,” and having found as a fact tbat tbe relator received 433 votes in Broadbay, and tbat tbe defendant was duly elected, tbe referee properly beld tbat tbis made out a prima facie case for tbe defendant. Bynum v. Commissioners, 101 N. C., 412; Gatling v. Boone, 98 N. C., 573; Wallace v. Salisbury, 147 N. C., 58.

In any event, however, tbe burden of proof was on tbe relator, because be commenced tbe action to recover tbe office of sheriff, and be alleges tbat tbe defendant is in possession of tbe office and tbat be, tbe relator, received a majority of tbe votes cast, and having made these allegations, tbe burden was on him to prove them.

Tbe statute (Revisal, sec. 4348) seems to contemplate but one original return, and it was as competent for tbe referee to determine wbicb was tbe original, when four exhibits were in evidence, each of wbicb might be claimed to be tbe original, as it was for him to determine any othey fact, and when identified by tbe finding of tbe referee, tbe original was prima facie correct.

In speaking of an election return, in Roberts v. Calvert, 98 N. C., 585, tbe Court says: “It was not conclusive, but it was official and strong evidence; it appearing to be regular, proved tbe pertinent facts stated in it prima facie. It put tbe burden on him who alleged tbe contrary, to prove it clearly.”

It was not essential to tbe integrity of tbe report for tbe referee to find tbe facts as to what occurred when tbe votes were counted on tbe night of tbe election, as these incidents were merely evidentiary on tbe principal issue of tbe number of votes cast for tbe relator and tbe defendant.

The referee was acting as a jury, with power to find the facts, and it was his duty to weigh the evidence, and to determine on which side it preponderated, and to pass on the credibility of witnesses.

In order to find the ultimate fact as to the number of votes cast it was necessary and proper for him to settle in his own mind whether the evidence in behalf of the relator preponderated; whether the evidence of certain witnesses was entitled to no weight; whether the evidence of other witnesses was entitled to but little weight; whether the evidence of one witness was entitled to less weight than that of another; and the fact that he told what he thought, cannot affect the report, nor is it material that he had grave doubts as to the competency of certain evidence which he admitted and considered.

The evidence as to what occurred when George Clodfelter phoned to Winston was properly excluded. George Clodfelter kept a tally-sheet, and after the votes were counted some one marked the votes for sheriff on a ticket, and he took the ticket to a store to phone the result to Winston. It was so dark in the store that he could not read the figures on the ticket, and he handed it to Luther Snyder, who called out some figures, and Clodfelter phoned to Winston.

Luther Snyder was not a witness and there was no evidence that he called out the figures as they appeared on the ticket, and George Clodfelter testified that he did not remember what the figures were on the ticket, nor the figures called out or phoned by him.

The relator offered to prove the figures called out by Snyder and phoned by Clodfelter, and this was excluded.

The case of Propst v. Mathis, 115 N. C., 526, seems to be directly in point. In that case the plaintiff relied on a will as a part of his title, of date 1853. He offered evidence of the destruction of the records in the clerk’s office of Burke County, in 1865, and then offered to prove that he went to the clerk’s office in 1853, and that the clerk read the will to him from the record, and its contents, and the court held this evidence inadmissible.

Tbe case of Hart v. R. R., 144 N. C., 91, relied on by tbe relator, is clearly distinguishable, because in that case tbe party on whose statements tbe paper in controversy was made up was examined as a witness, and testified that bis statements were correct, and tbe decision rests upon tbe principle that, “Where a witness testifies that be has truly stated to a third person, of bis own knowledge, a fact which be has since forgotten, tbe testimony of such third party as to what tbe statement was is competent.”

Tbe remaining assignments are to tbe finding as to tbe number of votes cast for tbe relator, which we cannot review, and to tbe conclusion that tbe defendant was duly elected, which follows as'a matter of course from tbe facts found.

No error.