Duelists Ineligible To Office In Kentucky

Louisville, Kov. ]9.- A dispatch to the ('ourier-Journal says that the State contesting board, which has been in sessiou for several weeks at Frankfort eiamining evidence in the case, decided tonight that Thos. L. Jones was ineligible to the office of Clerk of the Court of Appeals, and declared the office vacant. At the general election Jones, who was the ijïatic candidate, received about 00,000 majority over Cochran, his opponent. It was charged at the time that Jones was ineligible because he had eccepted a challenge to fight a duel five years ago, which the Constitution of the State declares shall make any person so accepting ineligible to any office in the State, and also makes him liable for prosecution in the Criminal Court. The action of the contesting board, made up altogether of members of the same cal party as Jones, will be received with very great interest in the State and wil] make an important precedent. Tho decisión announced is as follows : 1. That in the cuntest Cochran h;is no claim to tho office. '1. A majority of the board, thrce meinbers, hold that the proof shows that the incumbent Jones did accept a challenge an4 is thereby disqualified to hold office, and they also hold tbat the board has jurisdiction to try and decide the question of his guilt on testimony by depositions before them. ti. A minority of the board, two niembers, bold that the te8timony therefore before the board fails to prove that Jones is guílity, and also that the board has no authority or jurisdiction to try or convict him of such a orimo of offense against the laws on original testiniony like that on record. 4. The board holds that when it has filed ita opinión, one copy in the office of tke Secretary of State and has sent one copy to Mr. James A. Cochran, the contestant, its functions will oease.