Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-05-28

the canvassng commenced. was IN the pSh A~yIA
whsn CunninRham's vote was chalenged-tne IN
spectors tsld Cunnng that he could net vote IN
less he took the oath-dses not recoliect the
offer to affirm rejected. Recolects that Mr. Knapp
did not offer to swear- was agreed upon ~ Inc m
spectors that Knapp was only entted 10 vote In tne
4th Ward Did not hear the inspectors ask any i'm
/ proper questions of voters. Suydam had charge OF
the charter box the principal part OF the time.
Joseph Curtss was sworn.-Was IN the poll room
during the cecton-thinks impossible for the in
specters to see what names were the tickets, and
coroborated generally the testimony OF the last wit
ness.
| George Goodman recalled The inspectors made
| q request to spectators to make no remarks while
| canvass was going on, and that If any thing was
wrong the inspectors would explain II after the
| vass Don't recollect that bystanders pointed out
errors that occurred daring canvass, and were told
the inspectors wished no interference; 2479 votes
were counted according to my tally.
draham-That was not official; what was the off,
cal COUNT
A-That was it; compared it with the lists of the
two clerks
Q-Was this the number OF ballots found in the
box or the number OF names on the poll list?
A-The number Of names on the pell list /
think the ballots fell short of the poll list one or two
votes. There were 2467 votes found in the box.
Tiemann-You SAID there were 2479 names on the
poll list; that the ballots fell one two short Of the
poll list and now you say there were 2467 ballots
only, which is IL shor,.
DR.. HI am willing the witness shall be allowed
to correct himself
Graham-I don't feel disposed to sit here to hear
witness made TO contradict himself on question
having no bearing on the case.
Witness-There were two tickets destroyed, fold
ed together, and two printed piece of paper.
There might have been others destroyed but did not
see them.
Graham-I shall not consent TO hear any charge
lmpung TO the inspectors having wllfully purlolned
these tickets, unless direct charge 10 that effect Is
made on this floor, or IN the memorial
SuVdam-Wpre there fill the close of the
vass?
Ayes; but went away before you get through
Suydam-How can that be? how could we close
the canvass before got througha
A-You had got through with canvassing, but was
not quite done2 The number of votes on regular
Taylor tickets was ll67. have been appointed one
Of the Assistant Captains Of Watch since the elec-
ton, by the old Common Council.
Suydam-Are the number Of votes you have gwen
here the official returns, or are they taken from year
own tallies2
| A-From my own tales.
Suydan-Cosld you not be mistaken some 20
votesa
James Pagan called, by Hasbrouck-I was pre-
sent during the canvass of the charter box. When
the boxes came in the room, Townsend showed seals
to Suydam, and he saio he was satisfied The boxes
were then opened by s., and the ballots poured cut
on the table. Some person AT the table said some of
the tickets had ropPed the floor sufficiently loud
for inspectors to hear, and do not know who picked
them up, nor did see them drop.
Suydam.-There was one dropped, and Mr.. Town
send and picked il up.
Graham. regret from the generality of the char
ges in the memorial we compelled to admit almost
any evidence.
DR.. H.-The memorialists followed the same course
as was pursued in the 9th Ward, under the impress
ion that il would have taken the same course, and
that we should have full investigation of all the
facts in the case
Wtness.-Did not pee tn. ps-ls, compared with
ballots byhnspectors The Clerks ope ledthe ballots.
~ ~ hat ,1sf no MAJ IN
which the canvass was conducteda
Graham.-Step one moment; objectte that quss-
DIR. ibid you see anything irregular about the
Al think did, in the manner in which theinspec
tors sat- The inspectors did not sit together and when
there a disputed split ticket II was decided by
Messrs SHydnm and Townsend, and was not sub
| Matted to Dr. Doolittle.
4 John Salmon-Is an elector of the 18th Ward !;
acted challenger at the late electonis Of the
memorallsts discovered variations in the manner of
administering the oath. The first oath administered,
the word actually, was put in by Alderman Suydam.
| i remarked TO Mr.. Townsend that was glad II was
put in. On the second day, observed II left
IN number of instances, and mentioned II TO my
friends. On one occasion, after Suydam had admin
isered az OATH remarked actually" when he putt
in. When an Iishman came up, the word "actsally"
was always put in but when challenged vote the
word actually" was generally left out. Mr.. Town
send always putin the word actually" when he I'D,
4
| Dootte. Mr. Cunningham came 10 vote was chal-
lenged. Mr.. Suydam said he must swear. He said
| he did not want to swear, but would affirm. Mr..
| Townsend said he must or he could not vote.
He his vote in after protesting against his be-
/ ing compelled 10 swear when he wished 10 Affirm
| He was asked if he was a citizen Think he was
| asked for his papers. Knows Of four persons VINO
demanded the oath, and the inspectors refused to re-
| celve their ballots, administer the oath. Their
| names are contained in my affidavit which is attach
ed 10 the memorial. Does not know that either Of
them voted afterwards. Was present at the canvass
Of the Charter box. The inspectors did not compare
| the poll lists Of the clerks. Mr.. Suydam asked, de
you all agree Mr.. MLoughlin replied, "AlIs right"
| The Der OF ballots found in the box was 2470-
| Mr. Saydam remarked, "the ballots fall short and
| there are none to be destroyed" The nsmber Of
clean tickets were 1867 for the ticket headed by Tay
lor, and ll64 for that headed by Nichols. The
splA were not counted before being canvassed. The
ticket headed Taylor and Nichols were separated
and then counted by 5's-Fsr instance Jos. r. Tay-
lor 5-Jacob p. Bunting 5-the tickets were then laid
aside and were not further counted at that time Saw
two instances where tickets were destroyed without
being opened. In the first instance there was
sultallon between lnspectors-The other there was
no consultation. They were torn up and thrown on
the floor
Here Messrs. Suydam and Townsend admitted there
were two tickets destroyed by inspectors unopened,
after consultation. There was another ticket which
had net been cut apart which put under a
dlestck There were four others, from other wards,
placed in the same place; there were abou, sixteen
votes with the name of the Assistant Alderman
r.. n L-1 - he ft.w.