New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-17

Election Frnuds In Philadelphia.


The Investigation Of the contested election
case in the matter of the District Attorney OF the
CITY and County Of Philadelphia, naturally eS'
cites much attention, not only among politicians,
but all classes OF citizens who have proper ap
probation Of right, justice, and far play ana VINO
regard perjury and official lalslhc alton rs lSSIlu
and deplorabe crimes. 1t will be remembered
that at the last election the promiRent candidates
for District Attorney, were William Is. heeo
the then incumbent, and nominated ON the part OF
the Wings, and all who acted with them ana
Horn 4. Kneass, nominated on the part OF the
a. the returns came in the result was regarded
as extremely close and for many days 1t was ln'
possible 10 say who was the successful compee-
itor At the meeting of the Return Judges, how
ever. Mr.. Kneass was declared to be the fortunate
candidate, but by a very small maJorlty-e'S''y-
fire 7ofes The figures announced were; q COO
% Knesss (Opp) 1850 w. r. DickerSon, (lnd pa pa
Vim B. Reed, (Whig). 1885 Peter A. Browne .''' :"
Kneasls majority over Reed. .....''So 49,
This was subsequently reduceu, ny ~
in West Philadelphia, to 3d. e,.;..;o,
II appeared however, on careful eXatniuasiou
of the returns that the votes given 10 MT; heeu ~
Moyamensing and Penn were unusually siI R;n
while those given to Mr.. Kneass In the same Dls-
tricts were remarkably large Inc ths cir
were REGARDED as almost impossible under tue GU
cnmstances. Thus, in Moyamensing the aggre-
gate were: 40. Do.a .754
Kpeass's majority .........''''''''''''''''l'0~
In the District of Penn: :.
Kneass Reed.
Kneasss meority: ~ go Districts
Majority against Mr. heeo Id 'ne WV
2,l65. 49,, ...orrdsd
An Investigation was called for. Frauds IL as 20
lieved, were committed. Nay, II tne oeo 1--h
Ward, Moyamensng, it was alleged thSt eno 80,
gentlemen would come forward and aniTn e eua
they voted for Mr. Reed, to prove IN tue a. ~
place. that he had been grossly deirauuSC
the second, to overbalance the rePor'eu tn'y 80
against him The matter was taken before W
Court of Common Pleas, and after several niO-s,.
of delav two of the Judges of that Court Consst
tuting a maorty-namely, MessTs' SIS fr-
Kelly, decided that there was suIhc,on' III a..
an ample investigation Juuse
scented. lid bis commits
Meanwhile. Mr.. Kneass obtained ms con LaAr
sion as District Attorney, and has ever sln.S -
officiating in that capacity. Inc inNes'5 -
fore Judges King. Kelly aud OanPOS,i' Re
menced several days ago. and the oetais y,
evidence have been given tlenstn Ia e~' -
Thus far fraud has been made out Ia 'ue Iis -
conclusive manner IL has proven on the 9SInS u
respectable citizens, that In the Seconu w az -,
Movamensing alone. greater NUMBER o. PSis s
voted for W lillian b. Reed, ln addtti0" ~ "Os .
accorded him By the regular returns, utaH Ise :.
Dorted majority against HIM In other W.,
Ret II fair play had been shown, If the votes o!
IN vbo recorded their ballots in his favor had
been counted and returned, be would mare 0oo'
I sircfed. and BIZ a very haHds0me majority! hin
Like frauds against him have been dlscoV -; -
penn District; and thus the majority against nun n
has been more than four times swallowed ~. -
the counsel of MIR. kneass should not De aole :.
inva66afe this testimony, the caseis clear enough
and lie Court will no doubt act with due sens
ofiustice, rig BIT and equity What however, shoJ,,
be- done with the perpetrators of these frsuds-tn'
men wbo have made the elective franchise @s Ell
49,, NOT onlv abused the confidence reposed Il
them by their fellow citizens but nuiiiied the wll
ei the moority Of the voters Of the city and count
of Philadelphia