The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-04-08

The excitement the contest, and, must add, the
terday such to forbid all possibility of to-day g
presenting any returns at all TO be relied upon
Other things however of the most deplorable nature,
are we lament to better ascertaned Not only
there, at the Seventh ward POLL heretofore the chief
finally there was bloodshed and death.
AT that point where from previous practices 1t was
well known that all the vigilance, backed by all the
strength OF the friends of legal voting would be
sary in order to defend the ballot from unbounded
imposition we We're except for short interval person
any present during the entire scene We little thought
ever 10 witness such one in country which at least Is
yet entitled to be free.
In spite of the throng determined friends of order
and OF fairness who guarded the polls the voting was
almost continual scene of outrage and of open perjury
aided and abetted in the most shocking manner by the
one-sided commissioners who in total defiance of their
duty and OF the challenges of the respectable
zens admitted great body of false votes and appa-
reny in the end have preferred them TO exc ont
10 any extent which the state OF the polls elsewhere may
nAhs needful; that Ubiquitous state Of the poll
which their own violation of duty had created.
For while at the closing Of the polls it proclaimed
that but W. votes had been registered it at the
hour when we write in the morning declared that
they have counted no less than 400 number
which they VIII no doubt be ready to change to still
higher figure, should be necessary To give lea of
the manner in which such things have been brought
about we need recite but single instance in case
body OF twenty men who had voted at the Fourth pre-
cinct were to set out for the Seventh ward headed
by several police officers They thereupon followed
by citizen OF great respectabilty whose person and
character known TO almost everybody Passing
the place Of voting ahead them he warned the com
mssioners and the bystanters the approach and
pose Of these In yain however the
deaf TO his information and to the protests of those
around them They not only permitted to vote but
we are assured passed without the ceremony Of
swearing. Beyond question, mudtudes Of voters who
were challenged were allowed to vote without really
swearing For the questions and oath were repeated TO
them as rapidly possible without waiting for an.
swer so that no one could tell what he hear
what he answered.
About two O'Clock, an attempt was made to drag one
OF the independent challengers from his stand The
saiants we're instantly driven back and fed with vast
alacrity
After awhile however fresh onset lei by one Of the
officers of the police and encouraged by other official
persons burst into the large hall attempt
ed to drive out the reform party whose only offence had
consisted in cha enging bad voters and preyeptinr
frauds. The onslaught led by Mocer the bro
Their OF him who was killed Sunday morning in bawl
provoked by his assaults. This second bro her
picked rufans, welding clubs with bare arms As
the former they dashed at the reform men who
cuped large part of the hall The sight Of such
attempt by such band kndled up of course a vio-
lent Indignation. They met in the ercet manner
The clubs were lifted in the air; but few blows were
dealt the crowd before weapons still more decisive
were pucked forth; rush made upon them and in
scarcely more than the twinkng of eye they were
cast forth from the doors and the windows in utter
route. Their leader, Mocer was struck by a blow of
knife, from which he died almost once and another
of the party laid in little better condition Some
Others are said to have been wounded.
After this there was quiet voting for the rest of the
afternoon.
Various efforts no doubt made to lead on new par
&es 10 the attack aimed with musket, seized at one of
the armorios But fortunately these efforts
blood was up and that any fresh attempt rampe on
it would be yet more sgnally punished.
Greyous il that should have such things to re-
late in country OF the laws in country where the
rights OF Americans have before been daringly
asaied while they attempting merely to exercise
IN peace and in honesty the great right of suffrage
defending it they have been forced TO spill blood but it
must rest the heads of those who had trained to
rupton and finally urged to murderous assault the
body Of men OF whom the two victims were part
Last night, about eleven O'Clock, a company of men
proceeded to the Seventh ward polls whore II was re-
ported the votes being counted without the pre-
sence OF any witnesses Of the reform party and re-
quesed admittance to the in which IL was being
done in order to that foul play was practisod
They were refused admitancc whereupon the door Of
the room was burst open. Those inside fred several
shots from pistols at the party outside of which
however took effect inacting slight wound upon
Mr.. 0'Leary Chief Of Police, who outside
We have heard of several which occurred in va
rous other parts of the city during the day none of
them attended with very serious conseq uences
Several arrests made during the day.
II reported In the streets this morning at four
O'Clock were going to press that the where
the ballot box of the Seventh ward deposited had
been broken open by large number of men, the ballot
box taken, and lis contents scattered in the streets
In nearly all the precincts heard from up to the time
Of going to press this morning. the reform ticket had
been elected by large majorities