Although the confusion surrounding the recount of ballots for marshal which made Herman Gundlach, Jr. '35 first marshal instead of E. Francis Bowditch '35 had not been cleared up last night, the situation will be clarified today when the election officials return from their vacations.

Nevertheless, several facts have emerged which lend coherence to this unprecedented occurrence in Harvard history. Owing to the closeness of the election, Robert S. Playfair '36 and Braman Gibbs '36, the Juniors in charge of the voting, decided to hold a recount which they conducted Thursday and Friday, December 20 and 21.

Nine Ballots Unsigned

Nine of the preferential ballots for Bowditch rated 3-2-1, were rejected because they were unsigned. This reduced his lead of 16 by 20 votes so that Gundlach won by the close margin of four votes. Although there was no place on the ballot on which to affix one's signature, announcement was made through the CRIMSON and at the polls that a signature was necessary.

Whether the recount is to be official was undecided tonight. Neither Playfair nor Gibbs could be reached last night although the former was reported to be in Cambridge. Efforts to locate Gundlach, the retiring football captain, at his home in Houghton, Michigan, disclosed that he was on a train bound east. A sufficient number of the Student Council had not returned from their vacations to hand down an opinion.

Todd Maintains Lead

Although the contest between Arthur W. Todd '35 and Thomas H. Hunter '35 for third marshal was even closer, the recount did not affect their showings.

Gundlach, a member of the Student Council, prepared at Worcester Academy, lives in Winthrop House, and has played on the Varsity football and lacrosse teams for three years.

Bowditch, winner in the first election, prepared for Harvard at Milten. He is president of the Student Council, member of the Dunster House Committee, and secretary-treasurer of Phillips Brooks House. In his Freshman year he was president of the Class of 1935 and played on the football team.