The Kanzas news., 1858-01-02


Election frauds
Be It enacted 6y the Gopernor and Legis.
latipe assembly Of the Territory Of AaHSas.
as follOacs:
SEC. 1. IF any person who is not bona
fide inhabitant of this Territory shall vote
at any election held under Law or under any
semblance or pretence of law, or if any
person shall vote more than once at the
same election, at the same place or at differ
ent places, he shall be deemed guilty of fel-
ony, and upon conviction thereof shall be
punished by imprisonment and hard labor
for term of not less than one year nor
more than two years.
SEC. 2. Any person or persons whom
soever, who may be charged with holding
any election In this Territory, authorized
by law, or held under any semblance or pre-
tence of law who shall wilfully and know
ingly receive any vote offered by any per-
son who is not bona fde resident of the
Territory, at the time of offering to vote, or
who shall have voted previously, at the
same election, or any person or persons
who shall knowingly or wilfully commit
any irregularity or fraud whatsoever, with
the intent to hinder, prevent or defeat
fair expression of the popular will, shall be
deemed guilty of felony, and upon convic-
ton thereof shall be punished by imprison
ment and hard labor for term not less
| than one year nor more than three years
Sec. 3. Any person who shall have in
his possession any falsely made, altered,
forged or counterfeit poll-book, tally list,
or election returns of any election in this
Territory, authorized by law, or held under
any semblance or pretence of law, know
| ing the same to be falsely made, altered.
forged or counterfeited, with intent to him
| der, prevent or defeat a fair expression of
the popular will, shall be deemed guilty of
| felony, aud upon conviction thereof shall
be punished by Imprisonment and hard la
Dor for term of not less than one year
nor more than two years.
Sec. 4. Any person or persons whom
soever, who may be authorized by law or
by any semblance or pretence of law, to re-
ceive, canvass or count the poll-books, tai
! lY lists, or election returns of any election
| held under law or under any semblance or
pretence of law, who shall wilfully and
knowingly receive, canvass and count any
| poll-book, tally list or election returns which
are fraudulent, forged or counterfeited, or
who shall falsely and fraudulently count
and cast up any poH-books, tally lists, cleo
ton returns or votes, with intent to hinder,
prevent, or defeat fair expression of the
popular will, shall be deemed guilty of fell
ony, and upon conviction thereof shall be
punished by Imprisonment and hard labor,
for term not less than two years nor
more than five years.
Sec. 5. ANY person or persons author
lied by law or any semblance or pretenee
of law, to grant certificates of election, or
to declare by proclamation or otherwise,
the result of any election held under law,
or under any semblance or pretence of law,
who shall grant such certificates, OF declare
the result of such election, based upon
fraudulent, fictitious or illegal votes, with
intent to hinder, prevent or defeat fair ex-
preston of the popular will, shall be deem
ed guilty of felony, and upon conviction
thereof shall be punished by Imprisonment
and hard labor for term not less than
three years nor more than FIVE years.
SEC. 6. Any person or persons who
shall knowingly and wilfully inscribe OF
cause to be inscribed upon any poll-book,
tally list or election returns of any election
held under law or under any semblance Of
law, the name of any person not entitled to
vote or not voting, with intent to hinder,
prevent OF defeat a fair expression of the
popular will, shall be deemed guilty of fel-
ony, and upon conviction thereof shall be
punished by imprisonment and hard labor,
for term not less than one year nor more
than two years.
SEC. Z: Any person who shall subscribe
or cause to be subscribed, his own name OF
any other name, as Judge or clerk of any
election, to any falsely made, altered, fraud
ulent or counterfeited poll-book, tally list
or election returns, knowing the same to be
falsely made, altered, fraudulent or counter
, feited, with intent to hinder, prevent, or de-
feat fair expression of the popular will,
shall be deemed guilty of felony, and upon
RI conviction thereof shall be punished by
Imprisonment and hard labor for term
of not less than one nor more than two years.
Sec. 8. In all offences arising under
+ any of the provisions of this act, the Pro-
bate Judges of the several counties shall
have original and exclusive jurisdiction,
and shall have the same powers in sum
moning juries and in all other matters ap-
pertaining to the arrest, trial, conviction
and punishment of such offenders, as are
now by law vested in the district courts in
case of felony: Provided, That if any
Probate Judge shall refuse to issue writs
or in any manner to proceed under this act
the prosecution may re had before the Pro.
bate Courts in any adjoining county.
, SEC. 9. All acts and parts of acts now
in force in this Territory, conflicting with
this act, be, and the same are hereby re-
t pealed.
, SEC. 10. This act TO take effect and b.
in force from and after its passage.