The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-04-03

The Acts of the Governor and Legisla-
tive Assembly of the Territory of Kan
.as TO investigate frauds committed al,
of intended to affect the result of the
election held Dec. 21st, 1857, on the
adoption of the Constitution framed at
Lecompton, and the election for officers
under it, held January 4th, 1853, beg
leave to submit the following
REPORT.
A journal Of the proceedings of the
Board has been regularly kept by the
clerk, a copy of which is herewith pre-
sented.
All the testimony taken before the
Board is hereto attached and submitted.
Each witness was examined in open ses-
SOP. and his testimony, when fully trans
Gbed by the clerk, was read aloud to
him, and he was permitted to make such
corrections as he wished before signing.
Every one offering himself as witness.
vas examined and permitted to testify
fully; and all were sought for who were
said to have any knowledge relating to
/ the subject of the investigation.
The testimony is arranged, lot in the
order in which it was taken, but so as
/ to present in distinct group the evi-
/ dence relating to each precinct to which
{ the investigations of the Board have been
directed.
Copies of the returns from Kickapoo
aud Delaware Agency Precincts in Leay-
enwOrth county and from Oxford and
Shawnee, in johnson county, are also
submitted. In copying the names from
the poll-books, they have been classified
8 By their initial letters, and in that re-
4 sPect the lists hereto attached differ from
: the originals. The board also submit
copies of other papers and records which
: ia their judgment are necessary in order
that the result of their investigation may
fully appear.
LEAYENwoRTH COUNTY.
Rickapoo-The returns of the elec-
ton az this precinct Dec. 21st, 1857. on
! the adoption of the Constitution framed
at Lecompton, show vote of 1017 for
the Constitution with slavery, and IL for
the Constitution without slavery-total.
1929 votes. From the best evidence the
Board could obtain, the whole number of
legal voters living in this precinct cannot
exceed $50 or 400, and It does not ap-
pear that there was a full turnout On
that day of such voters.
Frauds were committed by persons
voting more than once, first voting in
their own names and then in the names
Of others. Purkins testifes that a man
named Wilson told him he had voted
SIX times that day, and would vote six
times more if he could.
On the list of voters are found the
names of Thomas Fl. Benton, Wm. H.
Seward, Adam Bible, Horace Greely. J.
v. Denver, Edwin Forest, John FIRE.
mont and James Buchanan, together with
the names of other persons known never
10 have been residents in the precinct.
The poll-books also show names twice
IscOFded; and the name of William
tones occurs four times. The names of
many citizens of Platte county, No., ap-
8 pear; but witnesses testify that many of
these persons were not in Kickapoo on
'aa day. Thompson aud Laiblin testify
% g names on the list of persons whom
lhey Know are not residents, or not legal
voters Churchill recognizes the names
~ residents OF Platte county, Mo. The
name of James Thompson, who died at
Aiekapoo on the 9TH of September last,
zappears upon the list. The testimony
luTIher shows that On the 21st Dec, the
Ioiis We're closed at ten O'Clock PM.
s'i'' lhat 10 voters other than those whs
we're present dnring the day were there
ud'ins the night. At 6 o'clock PM,
-, Sne vote was 6l0, and at the close 1929.
nc name Of William Franklin appears
III III m me Poii-book of this precinct as one
u 'ne Judges of election; but. the evil
Ie,ee shows that he was confined to his
aed on that day, and was unable to act
IN that capacity. ~ " "'
1pur committee have submitted the
pGh-book to the inspection of witnesses
n,aO; @nO are well acquainted throughout the
asS.hct OF Kickapoo; and find that a
,aE m,se majority of the names upon it are
ri-Hnown TO any of the witnesses. Laib-
sn. ~ mas ilyed IN kickapoo three years, and
HnOws but seventy on the list who are
si voters. Thompson has lived there
.no years and knows but seventy. Rails
Sn ~ nas ilvcd there nearly three years and
Knows but 107.
6 II appears by the testimony of the
ecefk !, OF the Board, that on comparison
: 1ae poll-books of the Kickapoo pre-
,s.s 1,ase ior the election of 2Ist of Dec
iO.a ,oa. with those of the 4th of january,
200, there are but 143 names common
n., oo'h poll lists, that there are SIG
~h;s rgales on the poll-books of 21st Dec,
Isns ,,.n 90 not appear on those of 4th oil
~. Ary; and S42 on the latter that do
appear on the former. This would
sa5 ,aJ", u they We're all legal, 1871 quail
I, w, 'o'ers IN the precinct of Kickapoo,
H.. siso .. appears by the same testimony
= VOTE = persons named Jones appear as
he S's's on the list Of 21st Dec, and II on
s;ps,e " 4'h January; and that with a
inc 80 :, exception none of the Joaeses vot-
panoa % tne 2lst have the same christian
the ss =, with any of those who voted on
11.SSlioa 1ss1 at this precinct on the 2Ist Dec .s
vota. sl. me board report that of the 1o2s
ill., l'e'uTned, about seven hundred were
TSsl TS and fraudulent.
mo- a+s returns of the election at Kic.ka.
Sat- Oa M the 4th Of January. 1858 20,
w so.a o.iieers under the Constitution show
II fer n ~. ., so2 I the Leoompton. and 4s
Tbe e AM Anti Lecompton ticket
AN Poiis were opened about 10 o,cIoce
kn;S.. ofowds of men armed with bowie
ronnSslp s pistols, and fresh cut clubs sur
Slats Saea ss the polls and forced off the free
eli % ohs1 men who We're present, and attempt
sO.s,s 'aa1Ienge lie aud keep a list Of the
At @ sa,s The U. S. troops were stationeS a,.S
Of @s I'm; distance from the polis essao1ss and on
Vent s'aI OF them and lent no % aid to- to nre, r..
,aissas is an outhreak;-owiag n n past = r. 's |.
s6+ri@a aefstandins as to who. whetber n.
Tie - 30 Of the United States Marshal ba,i
was asnt .sLt to control them. The rssnl, aat
farea s,as .a5 the voting was conducted II -
slpes-s -na fraud during the entire sdI dav = :.
asnr aass nom the concurrent testimony ., :,
cunt. u the a. best citizens Of Leayeneor,h u,
Their evidence shows that bow. 3 :