More information on the 1897 Berwyn Heights election can be found in the 1898 Session Laws of the Maryland Assembly held at the Maryland State Archives. It seems that the validity of the election was questioned because the election judges were chosen by agreement of the voters rather than being appointed in accordance with the Town charter. The act considered the objections but set them aside to validate the first election. Whether the citizens of Berwyn Heights were heartened by this decision and held a second election remains to be found out.

Volume 482, p.147
CHAPTER 73.

AN ACT to declare valid the election of William DeMott, Edwin A. Alger, and James C. Brelsford, as Commissioners of the town of Berwyn Heights, in Prince George’s County, on the first Monday in May, 1897, and to ratify and confirm the acts done by said Commissioners.

WHEREAS, the Commissioners of the town of Berwyn Heights, in Prince George’s county, failed to appoint three judges to hold an election for commissioners for the town of Berwyn Heights, on the first Monday in May, 1897, as provided for by the Acts of 1896, chapter 267 ; and

WHEREAS, The majority of voters of said town, entitled to vote at said election, by agreement selected John C. Bonnet, John Dove and Mahlen C. Stotzenberg, to serve as judges of said election, and

WHEREAS, The said John C. Bonnet, John Dove and Mahlen C. Stotzenberg, as judges of election, in pursuance of said agreement, held an election for Commissioners of said town on the first Monday in May, 1897, in accordance with the provisions of the Acts of 1896, chapter 267, and at said election William DeMott, Edwin A. Alger and James C. Brelsford were elected Commissioners of said town of Berwyn Heights, in Prince George’s county, for the ensuing year; and

WHEREAS, the validity of said election has been questioned on account of the manner in which said judges were appointed,

therefore,
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland, that the election of William De Mott, Edwin A. Alger and James C. Brelsford as Commissioners of the town of Berwyn Heights on the first Monday in May, 1897, at the election held by John C. Bonnet, John Dove and Mahlen C. Stotzenberg, as judges of election, be and the same is hereby declared valid as fully as if the said election had been held by judges appointed in conformity with the Acts of 1896, chapter 267, and the acts done by said Commissioners be and the same are hereby ratified and confirmed.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted. That this Act shall take effect from the date of its passage. Approved March 22, 1898.