Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-09-13

4cO auu OotiCI Witti y. ~. IIdli OH your
said journey to KanesvilIe. and did he
no. travel some distance with you! and
if so, state how far.
Answer. He went in company with
Bonney and myself from Keosauqua to
Bloomfield, distance of some 25 miles.
lnterrogatory II. What are the poll
tics of said Hall, and what business was
he on at said time!
Answer. A prom inent member of the
democratic party, and | suppose he was
attending fo the business of his party.
GEORGE p. STILES.
Sworn and subscribed to before me
and in my presence on the day, al the
place, and within the hours in that behalf
aforesaid. j. b. BROWNE, J.P.
The next evidence shows these Poll.
Books in the possession of Judge Mason,
and the manner in which that possession
was discovered. We copy the testimo-
ny in full.
Joseph M. Beck having been sworn
as aforesaid. testified as folio ws:
hferrogatories propoun.ied by d. =.
Miller.
Interrogatory L. Were you or were
you not present in the Office of Charles
Mason, Esq, of Keokuk. the day before
yesterday. when conversation occurred
between said Mason and Da MEL F. Mil
ler, relative to the Kanesvile poll-books,
alleged to have been carried out of the
Office of the clerk of the board of COM
missioners Of Monroe county, Iowa! If
SO, state what the conversation was, and
whether any book was produced, and
how it was obtained, which purported to
be the said poll books. State all you
know about it.
Answer. On the evening of the 10Th
of February instant, went to the office
of Mason, Curtis, and Rankin for the
purpose Of examining some legal author
tiles. l found there Judge Mason, Gen.
eral Van Antwerp, and Mr.. Miller, in
conversation. | had not been there
long when the subject of the contested
election was spoken of. Judge Mason
informed Mr.. Miller that he wished him
TO accept the service of certain notice to
take depositions to be used as evidence
in matter of said contested seat. Mr..
Miller expressed his willingness to COM
ply with the Judges request. Judge
Mason produced, either from his pocket
or his desk, (he was at the time near his
desk,) bundle of papers, and handed
them 10 Mr.. Miller. Mr.. Miller, on re-
ceiving them. exclaimed-Judge Mason,
you have made mistake! you have
given me the poll-books of the Kanes-
vile precinct that Hall stole. Judge
Mason extended his hand as though he
desired TO take them back. Mr.. Miller
said something to this effect: 1--WE will
examine thcm." General Van Antwerp
and myself approached Mr.. Miller and
the Judge. Mr.. Miller declared the pa
pers he held IN his hand to be the poll
books of the Kanesville precinct, "as he
it, that were stolen, and ask
ed Judge Mason where he had obtained
thema The Judge replied, assure you.
Mr.. Miller, came by them honestly;
but am not at liberty to tell how or Of
whom. These are, as near as can rec
ollect his exact words.
General Van Antwerp, Mr.. Miller
and myself examined the papers. They
to be the poll-books of the
Kanesville precinct. They were signed
and attested by the proper officers, SO
far as l observed. General Van Ant
werp took them in his hand, and obser-
we'd something 10 the effect that they
were gotup in good style. Mr.. Miller
pointed out the signature Of the election
officers, and called our attention to the
names of many voters that appeared on
the books, with whom he said he was
well acquainted. He likewise called
our attention TO the fact, that there pur-
ported to be the names of 523 voters re-
corded in the books. called the attcn.
ton Of the gentlemen to the fact, that
the books 10 me had the appearance of
having been wet. Mr.. Miller asserted
several times that the papers he held in
his hands were the identical poll book Of
the kanesville precinct that, as he ex-
pressed it, had been stolen. Judge Ma
son made no denial OF the assertion OF
Mr.. Miller. Mr.. Miller, after we had
examined the papers for some time, re-
turned them to Judge Mason. enjoining
him to keep them, and let no other per-
son have them; observed that if he fosnd
them in the hands of any other person.
he would take them al the peril of his
life. JOSEPH M. BECK.
Sworn and subscribed 10 before me.
and in my presence, on the day.. At the
place. and within the hours in that behalf
aforesaid. J. b. BROWNE, ]. p.
Yer Planck Van Antwerp. being
sworn as aforesaid. testiied as follows:
inferrogaforits propounded 6y d. f.
Miller
Interrogatory 1. Were you or wero
not present at the Office of Charles Ma
son, Esq, OF Keokuk, the day before
yesterday, when conversation occurred
between said Mason and Daniel r. Mil
Ter relative to the Kanesville poll-books,
alleged 70 have been carried out Of the
Office Of the clerk oi the board Of com.
missionefs of Monroe county, lows!-
II 90. state what that eonversasion was,
1