Acadia Parish, LAGenWeb
CONTESTED CONSTABLE RACE IN WARD 3
Crowley Signal, January 19, 1928
The primary election for constable in the third ward Tuesday resulted as follows:
| Location | ETIENNE MATTE | PIERRE J. MATTEo |
|---|---|---|
| Church Point Precinct | 426 | 322 |
| Adolphe Miller Precinct | 35 | 131 |
| Total | 461 | 453 |
P.J. MATTE CONTEST SUIT IN CONSTABLE RACE
Crowley Signal January 24, 1928
A suit has been filed with Clerk of Court F.M. Fontenot, in district court by Pierre J. Matte of the Church Point community, who was defeated by Etienne Matte, in the January 17 primary for the office of constable of the third ward, charging that 31 tickets were thrown out of the Adolph Miller box and marked spoiled and that out of the 31 tickets, he had 27 or enough to hive him a majority of 15 over his opponent who has been declared the nominee by the parish democratic executive committee.
Mr. Matte through his attorneys, D.T. Canan, Jr., and P.S. Pugh of this city, claims that the alleged spoiled tickets were good insofar as the votes for constable were concerned but were thrown out for the reason that the voters either voted for one senator or one representative or for some other cause which had no effect upon the votes cast for constable.
By the official count, the votes at Church Point and Adolph Miller polls were given as follows: Pierre J. Matte, 453; Etienne Matte, 461.
By the recount, which he claims would give him 27 votes and his opponent 4, the votes would be Pierre J. Matte, 480 and Etienne Matte, 465, or a majority of 15 votes which would duly nominate him for the office, he contends.
CONTEST SUIT IN COURT HERE
Crowley Signal January 30, 1928
The case was brought to district court, Judge W.W. Bailey presiding. Percy T. Ogden is the attorney for Etienne Matte.
Witnesses examined this morning were Seth Young, A.J. Lavergne, Oscar Guidry, commissioners, Allen Laughlin, deputy sheriff and F. M. Fontenot clerk of court.
It developed in the questioning that the ballot boxes were kept overnight at the Laughlin home, the polling place, and brought to Crowley on the afternoon of the day following the election. Clerk of Court Fontenot testified regarding the place where the boxes were kept after being brought to the court house.
February 2, 1928
In the Crowley Signal of February 2, 1928, P.J. Matte was declared winner of the suit.
