0 P. 000 | Idaho | 1922
Lead Opinion
Appellant and respondent were Democratic and Republican candidates respectively for the office of county commissioner of Lemhi county at the election in 1920. On the face of the returns respondent had a majority of twenty-five votes, and was given the certificate of election. Appellant brought this contest on the ground that the said election returns were false, in that through the malconduct of the judges of election certain votes in Depot, Junction and Iron Creek precincts of said county which were east for him were unlawfully counted for respondent, and that such votes were sufficient in number to give him the election.
On the argument in this court counsel for appellant abandoned the contest so far as Iron Creek and Junction precincts are concerned.
- The case was tried before the court without a jury, and the ballot-boxes from said precincts were brought into court,
Judgment was rendered for the contestee, who is respondent here, and the contestant appealed. He assigns errors in part as follows:
1. The court erred in admitting in evidence the statements of the election officers as to the manner of counting the ballots, and for the purpose of bolstering up their returns of election in the Depot precinct, as the ballots themselves were and are the best evidence of the number of votes cast at the said election.
2. The court erred in admitting in evidence, over the objections of the contestant, the returns of election in the Depot precinct for the .purpose of showing that the vote was other than is shown by the ballots themselves in the said precinct, the ballots having been shown to have been safely
3. The court erred in finding that “heavy election bets were depending upon the outcome of this case,” as the evidence does not support such finding.
4. The court erred in finding that “while these ballots of Depot precinct were in the constructive possession of one of the election judges for over four months, the same were not in his actual possession for much of said time, and that while in his custody, they were exposed to the reach of unauthorized persons, and that during said time they were changed and tampered with to an extent that makes them unreliable as evidence and they do not express the intentions of the voters of said Depot precinct; and have no probative force.”
5. The court erred in finding that “the positive testimony of the election officials constitutes the best evidence as to the intentions of the voters of said Depot precinct, and an inspection of the ballots shows that at the time of their examination by the court, they were not in the same condition as when cast by the voters, there being a difference between the count made by the court and the election jtidges respectively of fifty-four votes, and no evidence of fraud on the part of the election officers. It is further found that on the counting of the votes for other candidates other than that for commissioner of the first district, that the votes practically correspond with the returns made by the election judges.”
6. The court erred in finding that “the contestant has failed to prove the specific charges in his complaint.”
7. The court erred in making finding VIII to the effect that the contestee received 1,057 votes and the contestant received 1,032 votes at said election, the said finding being contrary to the evidence and the conclusion that the said contestee was elected was and is erroneous and contrary to law and the evidence in the case.
The appellant also assigns as error the making of the conclusions of law that the returns of the officers at said election
The evidence shows without -dispute that early on the morning following the election the ballot-box containing the ballots cast in Depot precinct was locked and taken by Percy Anderson, one of the counting judges, and John C. Dryer, one of the election judges of said precinct, to the office of said Dryer in Salmon, the county seat of said county; that said ballot-box was left in the front room of said office for a brief time and was then placed in the back room of said office, where it remained until some time after this suit was brought; that there is a back door to the room where said ballot-box was kept, which was usually kept locked; that a curtain hangs over the opening between the front and back rooms of said office building; that the front door of said office building is locked at night but is usually unlocked during the day time and that frequently the proprietor is away for a considerable length of time with no one left in charge.
This action was commenced November 26, 1920, and on February 24, 1921, on motion of appellant, the district judge of said district made an order directing-the sheriff of Lemhi county to take into his custody and safely keep said ballot-box until the next regular term of court, which was to begin March 31, 1921. C. S., sec. 7291, provides for such an order. In obedience to said order the sheriff took said ballot-box from Mr. Dryer and kept it in his custody until it was brought into court.
While it will not be necessary to review at length all of the assignments of error, it will be well to discuss briefly several of them, particularly those that affect the value of ballots as evidence. The testimony of the election officers was properly admitted, not for the purpose of bolstering up the returns of election in Depot precinct, but for the purpose
The finding of the court that heavy election bets were depending on the outcome of this ease is wholly without the support of competent evidence. Nothing appears in the record to support this finding except the testimony of some witnesses that they had heard of bets being made on the contest between the parties to this action, but there is no showing that such bets, even if they were made, have any connection whatever with this action.
So, also, is the finding that the office where the ballot-box was kept was “on the ground floor on the principal street of said city of Salmon” entirely without evidence to support it.
It is the contention of appellant that the ballots cast in Depot precinct came into court in exactly the same condition as they were when they were cast by the voters and counted at the election in said precinct. If this is true, unquestionably such ballots afford the very best evidence that can be had as to how the voters of that precinct voted. While the evidence does not show that the ballot-box of said precinct received the greatest possible care from the day. after the election until it was turned over to the sheriff, we are inclined to the view that the care shown may be considered a reasonable and substantial compliance with the law governing this matter. Though the situation in and about Mr. Dryer’s office was such that persons so disposed might have opened this box, there is no direct testimony that it was opened; that anybody ever attempted to open it, or even that any person other than Mr. Dryer was ever in the office from the time that the ballot-box was placed there until it
It has been held that in order to destroy the value of ballots as evidence something more must be shown than that there is a possibility that they might have been altered. (Tebbe v. Smith, 108 Cal. 101, 49 Am. St. 68, 41 Pac. 454, 29 L. R. A. 673; Averyt v. Williams, 8 Ariz. 355, 76 Pac. 463; Wheeler v. Lawrence, 78 Kan. 878, 99 Pac. 228; Hudson v. Solomon, 19 Kan. 177.)
“So much depends upon the terms of the particular statute to be construed, that it is impossible to lay down a general rule applicable to all cases; but the better opinion seems to be that if the deviation from the statutory requirements relative to the manner of preserving the ballots has been such -as necessarily to expose them to the public or unauthorized persons, the court should exclude them; but if the deviations have been slight, or of such a character as not necessarily to render doubtful the identity of the ballots, the question of their identity may well go to the jury to be determined upon all the evidence.” (McCrary on Elections, 4th ed., sec. 473, p. 347.)
“Although the general rule is that the ballots themselves are the best evidence of the number of votes cast, and for
There is no direct evidence in the recoid tending to show that any alteration whatever was made in these ballots from the time they were placed in the box at the election to the time when the box was opened in court. There is evidence, however, which, if true, would lead to the conclusion that the ballot-box had been opened in some unauthorized manner and some of the ballots changed during that time, and it must be upon this evidence mainly that the court based the finding that the ballots, when opened in court, were not in the same condition as when east by the voters.
Percy Anderson, one of the counting judges, testified that when the ballots were counted by him and the other counting judges there were at least twenty-five ballots marked with a cross at the head of the Republican ticket, a cross after the name of appellant Viel, and the name of respondent Sum mers not stricken out.
This statement is not specifically corroborated by the other counting judges, neither is it disputed. Mrs. Cecil Mulkey, one of the counting judges, in answer to the question as to whether there were “quite a number of such ballots,” answered, “Yes, I would say a number.” Only two of such ballots are found in the exhibits certified to this court.
The testimony of witness Anderson is not of a character to seriously impeach the veracity of the ballots. Upon direct examination he testified that at least twenty-five ballots were marked with a cross at the head of the Republican ticket, and a cross put opposite the name of Viel, with the name of Summers scratched out. Upon cross-examination he testified that there were at least twenty-five ballots marked with a cross in the circle at the head of the Republican ticket, and also
The ballots of this precinct have been certified to this court as an exhibit. An inspection of them discloses that there were fifty or more so-called mixed ballots on which a cross was placed after the name of Viel, the name of Summers not being scratched, but which were not marked in the circle at the head of the Republican ticket. These ballots may have attracted Mr. Anderson’s attention. Of the ballots certified to this court, only fifty-six are marked with a cross in the circle at the head of the Republican ticket. Of these, thirty-two were straight Republican ballots marked with a cross in the circle at the head of the ticket. There is not a single erasure. In order for the testimony of Mr. Anderson to be true, it would have been necessary for someone to have opened the ballot-box, abstracted a number of the ballots and substituted others in their place. It would have been neees*sary to obtain the official stamp and other official ballots, and re-mark the substituted ballots. The ballots certified to this court have been carefully examined. They do not show the slightest evidence of having been tampered with. They bear on their face the evidence of their integrity. While it is possible that the change could have been made, the evidence in this ease is not sufficient to sustain the trial court in finding that during the time the ballots were in the possession of one of the election judges they were changed and tampered with and made unreliable as evidence.
We think the ballots are unquestionably the best evidence in this case. So accepting them, the judgment must be reversed, with directions to enter judgment in favor of appellant. Costs awarded to appellant.
Dissenting Opinion
Dissenting. — I dissent. I would not, however, burden the record with even a brief opinion in this case were it not for the fact that it seems to me the majority opinion plainly and without apparent reason violates a fundamental and well-established principle governing the decision of cases in this court, that is, if we have reached the point where we can say that a principle expressly enunciated no less than forty times has become well established.
In his complaint the contestant charges that the judges of election in Depot precinct by maleonduet wrongfully and unlawfully counted for the contestee at least twenty votes that were cast for the contestant by marking the Republican ticket with a cross in the circle at the top and a cross after the contestant’s name, the name of the contestee not having been stricken out, and that said judges by maleonduet wrongfully and unlawfully counted for the contestee at least twenty votes that were east for the contestant by simply marlring a cross after the contestant’s name. If the trial judge had held the contestant to the general rule that the ballot-box of a precinct should not be opened until there had first been offered some evidence tending to substantiate the charges of the complaint, the contestant would not have been able to put in evidence the ballots of Depot precinct, for in the entire record there is not a word of evidence to sustain these sweeping charges of corruption on the part of the election officers. Not only is evidence wholly lacking to sustain these charges, but the judges who counted the ballots of that precinct, Mrs. Cecil Mulkey, Mrs. Clover Edwards and Percy Anderson, testified minutely as to the method of counting the ballots, and that no votes cast for the contestant were counted for the contestee. Besides this, the record conclusively shows that all such ballots in said precinct as the Contestant alleged in his complaint to have been counted for the contestee were counted for the contestant.
The majority opinion states that Anderson upon direct examination testified that at least twenty-five ballots were
“Q. I show you a ballot marked 197, being a ballot wherein a cross was placed in a circle at the top of the Republican ticket, and a cross was placed after the name of the contestant, Fred L. Yiel, I believe you stated in answer to a question asked by Mr. Whitcomb, that there were at least twenty-five of such ballots cast?
“A. At least twenty-five.
“Q. How do you fix that number?
“A. By memory, and mentioning it; the question was fresh in my mind on account of the discussion the next day as to the legality of counting them. It was a matter that was discussed, not in connection Avith the commissioner of the first district but in a general way with the judges that the intent of the voter was shown and if we had insisted that the name would be stricken out at least there would be a small tally sheet included in the returns of the entire vote.
“Q. Well, will you say that condition existed with reference to.this particular office or that there were at least twenty-five ballots with which this happened with reference to some candidates?
*195 “A. I am speaking in the case of Fred L. Yiel and Summers. ’ ’
This shows conclusively that Judge Quarles understood all of this testimony of Anderson to refer to ballots on which the name of Summers had not been stricken out.
Only two of the ballots marked with a cross at the head of the Republican ticket and a cross after Yiel’s name, without the name of Summers scratched out, were found by the court on an examination of the ballots. If Anderson’s sworn statement is true, there must have been some change made in the ballots after they were locked up in the ballot-box. The majority opinion admits that such a change was possible and points out the manner in which it may have' been made, but holds that it was not made, notwithstanding the testimony of Anderson, because “The ballots certified to this court have been carefully examined. They do not show the slightest evidence of having been tampered with. They bear on their face the evidence of their integrity. While it is possible that the change could have been made, the evidence in this case is not sufficient to sustain the trial court in finding” that such change was made
The law as laid down by this court is that when the evidence is conflicting and there is substantial evidence to support the findings of a trial judge, such findings will be sustained by this court. Let us see what the reasoning of the majority would lead to if the fraud charged in this case were committed in the manner by the majority admitted to be possible, that is, by substitution. If enough of the genuine ballots had been taken out and other ballots, properly marked to give the contestant the number of votes required, substituted, would this court expect to find on the face of such substituted ballots evidence of the fraud? Would they not naturally expect that such substitution would be done in a way to make it impossible to detect it from the ballots themselves? If the perpetrators of the fraud were thus successful in making a substitution which could not be detected from the ballots themselves, then, if I understand the reason
If the undisputed sworn statement of Anderson is to be set aside by this court because the ballots show on their face no evidence that they are not genuine the question naturally arises: What kind of evidence and how much of it would it require to uphold such a finding as the trial court made? Must somebody have seen the change made? And if a witness claimed to have seen it made, and the ballots did not show' on their face any evidence of alteration, would this court uphold the finding of the trial court based upon such testimony? If it is sufficient that “They bear on their face the evidence of their integrity,” what evidence could be offered that would be sufficient to defeat the ballots? Persons who perpetrate election frauds do not do so in the public streets under an are-light; neither do they do so ordinarily in the presence of persons who are not parties to the crime. If the rule in this state is to be that the ballots are conclusive unless they bear on their face the evidence of the fraud, it may prove easier than some people have thought to carry an election.
The following excerpts fairly indicate the position taken by this court and maintained up to this time:
“The whole controversy on this appeal centers around this one finding, and if there is any evidence in the record at all to support it, the judgment ought to be affirmed, as the rule — so firmly established by a long line of judicial opinions in this jurisdiction as to require no citation of authorities to support it — is to the effect that the appellate court will not disturb the judgment of a trial court, because of conflict in the evidence, where there is sufficient proof, if uncontradicted, to sustain it.” (Jensen v. Bumgarner, 28 Ida. 706, 156 Pac. 114.)
*197 “Appellants question the sufficiency of the evidence to sustain the findings. An examination of the record discloses that while there is conflict in the testimony,' the case is well within the rule that findings of fact, made by a trial judge who has had the benefit of observing the demeanor of witnesses upon the stand and of listening to their testimony, will not be disturbed because of conflict if the evidence in support thereof, if uncontradieted, would be sufficient to sustain it.” (Independence Placer Mining Co., Ltd., v. Knauss, 32 Ida. 269, 181 Pac. 701.)
“The rule that this court will refuse to disturb the findings of the trial court where there is a substantial conflict in the evidence does not apply, because in such case the trial judge, not having observed the witnesses, is in no better position than this court to pass' upon the weight and credibility of the testimony.” (Jackson v. Cowan, 33 Ida. 525, 196 Pac. 216.) (All the testimony in this case was taken before a referee and the transcript submitted to the trial judge.)
I am unable to see how it can be successfully contended that in this case there is no substantial conflict in the evidence; or that the testimony of Anderson, if uncontradieted, would not support the finding of the trial court. I am comforted by the belief that even now the majority, though in this instance violating the rule, do not intend to change it. I think the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed.
Rehearing
ON REHEARING.
A petition for rehearing has been granted in this ease, the canse has been reargued and resubmitted, and we have again examined the record and briefs of counsel. The controlling question in this ease is whether the elec
The law is well established that where ballots have been preserved in accordance with the statutory requirements, so that they have in no way been tampered with, they are the primary and controlling evidence of the number of votes cast for the respective candidates, and are sufficient in themselves, without further evidence, to contradict and overthrow the returns. (Newhouse v. Alexander, 27 Okl. 46, Ann. Cas. 1912B, 674, 110 Pac. 1121, 30 L. R. A., N. S., 602, and note.)
It may also be laid down as a general rule, supported by the great weight of authority, that statutory provisions relating to keeping the ballots after an election will be deemed directory only, and not mandatory, and that therefore mere irregularities by the election officers in the performance of their duties in preserving the ballots, or omissions on their part strictly to obey the'statutory requirements, will not be allowed to result in the rejection of the ballots. (Averyt v. Williams, 8 Ariz. 355, 76 Pac. 463.) In 10 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law, 2d ed., p. 830, it is said: “When it is made to appear that the statutory provisions have not been complied with, this fact alone does not render the ballots inadmissible, but merely throws upon the person who asks the recount, the burden of proof to show that they have not been tampered with.”
There are many cases which hold that if as a result of the ballots not being kept as required by statute, they are exposed so as to furnish a reasonable opportunity to be tampered with, they cannot be permitted to decide the result of an election.” (30 L. R. A., N. S., note, at p. 606.)
The evidence shows, without dispute, that on the morning following the election, the two ballot-boxes, furnished as required by C. S., secs. 571 and 629, one containing the bal
C. S., see. 626, provides that: “After the canvass of the votes the judges of election must inclose and seal one of the poll lists; also all stubs and unused ticket books, electors’ oaths, defaced or mutilated ballots, and the election stamp, under cover, directed to the clerk of the board of county commissioners of the county in which such election was held. The packages thus sealed must be delivered direct to the said clerk personally, or transmitted by special messenger without expense to the county, or deposited in the nearest postoffice, by one of the judges to be chosen by lot, and the postage thereon and the fees for registering the same must be fully prepaid, and said package must be duly registered and'receipt therefor taken. The second poll list and ballots must be kept with the seal unbroken for at least eight months, unless the same is required as evidence in a court' of law in any ease arising under the election laws of this state, and then only when the judge having said ballot-box in charge is served with a subpoena requiring him to produce the same in court as evidence in any such before mentioned case, when the same may be opened under the direction of the court. ’ ’
Conceding that the foregoing statutory provisions are directory rather than mandatory, there was a flagrant disregard of • the statute by the election judges in that both ballot-boxes were taken to Dryer’s office, where unused ballots and the official rubber stamp were accessible and by
The trial court found that the ballots of Depot precinct “were in the .constructive possession of one of the election judges for over four months, .... and that while in his custody, they were exposed to the reach of Unauthorized persons, and that during said time they were changed and tampered with to an extent that makes them unreliable as evidence, and they do not express the intentions of the voters of said Depot precinct; and have no probative force.” The court also found that “the positive testimony of the election officials constitutes the best evidence as to the intentions of the voters of said Depot precinct, and an inspection of the ballots shows that at the time of their examination by the court, they were not in the same condition as when east by the voters, there being a difference between the count made by the court and the election judges respectively of fifty-four votes, and no evidence of fraud on the part of the election officers. It is further found that on the counting of the votes for other candidates other than that for commissioner of the first district, that the votes practically correspond with the returns made by the election judges. ’ ’
If there is evidence to support this finding, the judgment of the trial court should not be disturbed. In the original majority opinion it is held that: “ .... the ballots are the best evidence, and that the evidence is not sufficient to sustain the finding of the trial court to the effect that during the time the ballots were in the constructive possession of one of the election judges they were changed and tampered with to an extent that makes them unreliable as evidence, and that they do not express the intention of the voters of said precinct and have no probative force.”
It is not denied that the padlocks with which the ballot-boxes were locked were flimsy, nor that the slits in the boxes were considerably larger than provided by law, nor that
It appears from the evidence that the office was on the ground floor and on one of the principal streets of Salmon City. Witness Anderson testified in this connection as follows:
“Q. Have”you had any talk with Mr. Dryer since this ease commenced, with reference to keeping this box?
‘' A. Discussed about it the last day or two.
“Q. Who was present and where was it?
“A. On the street, just he and I talking.
“Q. Who was present, anybody?
“A. John Dryer and myself.
“Q. You said on the street, whereabouts on the street?
“A. At the office, the office was open.” ‘
This evidence was sufficient to warrant the court in finding that Dryer’s office was on the street and on the ground floor, especially in view of the fact that the trial judge must have had ordinary information as to the location of the office. However, appellant does not assign this particular finding as error, and it should therefore be upheld.
Neither is it apparent that these boxes were not exposed to view. Mr. Dryer testified that he kept the boxes in his back office until the sheriff called for them. There is no greater reason for assuming that they were covered than that they were uncovered. The burden was upon the contestant to show in the first instance that the boxes were safely guarded. This he failed to do, but, upon the contrary, the evidence shows that they were not.
When the boxes were taken to Mr. Dryer’s office, the keys were given to Arbogast, one of the voting judges, who testified as follows:
“Q. I will ask you what was done with the ballots when the count was completed? '
“A. They were threaded and put in one of those ballot-boxes here.
“Q. What was put in the other box?
*203 “A. What was what?
“Q. What was put in the other box?
“A. Well, I think one held all of the credentials belonging to the election, probably all. I don’t know whether— I don’t remember just exactly whether all the stuff — there was some surplus’ left, tickets that were not used and I think they were probably put in the other box.”
Upon opening the ballot-box it was found that the ballots were not strung on a string, and if the testimony of this witness is to be believed, then there Was a tampering with the ballots.
Percy Anderson, one of the counting judges, testified that at least twenty-five ballots were marked with a cross at the head of the Republican party ticket, “and a cross after the name of Yiel, and the name of Summers scratched out. ’ ’ The record shows he subsequently testified that there were about twenty-five such ballots, “the name of Summers not being crossed or scratched out.” From an examination of the entire testimony given by this witness it is apparent that the word “not” was omitted by the official reporter, and the trial judge certifies that if his attention had been called thereto he would have caused the word “not” to be inserted, thereby making the record speak the truth.
Mrs. Cecil Mulkey, one of the counting judges, in answer to a question as to whether there were quite a number of ballots marked with a cross at the head of the Republican ticket, a cross after the name of Yiel, and the name of Summers not stricken out, answered: “Yes, I would say a number. ’ ’
Upon opening the ballot-box, only two such ballots were found.
The rule is well established in this jurisdiction that where conflicting evidence is submitted to a trial court, sitting without a jury, either as a court of law or as a court of equity, the findings of the court on questions of fact will not be disturbed, where there is some competent evidence to support them. (Wolf v. Eagleson, 29 Ida. 177, 157 Pac.
In view of the evidence to which reference has been made, it is hardly reasonable to hold that there is no substantial evidence to support the findings of the court. If this evidence is worthy of any consideration whatever, and we think it is, it creates a conflict, with respect to which the fiudiug of the trial court is conclusive under numerous decisions of this court.
Nor is it probable that all of those present at the holding of the election would fail to detect a mistake of fifty-four votes between these contestants. ' It was the special business of the election officials to properly count and keep tally of the votes cast. That such a mistáke was made would seem highly improbable in view of the fact that very little discrepancy was shown between the returns and ballots east for other candidates, and that not one of the officials present contradicted the returns made to the clerk of the board of county commissioners.
In Tebbe v. Smith, 108 Cal. 101, 49 Am. St. 68, 41 Pac. 454, 29 L. R. A. 673, it is held that the verity of ballots can be discredited by showing actual tampering therewith, “or that they have been exposed under such circumstances that a violation of them might have taken place. When all-
In Hannah v. Green, 143 Cal. 19, 22, 76 Pac. 708, Mr. Justice McFarland, speaking for the court, uses the following language: “The question whether ballots have been sufficiently taken care of so as to preclude any reasonable suspicion that they are not in their original condition is a question which is largely within the judgment and discretion of the trial court, and its determination of that question should not be disturbed here, if the evidence fairly warrants the conclusion which the court reached on that subject.”
In Chatham, v. Mansfield, 1 Cal. App. 298, 82 Pac. 343, the court said: “Whenever circumstances appear that it iá apparent that opportunities existed for evil minded persons to have examined the ballots, and changed them, their integrity is impeached.”
While in the leading case of People v. Livingston, 79 N. Y. 279, the court observed: “They [the returns] may be impeached for fraud or mistake, but in attempting to remedy one evil we should be cautious not to open the door to another and far greater evil. After the election it is known just how many votes are required to change the result. The ballots themselves cannot be identified. They have no earmark. Everything depends upon keeping the ballot-boxes secure.....Every consideration of public policy, as well as the ordinary rules of evidence should establish the fact that the ballots are genuine. It is not sufficient that a mere possibility of security is proved, but the fact must be shown with reasonable certainty. If the boxes have been rigorously preserved, the ballots are the best and highest • evidence; but, if not, they are not only the weakest, but the most dangerous, evidence.....”
The contents of both ballot-boxes were examined by the trial court, with the consent of counsel. Only one of these boxes was forwarded to this court. What the other contained we do not know, other than that it contained stubs
The cause is, therefore, remanded for a new trial. No costs awarded.
Concurrence Opinion
Concurring. — I still adhere to the views expressed in my dissent to the original opinion and think the judgment of the trial court should be affirmed, but I concur in ordering a new trial as the best result that can be obtained.