Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1857-07-24
miscellaneous.
From the Washington Star.
Report of the Grand Jury on the
Election Riots.

Election Riots.
Below we give this important docu-
ment, prepared by the Grand Jury in
accordance with the suggestion Of Judge
Crawford in his opening charge, and con
tanning an embodiment OF the facts eli
cited by an examination of more than
one hundred Witnesses:
The Grand Jury having completed
their labors for the present term of the
Criminal Court, and the Judge of that
tribunal having specially directed their
attention to the riots in the city of Wash
ington on the first day of june last,
deem it to be duty which they owe not
less to the cause Of peace and good order
than to the sacredness of the ballot-box
to present the following summary Of thu
principal disgraceful events of that day
They have examined upwards of on
hundred and twenty-five witnesses in re
lation to the general subject of the riots
and have noted the testimony from
which appears the fact that at the frs
precinct Of the Fourth Ward polls the
balloting proceeded quietly until a few
minutes past nine o'clock in the morning,
when party of twelve or fourteen per-
sons, designated as " Rip Raps' or "Plug
Uglies." from Baltimore, came on The
ground.
They marched above the polls, clear
Of the citizens, (from eighty to one hun
dred of them, who, in line, were pro-
ceeding towards the window, each voting
in turn. Having reconDotered the pre-
misses, the party Of strangers left the
scene for short period, and then re-
turned with an Increased force OF their
partizans, also from Baltimore, together
with number of persons who reside in
this city. That they were coming to
Washington with evil intentions, the
Chief of Police and the Captain Of the
Auxiliary Guard had reason to suspect
several days prior to their arrival. But
this apprehension was removed by sub
sequent information received by the
Mayor. However, a detachment Of po-
lice repaired to the railroad station on
the morning of the first of June, and
there witnessed the arrival of tho Balti-
more party. The object of proceeding
thither was, as stated in evidence, to
scan closely the appearance Of the stran-
gers, so that, should they commit a
breach Of the peace, they might be read
lily identified.
1t is proper 10 remark that the excl
ting causes Of the riot, and subsequent
bloodshed, in the Fourth Ward may, in
the opinion of the Grand Jury, be as
cribed mainly TO the presence Of these
strangers, who were joined by large
number of disorderly persons Of this city
at or near the polls. AT that time an at
tempt to arrest them must have been in
effectual, owing to the inadequate force
of the police then ard there preseGt--the
Board Of Common Council having refused
to pass bill authorizing the Mayor to
increase the police force if he should
deem it necessary for the purpose of pre-
serving order. 1t is in evidence that the
strangers and their companions were
armed with pistols and other deadly wea-
pons, which were displayed with view
to intimidate peaceable citizens from yo-
ting at the polls.
This body Of men divided themselves
into two parties--one going inside to the
fence, near the window, and the others
remaining outside Of the voters. The
latter section soon became troublesome,
abusing men in the line; threatening
them, and loudly Boosting, with others,
that they could whip any Of their oppo-
nents. At.this point Of the disturbance
they threw stones. Some of them pro-
tested against foreigners" voting, and
declared that elsewhere they would be
debarred from such a privilege. The
cry of fight was frequently reiterated
from the ranks Of the rioters. Rehon-
STRANGE with them was vain; and while a
Justice Of the Peace was engaged in the
laudable effort TO enforce order, by calm
ly appealing to their better feelings, be
was struck with brick upon the breast,
and otherwise assaulted Other respect