USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > Town of Franklin annual report 1893 > Part 5
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Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, on or before the hour of said meeting.
Given under our hands at said Franklin this twenty-fourth day of February, A. D. 1892.
GEORGE W. WIGGIN, EDGAR K. RAY, Selectmen of Franklin.
NORFOLK, SS.
FEBRUARY 27. A. D. 1892.
By virtue of the within warrant I have notified the inhabitants of the Town of Franklin herein described to assemble in their Town Hall on Monday, the seventh day of March, A. D. 1892, at eight o'clock in the forenoon, for the purpose within mentioned, by posting attested copies of the within warrant in each of the post-offices of the town, and in ten other public places, seven days before the day of meeting, in compliance with Section two of Article one of the By-Laws of Franklin.
LEWIS R. WHITAKER, Constable of the Town of Franklin.
A true record of the warrant and officer's return thereon.
Attest : HENRY E. RUGGLES, Town Clerk.
Proceedings of Annual Town Meeting, MARCH 7, 1892.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant the legal voters of the Town of Franklin met in their Town Hall on the seventh day of March, A. D. 1892, at eight o'clock in the forenoon, and proceeded as follows :
The meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk, who read the warrant and the officer's return thereon. Prayer was then offered by Rev. D. M. Hodge.
The meeting then made choice by ballot. the check-list being used, of William F. Ray for Moderator, and he was duly sworn by the Town Clerk.
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Voted, that Articles 2 and 3 be acted upon at the same time.
Voted, that a committee of fifteen be chosen to take into consideration all the articles of the warrant except Nos. 1, 2 and 3.
The meeting made choice of the following persons as that committee : H. E. Ruggles. George W. Wiggin, E. H. Sherman, L. J. Kelley, Wm. G. Cody, George E. Emerson, Walter M. Fisher, Matthew F. Conroy, W. H. Bright, E. K. Ray, H. M. Stowers, J. T. Hutchinson, B. M. Rockwood, C. R. Russell, Chas. Stewart.
Voted that when this meeting adjourns it adjourn to Saturday evening, March 19, 1892, at 7 o'clock P. M., at Morse Opera House.
James W. Desmond and Bradley M. Rockwood having been duly appointed Ballot Clerks by the Selectmen, they were duly sworn by the Town Clerk.
In accordance with the law, the Town Clerk had caused to be set up twelve booths for the use of the voters in marking their ballots, and had erected a guard-rail six feet or more from said booths.
The Town Clerk delivered to the Ballot Clerks a dupli- cate check-list and a package containing the official ballots to be used, cards of instruction and specimen ballots, and re- ceived from them the following receipt, viz :
FRANKLIN, MASS., March 7, 1892.
Received of Henry E. Ruggles, Town Clerk, of Franklin, Mass., a package said to contain thirteen hundred and fifty (1350) official ballots, together with specimen ballots and cards of instruction.
JAMES W. DESMOND, BRADLEY M. ROCKWOOD, Ballot Clerks.
The cards of instruction and specimen ballots were posted within the polling booths and outside the guard-rail, according to law. The ballot box to be used at the election was then opened in the public meeting and shown to the public to be empty, and was examined by the Moderator and Town Clerk and found to be empty.
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The register of said ballot box was then set at 000; said ballot box was then locked and the key thereof given to police officer J. T. Hutchinson.
Voting commenced at 8.15 o'clock A. M.
The Moderator appointed as tellers to assist in counting the ballots Henry H. Gallison, John A. Waterman, Wesley W. Haslam, Wilton A. Pond, Bradley M. Rockwood.
The ballot box and check-list were in charge of the Mod- erator and Town Clerk, who had charge of the election.
In voting the check-list was used.
Due notice having been given, the polls were at 2 o'clock in the afternoon declared closed. At the close of the polls the register stood at 614.
The names of those on the check-list which had been checked were then audibly counted and found to be 616.
The Moderator, Town Clerk and tellers then proceeded to canvass the votes given in.
The whole number was six hundred and fifteen (615), which was counted, recorded and declaration thereof made in open town meeting, as follows, viz :
For Selectmen :
James O. Chilson had three hundred and twenty-eight votes-328.
Matthew F. Conroy had two hundred and sixty-two votes -262.
Jesse B. Hopkins had three hundred and forty-one votes- 341.
Edwin A. Mason had three hundred and fifty-one votes- 351.
Edgar K. Ray had three hundred and ninety-three votes -393.
Jesse B. Hopkins, Edwin A. Mason and Edgar K. Ray were declared elected.
For Town Clerk :
Henry R. Jenks had two hundred and ninety-four votes -294.
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Henry E. Ruggles had three hundred and nine votes- 309.
Henry E. Ruggles was declared elected and was sworn by H. H. Gallison, Justice of the Peace. (See certificate) .
For Treasurer :
Henry R. Jenks had five hundred and six votes-506. And was declared elected.
Assessors :
Joseph W. Heaton had three hundred and seventy-five votes-375.
Lawrence J. Kelley had two hundred and thirty-five votes -235.
William E. Nason had three hundred and eighty-four votes-384.
Eugene N. Thain had three hundred and seven votes- 307.
Jason Tower had three hundred and twenty-nine votes- 329.
Joseph W. Heaton, William E. Nason and Jason Tower were declared elected.
Overseers of the Poor :
C. Milton Allen had four hundred and seventy-four votes -474.
Warren H. Bright had three hundred and ninety-four votes-394.
William G. Cody had two hundred and twenty-eight votes-228.
George E. Emerson had four hundred and eighty-five votes-485.
C. Milton Allen, Warren H. Bright and George E. Emer- son were declared elected.
Auditor :
James W. Desmond had two hundred and twenty-six votes-226.
Nelson E. Newell had three hundred and fifty-six votes- 356.
Nelson E. Newell was declared elected.
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Collector of Taxes :
Jerome B. Fitzpatrick had two hundred and twenty-three votes-223.
William Rockwood had three hundred and sixty-six votes -366.
William Rockwood was declared elected.
School Committee for three years :
Edward C. Abbott had four hundred and forty-four votes -444.
John W. Bradley had two hundred and thirty votes-230.
Rebecca M. Farnum had three hundred and forty-five votes-345.
Edward C. Abbott and Rebecca M. Farnum were declared elected.
Board of Health :
Walter M. Fisher had four hundred and forty-four votes -- 444.
George King had three hundred and forty votes-340.
Gregory A. Martin had three hundred and fifty-four votes -354.
William E. Nason had three hundred and seventy-two votes-372.
Walter M. Fisher, Gregory A. Martin and William E. Nason were declared elected.
Constables :
Anthony Connor had four hundred votes-400.
William E. Nason had three hundred and ninety-two votes-392.
Silas W. Nickerson had two hundred and seventy-seven votes-277.
Lewis R. Whitaker had four hundred and fifty-six votes -456.
Anthony Connor, William E. Nason and Lewis R. Whit- aker were declared elected.
On the question, Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?
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The whole number of votes was five hundred and sixty- 560.
"Yes" had two hundred and eleven-211.
"No" had three hundred and forty-nine-349.
The votes cast and the check-list used by the election offi- cers were then sealed up in different bags, endorsed by the Moderator, Town Clerk and Tellers, and delivered into the custody of the Town Clerk, in accordance with the law in such case made and provided.
Voted, at 7 o'clock P. M., to adjourn.
A true copy. Attest :
HENRY E. RUGGLES, Town Clerk.
RECOUNT OF VOTES CAST FOR TOWN CLERK ON MARCH 9, 1892.
On the ninth day of March, A. D. 1892, the Town Clerk received a petition signed by twelve qualified voters of the Town of Franklin. The petition is as follows, viz :
FRANKLIN, MASS., March , 1892. To the Clerk of the Town of Franklin, Mass. :
The undersigned, qualified voters of the Town of Franklin, Mass., respectfully represent that they have reason to believe that the returns of the election officers of this town for Town Clerk, made at a town meeting held on Monday, the seventh day of March, in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-two (1892), were erroneous in this : that the said election officers improperly counted certain ballots at said election for Henry E. Ruggles, and failed to count, also, properly, certain other ballots for Henry R. Jenks for Town Clerk; and further, because said election officers failed to add up correctly the votes cast for Town Clerk at said election; and we further respectfully ask that the ballots cast for Town Treasurer at said election also be recounted, believing that an error may have been made in classifying the votes for Henry R. Jenks as Town Treasurer with those of Henry R. Jenks
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as Town Clerk, and so confounding the one with the other, which might affect the vote for him as Town Clerk. We therefore ask for a recount of his votes for both these offices.
E. H. SHERMAN, C. F. MORSE, JR., E. A. YOUNG, THOMAS NEELON, W. F. MORSE,
WM. A. STANLEY,
J. M. DOW, C. W. STEWART, JAMES W. DESMOND,
W. C. SHERMAN,
E. N. THAIN, E. S. MESSINGER.
The foregoing petition was presented to the Moderator of said meeting, who appointed as the time for the recount of votes asked for March 9, A. D. 1892, at 7.30 o'clock P. M., at the office of the Selectmen.
At the appointed time the Moderator and Town Clerk met for the purpose of recounting the votes. Henry H. Gal- lison was appointed teller and sworn by the Moderator. Geo. W. Wiggin as attorney for Henry R. Jenks, Henry E. Ruggles pro se.
The ballots cast were recounted, and it was ascertained that the whole number of ballots cast for Town Clerk were six hundred and four (604).
Henry R. Jenks had two hundred and ninety-four (294), same as official count.
Henry E. Ruggles had three hundred and ten votes (310), a gain of one.
Whereupon the ballots were replaced in the bag from which they had been taken, the bag again sealed and endorsed, according to the law in such cases made and provided.
A true copy.
Attest : HENRY E. RUGGLES, Town Clerk.
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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
FRANKLIN, March 8, 1892.
I hereby certify that Henry E. Ruggles this day appeared before me and I administered the oath of office to him as Town Clerk of Franklin.
HENRY H. GALLISON, Justice of the Peace.
A true copy of certificate.
Attest : HENRY E. RUGGLES, Town Clerk.
PROCEEDINGS OF ADJOURNED ANNUAL TOWN MEETING. MARCH 19, 1892.
Voters met pursuant to adjournment at 7.15 o'clock P. M.
The meeting was called to order by William F. Ray, Moderator.
ARTICLE 4. The meeting then proceeded to make choice of the following town officers not already chosen :
FENCE VIEWERS.
Herbert M. Stowers, Rodolpho M. Handy, Samuel C. Bourne.
POUND-KEEPER.
Rodolpho M. Handy.
REPORT OF COMMITTEE OF FIFTEEN.
Report of Committee of Fifteen was read by George W. Wiggin, Chairman.
Voted, that the same be accepted.
Voted, that the section of the report be acted upon at the same time as the article of the warrant to which it referred.
TAX COLLECTOR.
ARTICLE 5. Report and recommendation of committee "That the compensation of the Tax Collector be one per cent. on the amount collected, and that the Collector have the same power and authority that the Treasurer has when appointed Collector."
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Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted.
REPORT OF TOWN OFFICERS.
ART. 6. Report and recommendation of committee "That the report of the town officers as printed in the annual report be accepted."
Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted.
POUND.
ARTICLE 7. Report and recommendation of committee "That the yard at the Almshouse be the Pound for the present year."
Voted, that the report and recommendation be adopted. JURORS.
ARTICLE 8. Report and recommendation of committee "To leave to the town meeting the list of names of persons to be placed in the jury box the current year."
Voted, That the list of jurors as posted by the Selectmen be placed in the jury box for the current year, except those that were excused by the meeting.
The following is the list of names as accepted by the town :
LIST OF JURORS.
Adams, Asa W.
Hill, Albert M.
Badger, Charles
Hosie, George S.
Bullock, Hubbard M.
Hubbard, Sabin
Butman, Charles M.
Howe, William H.
Bourne, Samuel C.
Johnson, Charles E.
Burr, John M.
King, William E.
Capron, Sanford T.
Lazelle, Caleb G.
Cleary, Michael
Lesure, John F.
Clark, Alfred
Leslie, Alvah H.
Chapman, Elisha P.
McCarthy, Michael
Crowninshield, Wm. E.
Mann, Alden T.
Daniels, Lucius W.
Metcalf, Alfred G.
Desmond, James W.
Nason, William E.
Daniels, Thomas J.
Nye, Nathan C.
Darling, Mayo C.
Perkins, George S.
Dorr, George B.
Partridge, George I.
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Clark, William S.
Rockwood, Edmund J.
Corbin, Daniel O.
Rockwood, John,
Ellis, Granville H.
Rockwood, William
Fales, Charles L.
Reed, Samuel Y.
Fitzpatrick, Jerome B.
Reilly, James O.
Fisher, Eugene G. Frost, Samuel H.
Russell, Christopher H. Richardson, Fremont M.
Guild, Joseph G.
Stevens, Roswell K.
Greenwood, Alonzo S.
Shaw, James H.
Gatchell, George H.
Stockbridge, Columbus A.
Haggerty, Alexander M.
Spence, Thomas
Hutchinson, Joseph T.
Stewart, Robert A.
Sommers, Rudolph,
Turner, Thaddeus M.
Trentham, William D.
Waterman, John A.
Thain, Eugene N.
Woodward, Amos P.
Tower, Jason
Whiting, Joseph M.
BORROWING MONEY.
ARTICLE 9. Report and recommendation of committee "That the Treasurer, under the direction of the Selectmen, be authorized to borrow money in anticipation of taxes for the current year."
Voted, That the report and recommendation of committee be adopted.
SUPPRESSION OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
ARTICLE 10. Report and recommendation of committee "That the Selectmen be instructed to suppress the illegal sale of intoxicating liquors."
Voted, that the report and recommendation of committee be adopted.
APPROPRIATIONS.
ARTICLE 11. Report and recommendation of committee "That the sum of eight thousand dollars ($8,000) be appro- priated for the repairs of roads, bridges and sidewalks, and that the appropriation be expended under the direction of the Selectmen ; and that of this sum, a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) be applied to Cross street ; and that a
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sum not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500) be applied to Hutchinson and Howard streets, jointly.
Moved to amend by inserting after the word "jointly," in eighth line, the following : A sum not exceeding $500 to be applied to King street, from junction of Summer and King streets to residence of Alfred Metcalf; a sum not exceeding $400 to be applied to Winter street ; a sum not exceeding $300 to be applied to Crescent street, and a sum not exceed- ing $1,000 to be applied to Washington street ; which several amendments were decided in the negative.
Voted, to amend report of committee by striking out all after the word "Selectmen," in the fifth line, so that it would read : "That the sum of eight thousand dollars ($8,000) be appropriated for the repairs of roads, bridges and sidewalks, and that the appropriation be expended under the direction of the Selectmen."
Voted, that report of committee as amended be adopted.
The following sums of money were raised and appro- priated for the following-named purposes, either by accepting the report of the committee or amending the same, viz :
Support of Schools, eleven thousand and five hun- dred dollars,
$11,500 00
Repairs of School Houses, six hundred dollars, 600 00
School Books and School Supplies, seven hundred and fifty dollars,
750 00
Miscellaneous School Expenses,
500 00
Support of Poor, four thousand and five hundred dollars,
4500 00
Fire Department, two thousand and four hundred dollars,
2400 00
Town Officers, one thousand . and two hundred 'dollars,
1200 00
Town Debt, two thousand and two hundred dollars,
2200 00
Street Lights, three thousand and three hundred dollars,
3300 00
Printing, three hundred and fifty dollars, 350 00
State and Military Aid, eight hundred dollars, 800 00
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700 00
Franklin Library Association, seven hundred dollars Decoration of Soldiers' Graves, one hundred dollars 100 00 Miscellaneous Town Expenses, eight hundred dollars, 800 00
Water Supply, three thousand and seven hundred dollars, 3700 00
Payment of Interest, eighteen hundred and fifty dollars, 1850 00
ABATEMENT AND COLLECTION OF TAXES.
Report of committee "That one thousand dollars ($1000) be appropriated for the collection and abatement of taxes ; and the committee further recommends that Assessors be required to publish in the annual Town Report a list of persons for whom and the amount for which said taxes are abated and the reason of said abatements."
Voted, that the report and recommendation of committee be adopted.
SUPPORT OF LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND SUPPORT OF POLICE FORCE.
Report and recommendation of committee "that fifteen hundred dollars ($1500) be appropriated for suppression of illegal liquor traffic and support of police force."
Voted, that the report and recommendation of committee be adopted, vote standing : "Yea," 176 ; "nay," 77.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS. |
ARTICLE 12. Voted, that the town require the School Committee to employ a Superintendent of Schools.
Report and recommendation of committee "That the town appropriate the sum of fifteen hundred dollars ($1500) for the employment of a School Superintendent, at a salary not to exceed $1500."
Voted, that the report and recommendation of committee be adopted.
CONCRETE SIDEWALKS.
ARTICLE 13. Report and recommendation of committee "That the town appropriate one thousand dollars ($1000) for
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the construction of concrete sidewalks, and that the sum be spent for this purpose, in whole or in part, as abuttors may contribute a like amount."
Voted, that the report and recommendation of committee be adopted.
TOWN HALL FENCE.
ARTICLE 14. Committee make no recommendation.
Voted, that this article be laid on the table.
HEATING ALMSHOUSE.
ARTICLE 15. Report and recommendation of committee "that the town appropriate one thousand dollars ($1000) for the purpose of heating the Almshouse by steam, or some other method than now used; and that the Board of Overseers, together with Keeper of Almshouse for current year, be a committee to carry same into effect."
Voted, that report and recommendation of committee be › adopted.
PURCHASE OF WATER WORKS.
ARTICLE 16. Report and recommendation of committee "That a committee be appointed by the town to consider the subject matter of this article and report at some future meet- ing."
Voted, that the report and recommendation of committee be adopted. The following were chosen as that committee : Henry E. Ruggles, Aaron H. Morse, William F. Ray.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS ON WASHINGTON STREET.
ARTICLE 17. Report and recommendation of committee "That no action be taken."
Voted, that report and recommendation of committee be adopted.
ABIJAH BAKER LOT.
ARTICLE 18. Report and recommendation of committee "That no action be taken."
Voted, that report and recommendation of committee be adopted.
WATER SUPPLY TO UNIONVILLE.
ARTICLE 19. Report and recommendation of committee "That the town ask the Franklin Water Company to extend
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their water supply to Unionville, and that the town be asked to take ten additional hydrants."
Voted, that the subject matter of this article be indefinitely postponed, vote standing : "Yea," 153 ; "nay." 70.
SEWERAGE.
ARTICLE 20. Report and recommendation of committee "That a committee be chosen by the town to take into consid- eration a system or different systems of sewerage applicable to its whole territory, and report at a future meeting ; and com- mittee further recommend that the sum of five hundred dollars ($500) be appropriated to defray the necessary expenses of such investigation."
Voted, that the subject matter of this article be indefinitely postponed, vote standing : "Yea," 127; "no," 43.
PUBLIC PARKS.
ARTICLE 21. Committee make no recommendation.
Voted, that the subject matter of this article be indefinitely postponed.
The business of the meeting being completed, at 9.30 o'clock P. M. it was voted to adjourn sine die.
A true copy.
Attest : HENRY E. RUGGLES, Town Clerk.
DECLINATION OF JASON TOWER, ASSESSOR.
On the 8th day of Marth, A. D. 1892, the Town Clerk received the following communication, which was forthwith forwarded to the Selectmen for action thereon, viz :
MARCH 7th, 1892.
To Henry E. Ruggles. Town Clerk :
Having been elected Assessor of town of Franklin, I hereby tender my resignation as said Assessor and refuse to qualify as such. . JASON TOWER.
Communication on file.
A true copy of communication. Attest : HENRY E. RUGGLES, Town Clerk.
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WARRANT FOR SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, APRIL 2, 1892.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
NORFOLK, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Franklin. GREETING :
You are hereby required, in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to notify and warn the qualified voters of said town of Franklin to assemble in their town hall on Saturday, the second day of April, A. D. 1892, at 12 M., then and there to act upon the following articles, viz :
ARTICLE 1. To choose by ballot a moderator to preside over said meeting.
ARTICLE 2. To choose by ballot one assessor to fill vacancy.
The polls will be open at 12 M. and may be closed at 4 P. M.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk on or before the hour of said meeting.
Given under our hands at said Franklin this eighteenth day of March, A. D. 1892.
EDGAR K. RAY, E. A. MASON, J. B. HOPKINS, Selectmen of Franklin.
NORFOLK, SS.
MARCH 22, 1892.
By virtue of the within warrant I have notified the inhabitants of the town of Franklin herein described to assemble in their town hall on Saturday, the second day of April, A. D. 1892, for the purpose within mentioned. by posting attested copies of the within warrant in each of the post-offices of the town. and in ten other public places seven days before the day of meeting, in compliance with Section two of Article one of the By-Laws of the town of Franklin.
LEWIS R. WHITAKER, Constable of the Town of Franklin.
A true record of the warrant and officer's return thereon.
Attest : HENRY E. RUGGLES, Town Clerk.
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PROCEEDINGS OF SPECIAL TOWN MEETING, APRIL 2, 1892.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant the legal voters of the Town of Franklin met in their Town Hall on the second day of April, A. D. 1892, at 12 o'clock noon, and proceeded as follows :
The meeting was called to order by the Town Clerk, who read the warrant and the officer's return thereon.
MODERATOR.
ARTICLE 1. The meeting then made choice by ballot, the check-list being used, of William F. Ray for Moderator, and he was duly sworn by the Town Clerk.
James W. Desmond and Bradley M. Rockwood having been duly appointed Ballot Clerks by the Selectmen, they were duly sworn by the Town Clerk.
In accordance with the law the Town Clerk had caused to be set up twelve booths for the use of the voters in marking their ballots, and had erected a guard rail six feet or more from said booths.
The Town Clerk delivered to the Ballot Clerks a dupli- cate check-list and a package containing the official ballots to be used, cards of instruction and specimen ballots, and received from them the following receipt, viz :
FRANKLIN, April 2, 1892.
Received of Henry E. Ruggles, Town Clerk of Franklin, Mass., a package said to contain thirteen hundred and fifty (1350) official ballots. together with specimen ballots and cards of instruction.
JAMES W. DESMOND. BRADLEY M ROCKWOOD, Ballot Clerks.
The cards of instruction and specimen ballots were posted within the polling booths and outside the guard rail, accord- ing to law.
The ballot box to be used at the election was then opened in the public meeting and shown to the public to be empty, and was examined by the Moderator and Town Clerk and found to be empty.
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The register of said ballot box was then set at 000 ; said ballot box was locked and the key thereof given to police officer Kerwin R. Jewett.
Voting commenced at 12.15 o'clock P. M.
Voted, that the polls be kept open until six o'clock P. M.
The Moderator appointed as teller to assist in counting Herbert M. Stowers, and he was duly sworn by the Moderator.
At 5 o'clock and 40 minutes P. M., by unanimous consent of election officers, the ballot box was opened and ballots taken therefrom, the number standing at 315.
At six o'clock P. M., due notice having been given, the Moderator declared the polls closed, the register standing on 320.
The names of those on the check-list which had been checked were then audibly counted and found to be 325.
The Moderator, Town Clerk and Teller then proceeded to canvass the votes given in.
The whole number was three hundred and twenty-five (325), which was counted, recorded and declaration thereof made in open town meeting, as follows, viz :
FOR ASSESSOR.
Cyrus M. Allen had forty votes-40.
Lawrence J. Kelley had one hundred and sixty votes-160.
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