Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-09-05
n.sroLEN POLL BOOKS AGAlN!i!-n

We are induced to refer to that theving affair
again, in consequence Of certain friends Of William
Thompson having circulated the report that before
Mr. Miller went on TO Washington he was informed
by Mr. Hall where the poll books were, and could
have the possession OF them if he desired them
This new coined lie is bad ~ the original thev-
ing. and has no foundation in the printed
70 rest upon. Hall does not swear that he told
Miller where the poll books were, but that he him
self did mot know where they were-though they
were safe and sound. These sre Halls words -
eIn August, Think Of lsls, and before Iheard that
Miller had notified Thompson of q contest, I met
Mr. Miller At West Point, Lee county, when the
Kanesville poll books were the subject ofconver-
sation. I told Mr. Miller, THAT DID NOT KNOW
WHERE THEY WE'RE, but they were safe and sound;
and had no doubt but he could have them il he de-
sired; that there was no disposition to suppress
them.'s
Miller was not satisfied with the statements Of
Hall, and thought that though Hall could not tell
where the poll books were, some other might. &
on the ID Of Oct. lsas he commenced judicial in
vesigation ofthe matter before Justice LIB Feak Of
the city Of Keokuk. Cha's Mason ESQ.,, appeared as
counsel for VIM Thompson. Mr. Miller could find
no witness who could trace the stolen article be-
yond the Clerks Office Of Monroe county, from
which il had been purloined, and accordingly he
waived the lengthy examination Of his witnesses,
in consideration Of an agreement written. signed,
and fled in the case by Mr. Mason on behalf Of
Thompson, admitting that the poll hook had been
brought into the clerks office Of Monroe "and was
Afterwards mislaid, TAKEN AWAY, OR LOST, and
CANNOT NOW RE FoUNDoN!
Thus the reader will notice that in August, ls4s,
Hall-as he swears-did not know where the poll
books were;and in October ofthe same year, Thomp-
son, by his COUNSEL admits the record that they
were lost and COULD NOT he FOUND!
Nay, more; Thompson had become Sc bold in his
rascaliy, and his successful concealment thus far
Of the pool books that he actually denied their
istence before the Committee Of Elections in the
winter Of is4s. At page n of the printed report
Of the committee is found the following statement:
"Mr J. c. Hall gave the poll book to the sitting
menber in the spring of is4a, who, in the winter
Ofthat year, DISPUTED THE EXISTENCE OF srcH A
FOIL Boax before the Committee; but on the 10th
day Of February last, Judge Mason, another OF the
attorneys Of the sitting member in attempting to
serve at his own Office a notice on the contestant
to take testimony in the case, occiden.aHy-as is
unprecedented on him the original poll book of
the Kanesville precincto!!
Indeed. such was the general disgust excited at
Washington clty against Thompson Cor his conduct
in the poll book affair." that the locofoco portion Of
the committee on elections who would certainly
have screened him from the disclosures if they
could, were compelled, through regard to popular
sentiment, to express disapprobation of his con-
duct A ND PASS cENsuRE UPON HIM.
In their printed report, page s is found the fol-
lowing passage: oYour committee would not be
understood a. justifying the conduct Of the Clerk
Of the board of Commissioners Of Monroe county,
- ef those Uho distracted the poll book AND SUISSE
euESTLy DETAINED IT; on the contrary We think
II MERITS THE sEvEREsT CENsuREn.!
neHere is the "severest censure'' denounced
against Barber, the Clerk; Hall, who carried the
poll book oil in his carpet bag; and Thompson who
''sOseqaenf'y defainedn ~ We therefore hope
that none hereafter will show himself so hopeless
y corrupt and lost to all of shame as to at
tempt to excuse, much less defend, the persons inn
piicated IN the ROBBERY OF THE BALLOT Box!!!
There were q number of honest democrats in
Congress who did not and would not vote for
Thompson; let no honest man sanction his conduct
BY voting for him At the ensuing election.