Weekly national intelligencer., 1846-11-28
ELECTION FRAUDS.

Presenment Of the Grand Jury-The Grand Jury OF the
County New York present That the present term of he
Grand jury complaint made them oi certain violations
Of law committed by persons connected with the Pentenar
of the public prisons was that convict whose term OF
punishment had not expired permitted to escape from
brought to the city for the purpose oyotng at the election tor
State and other officers.
The grave character Of the charge induced the Jury
with that delbeaon which required at their hands, not
only from the character of the offence charged but also from
anxiety discover by whom outrage on one OF
the great bulwarks of popular liberty had been committed
solicitation Of tue grand jury his honor the Mayor
Alderman Benson and the District Attorney, went to Black
Wells Island and made inquiries committee OF the grand
Jury visited the island The books and records OF the
Pentenary have been taken into the custody OF the jury
between forty aud fy Witnesses including Mr. Mott keeper
of the Penitenay deputy keeper Walters and several OF
those assisting them in the custody of the prisoners several OF
the persons engaged in various departments Backwe
Island prisoners and also IN no way connected with
the prison establishment The result of their examination is
that about the period of the election prisoners whose
of service had expired have heretofore been taken from
the island for the purpose OF voting The grand jury has been
ted to leave the island expiration
service landed the evening previous from vessel
which had left The island on that day The grand Jury are also
satisfied that they brought down this city for the pur
pose OF voting
the evidence furnished them the present session.
that with full knowledge part the keeper
the Pentenay and at least deputies charges hay
that under several political parties who have held
the administration OF the municipal Offices othe city, prisoners
permitted escapeand particularly that the charge had
been made late as last spring election yet efficient
taken the repetition OF the the
honest citizens the late election They satisfied that
Of the officers in the employment Of the Corporation Of
the city receiving compensation from the public treasury,
planned and executed this attempt gangs OF telons
poltc the ballot boxes The Grand jury have to the
conclusion that there persons employed by the
poraon who aided and abetted in the escape of prisoners
convicted by the constituted tribunals ofthe State.
The testimony produced before them shows ha Of the
throw into the 9th and 18th wards of this city number Of
victs Tor the purpose of voting The testimony shows that
The prisoners on the Cd of November 1916 exchanged their
taken the river about dark by the keepers
boats placed in vehicles, brought the city, and placed in
houses for the night
The parties for the respective wards crossed different
places and under the guidance of different keepers The
gang which destined for operations the 18th ward
taken to house in Hammond street where policeman James
Finnegan of the lih ward assisting during the night in
liquor and other refreshments About daylight the party
arrested by Justice Merritt and Alderman Benson. The po
ceman Finnegan relieved from duty that night the
OF b. Pury the superintendent Of lamps and and
the grand jury have doubt that Mr. Purdy knew for what
purpose Mr. Finnegan relieved.
The gang of conycts when arrested, found with f.
Mclaughlin, Of the deputy Keepers against whom in
dicmen has been ordered The destined remain
in the 9th ward were taken TO house in that ward and like
those taken house in the l4th ward they provided
with liquors and other refreshments The person in whose
charge they were left them during The evening promising
return when, after waiting they supposed reasonable
me they finally passed resolution that they would leave the
house which carried into effect and the convcts
again that night let loose upon this community.
The grand jury have not been able accurately ascertain
the number OF prisoners who permitted off the
They believe the number be about thirty. II the
Der OF prisoners TAKEN but the fact that prisoner taken
out of prison by public officers TOR such purpose which will
shock the moral sense of this community.
The examination also shows that other prisoners left the
island that day. some on raft in boat They who
escaped raft two notorious vioaors OF the law, who
known by reputation of the keepers of the prison
the associates OF abandoned women of panel thieves who
had been convicted of robbn strangers These prisoners had
been convicted at the General Sessions assault and bate
police officers stationed before the houses ohese fon
put persons their guard against entering their
ntamy Duner One these had ATTEMPTED
escape heretofore.
These men had at the nercession of one of the keepers
who had heard of the infamous conduct of the prisoners been
akea from the quarres and given light work perform AL
though the usual punishment Of prisoners for escape place
ball and chain them when rccaptured such punishment
has been inflicted upon them since their capture What
this community think of the Judgment, say honesty, of
those who thus manage their prisons Another instance Of
abuse will be found of notorious pckpocket also relieved
from hard labor and placed light work the prison Under
such administration the prison has for those who
violate the laws of the land
The Grand Jury have presented bills of indictment against
nose Sno ~ elr opinion, nave a,ded anu aoeted IN ne es-
cape OF the prisoners or their respective duties
public officers entrusted with the Penitenary There
others who subject the criminal laws of the land have
shown themselves by their conduct, unit to hold Offices of
trust and receive the moneys of rtong taxpayng citizens
They believe that the constituted authorities this city
will permit either Mr. Pury, Francis, Durham retain
the places they hold these persons with
the transactions OF the night of the Cd of November in the 4h
ward
The Grand Jury have been able to discover that prison.
es have been taken other wards but those named The
appears have been the work Of few unprnc-
pied ready TO the est accomplish their
purposes Fortunately they have been
their purpose defeated but their fraud discovered The
on only OF the purity of elections but the
our lives and property, is involved in such acts
in Government constituted like that under which live,
unless the ballot box be preserved in its purity liberties
safe Heated and INSCRIPTIONS parans must not be
permitted to lay their sacregous hands ark
safety Let the people remember that the fraud be
owned down and violations of law such have been dis
closed be punished liberties the mercy of
without principle and without character and what security
have for personal safety when find the prison doors
unbarred by the public officers whose duty them,
aud the eon who doomed punishment and the guard
paid TO him. counsel together in the
of city, from which the been driven for
time punishment They have considered the subject as
far above party considerations They feel that public
wrong has been committed And they feel confident that
dgn punishment will be awarded those who have
cpaors in the crime, only by the legal trbu ais Of The
State but also by the authorities the whom
raj parties engaged responsible for the faithful performance
Of their duty.
This inquest close its labors without paying Just
butte to John Mckcon Esq., the geutemany and talented dis
heightened and wearsome investigations which have
made has greatly relieved and aided them though must
have been rendered by him much personal
His has been honorable him. and grand in
quest tender him their unqualified appreciation The grand
inquest presenting their views the Court the various
subjects referred to 10 this wish be understood
a unanimous in their suggestions.
Grand Jury Room,
New York, Nov. q, 1876,
HENRY ERREN, Foreman.
JAS. DEyoE, Secretary.
On Saturday last, at Merchants Hotel Philadelphia
Judge WAGoSsELLER, of Union county, Pennsylvania
derwen of the most and dangerous operations
known surgery He had been suffering from an enormous
upon his left shoulder which was rapidly DESTROYING