F. A. McMurray vs. Chas. H. Hook for Sheriff of Jasper Co., Iowa

McMurray Family (Click for Family Tree)

“The expected has happened” began the story with the headline, “McMurray’s Election Will be Contested.”  It was just six days after the official count was released in the papers. The Democratic-leaning newspaper went on to say,

Unable to let go of the public nursing bottle the republicans have determined that McMurray must not be allowed to qualify for sheriff after having received a plurality of the votes cast at the recent election.

[Party platforms were somewhat flipped back then from those of today’s.]

A third person had been on the ballot with Charles H. Hook and F.A. McMurray- O. E. McBride, who received 49 votes. Third parties can often make the remaining vote a very close one.

So what would you do if someone bested you in a political race by just 2 votes out of 6,393? Probably the same as many of the candidates in our 2018 election (which had much wider margins though also more voters)- demand a recount. And that is exactly what Charles H. Hook did. His lawyers filed notice and provided a bond for costs with the Jasper County Auditor, who, as we have seen in a previous post, was Joe Horn, actually the cousin of F.A. McMurray. (Wonder if that was looked upon as a problem? It would have made for interesting Sunday dinner get-togethers and conversations.) Unfortunately we have not found any Republican-focused newspaper articles to see their point of view, although the Newton Record commented:

It will be remembered that on the face of the official returns that McMurray was declared elected by only two votes.

Despite the family connection, the Iowa State Democrat commented,

We have not the slightest doubt that McMurray will be counted out and Hook counted in. There is no need of comment.

The recount was scheduled for December 14th.

 

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. Sheriff election results contested– Iowa State Democrat, 23 Nov 1899, vol. 19, no. 47, p. 1, via newspaperarchive.com.

 

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