The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-10-30
THE LOCO-FOCO HUMBUG.
THE PHILADELPHIA REPUTATION
STATEMENT OF JOHN SWIFT,
Mdu0r of The (yf,J If pb;I1deInb;a

Mdyor % me Guy Of Philadelphia.
! have read the affidavit Of J. d. Stevenson, pub
liahed in the New York Evening Post Of the 23d in
sean,, and now proceed TO state all my knowledge in
relation TO the matters to which il refers and in rela
ton to the said Stevenson
know James b. Glentworth, of New York; saw
nun ~ the city of Philadelphia in the month of Oco-
pfri 1866 at that time was not the Mayor Of the
city OF Philadelphia, and held no public Office what
eyer Mr. Glentworth called in company with
MI MI Robert Swartwout of New York at my dwelling,
| No' iUl south Tenth street. Mr. Glentworth stated
10 me that there were great and reasonable apprehen-
SONS on the part OF our friends OF importation OF
votes into New York from this city, and they were
very desirous III possible to have there at their
coming election select number of persons of general
acquaintance residing in Philadelphia for the purpose
o. watching the polls Of the several wards TO prevent
'he reception Of Illegal votes by detecting those who
might come from the city of Philadelphia 10 offer them
approved of the purpose. ! told him would turn
te matter over In my mind, and ii he would call the
next morning would do all in my power 10 assist
MN would determine who could best promote this
object Nothing more passed al that time on the sub.
! Ject and the gentlemen then retired On nv way
down the street the next day, met Robert Miller,
deputy sheriff, and told him there was gentleman
at the United States Hotel who wanted 10 see him.
think ! went down to the United States Hotel with
| Mr.. Miller and there introduced him to Mr. Client
worth, and left them | may have seen Mr. Client
worth again during that visit to the CITY, but had no
further conversation with him the subject of his
visit am positive never, on any occasion, heard
MT Glentworth propose that persons should be sent
| on to New York for the purpose of voting.
never was at the house of Mr.. George Riston with
Robert Miller, James Young, or James b. Glentworth
know nothing OF any money ever having been paid
to Mr. Miller or Mr., Young, by Mr.. Glentworth or
by any one else on this business never on this or
any other occasion raised money in conjunction with
Mr.. Badger and others, to pay for going to New
York nor after they had come from New York.
On the evening Of Sunday, the 18th Of October in
slant, was in my house in Tenth street. and was in
formed by my servant that gentleman wished to see
me- found in my parlor person who was unknown
to me lie presented TO me letter of which the fol
lowing is copy, of which the original is now in my
possession:
New YoRK, Oct 10, 1910
DEAR SIR: The bearer will explain to you perso-
nay his wishes he is entitled to your entire conf
dence.
Your most ob't servant,
JAMES B. GLENTWORTH y
Hon. JOHN SWIFT, Philadelphia
This letter believed to be in Mr.. Glcntworth $
handwriting, of which | have no particular know
ledge The confidence with which il was handed to
me removed from me every suspicion to its authen-
ITCHY.
asked the bearer, Immediately on reading it, what
Mr. Glentworths object was and what his business
was lie replied that they wanted some men sent on
to New York, as they were sent on in 1888 asked
II ne meant men to detect illegal voters He said he
| presumed that the intention of Mr. Glentworth
| told hun that would what could be done and
| requested him TO call at my public Office between 8
and ~ o'clock the next day. did not at that inter-
view know, nor did inquire, the Of the person
with whom was conversing The names of Young
or Miller or any of my officers, were not mentioned
during this conversation nor did | say that if he
would come to my office in the morning would by a
wink point out Miller Young to him. nor any thing
to that effect Nor did Stevenson say to me he wished
to get names registered, any thing of the kind
MT bela Badgers name was not mentioned by either
OF us, at tins interview not word said by Ell
theT MN OF me IN relation to Mr. Rlstons having
cashed checks. On the next day between and 10
CLOCK IN the morning, while / was engaged in my
Office the same individual entered | addressed him.
ana asked him his name; he then, for the first time,
told me his name was Stevenson I understood snb
sequenty from Miller that he called himself Jarvis to
HIM Before Stevenson into my Office however,
mad seen Mr. Miller, and mentioned to him that
therc was gentleman in town from New York who
wanted to get persons to go on to New York to detect
illegal voters from this city the they had done
IN 1888 After Stevenson had mentioned his name,
as stated above, Mr. Miller came into INV office to
make MS morning report to me captain Of the watch
then said to Miller, this is the gentleman to whom
referred, upon which they left the office together
since that moment have not seen Mr. Stevenson,
do soemny declare that have never either directly
or indirectly aided assisted or connived at the recep
ton OF an Illegal vote, either in the city of PhiIadeI-
pha or in any part ofthe United States.
JOHN SWIFT
Sworn and subscribed, this 9th day of October,
| 1910, before me.
GEO GRISCoM, Alderman.
Bella BADGER, of the county of Philadelphia being
duly sworn, says that he never either in the wear
1888, 1889, or lS40 was concerned in or counseled
or aided IN sending men from the city or county of
Philadelphia to vote in the city State of New York
either in concert with Jas. b. Glentworth j d. Ste
vcnson, alias Jarvis, any other person. that he ne
yer knew of such plan, and all such parts OF the
statement made By J d. Stevenson alias Jarvis in his
| affidavit published in the Evening Post of the Odd
October, 1910, as lmpule TO him such knowledge aid
participation utterly and entirely false that he
| never knew OF funds being sent from New York for
such purpose; that he does know that in the wear
1889 an application was made to him and others this
city TO procure the services Of number of vigant and
faithful men, police officers and others, TO watch the
polls at the spring election of 1889 there being we'll
founded apprehension that illegal votes from Philade
pha would be offered on the part of the Administra
ton party, and that individuals were employed and
publicly semitic New York for this purposethe names
are well known, and the object Of their errand was
| not concealed that he then saw James b. Gentworh
he believes, for the first time and last time that in
1888 he did not see hun confer with him. accord
ing to the best Of his knowledge and belief He fur
Their says that he never, at any time concerned
with Robert Looney in sending or procuring men 10
be sent from Philadelphia to vote in New York that
the letters appended TO Stevensons affidavit signed
George w Rhawn, are he believes, copies of letters
written in that form by deponent who was induced to
adopt language in one of them which would not be
intehgbe II the letters were intercepted and read
the post Office in order to prevent discovery of the
precautions then taking but not matured TO prevent
illegal voting in New York that Mr.. George w
Rhawn is respectable citizen then and now residing
at No. 1913 North Second street that he was fully
apprlzed OF the object of the correspondence, and APP
proved of the Of his name | cannot say whether
the mode of correspondence suggested by Mr.
Glentworh myself Il was certainly agreed be-
tween II was deemed a necessary and proper pre-
caution. So far tins deponen testities the matter
of hearsay contained in Stevensons affidavit
lie further states that the narrative given by Ste