, 1859-12-08

Proceedings to Prevent Ex'
poAurcs


violent Proceedings to Prevent Ex'
posure.
IFs,m tie QmtlA Nspubican Nov. ooth ]
james b. Coe, Esq, Of this city, and Wul. L.
James, Esq, Of Dakota, were dispatched by the
Republican Territorial Committee to L'Eau qui
Court county to examine into the alleged frauda
serve. Mr. Colt returned last night, and has
handed US the following statement:
Editor Of the K1publieda The undersigned
has just returned from L'Eau qui Court county,
whither he went, in company with Ar: James,
Of Dakotul,, to ascertain the facts in relation to
at Niobrarah, one Of the precincts Of election in
that county, on the morning Of the 22d inst,
and went Immediately TO tho store in which the
Postmaster, the Probste Judge, and the County
Clerk, keep the papers pertaining to their re-
specsiye offices. II is building about Is by q,
one ssorY high, md dirided into two rooms By
. canvass partition. We applied to the Clerk
book, which Was granted Us. The Clerk COM
pared the copy We had made with the original.
and certified to its correctness. While we were
in the Office, J. S. Gregory, the sub-agent Of the
0maha Indians, aud one Judge Tufts, who
holds the certificate of election as Democratic
county. came in, and, as Mr. James had bust
ness with the former, We went with him
to his office. While there, our horse was
taken from the buggy aud secreted- We
spent The balance Of that day in the vain effort
to find him; we were, therefore, obliged to re-
ing we discovered that the wheels had been re-
moved from tho buggy; they, too, were Sc.
creted, and could moi Be found. We spent the
second day in searching for our horse and the
wheels Of the buggy, without success. During
the fore part Of the evening Of tue second day,
two men, named Frank West and John S. Starr,
came to the tarern and wanted to sec the copy
OF the poll-book. West said he understood
his name was on that list, and, rs he did no:
vote at the election, he wanted to know whe-
ther tlat was so- Mr. James took the list out,
and, while examining it, they made an ef-
fort to seize it, but failed. Shortly after,
thought best TO leave that night for Mr. bod
sons, about four miles distant, Tearing me to
regain possession, if possible, Of the horse and
parts ol The buggy that had been stolen, aud to
follow hin. the next day; he did 80, taking the
poilist with him. Alter had retired, and at
CAME 10 the tavern, yelling md howl.ug like
demons, and swearing that they would hare
that poll list or hang the man who had it.
They came to the room in which had retired,
raped ut the door aud demanded admittance,
swearing and cursing in the most de,noniacai
open the door, they pressed ssoutly against it,
and threatened to burst it in unless they we're
Immediately admitted. Iopened the door, md
several armed men, half crazy with l,auor, and
headed By Judge Tufts, John S. Starr, Frank
West and the Sheriff Of the county entered.
They demanded the copy of the poll list. and
told them it Was not in my possession. They
seized my clothes and searched them; failing
to lind the object sought for, they demanded to
know where 1t was, bat declined to tell them.
They then forced me down tue stairs and out of
doors. On our arrival outside the door, Judge
Tuats and The Sheriff took me By either arm
aud marched me SONS distance from the
rest Of their rufianly followers, saying they
wanted to see me in private. The Sheriff, who
seemed to be the spokesman, said it wns true
that frauds had been committed ut that poll !;
that they were all equally implicated in them,
and that the list We had obtained contained the
| evidence Of their guilt, and they had resolved
that it should never 60 out ofthe county. They
were determined to obtain possession of It
pcaceab1y If they uld-iorcibly if they must,
and that they would force me to give it up if
had it, and, If not, to tell where it was. told
them frunkly that it Was not in my possession,
aud TINT if il was, had come by il legally, as
| but it was not in my possession, nor would
tell them where it was. They then wit drew,
and, after consulting with their followers start
cd off in the direction Of Mr. Dod-on's, shout
ing and yelling" James has got them! Hes
up ut Dodson's! Let's 60 and take them from
him!'
About three hours later they returned to nv
room, called me up again, aud insisted that I
| should 20 with them to Gregory's house; de-
clincd; but they persisted and finding resistance
vain and fearing violence, concluded to 70 with
| them. There We found table spread with
/ supper, including various kinds Of liquors.
Shortly after entering the room one of the gang
stated n Eea1orr In my ttanrfur hal Thn..
had found the copy Of the poll list with James,
| up at Dodson's and had taken it away from him,
] and that the country IVES safe!" They then
drank around and sat down to supper. While
they were eating got away and returned to
the Tavern and was not nlolested again. The
next morning. on arising, found the wheels
replaced on tile buggy, aud WIS informed By
one Of the gang that would lind the horse
safe in Gregory's barn, which l did. then
went back to the clerk and asked for another
copy Of the poll list but was refused. lie gave
rs an excuse, that during the night his valise in
whicl. le kept the recsrds Of the county, had
been broken open aud the list stolen therefrom,
md that he could not lind It.
lhastcncd on as fast as possible to Dodson's
| and found James there. He stated to nc, that
at about half past one o'clock nt night, be was
| awakened By Mr. Dodson, who told him seye-
but before he had time to rise and dress him
| self, Judge Tutls, Frank West. John Starr,
and the Sheriff, rushed into the room and dc.
manded the copy Of the poll list. threatening
violence unless he gave It up. Ic refused to
do 80. but they searched bis clothes, and fin.
ally found it, and took it from him by force
Soon after obtaining it, they left.
Though the copy re lad made Of the poll
list was violently taken from us, We can re-
member several Of the names recorded as har-
ing voted at that poll. Among others re-
member distinctly The name Of Howell Cobb,
! John Smith and eeveral Smiths. besides q
list Of McReas, sud many other fictitious
! names, and also the name Of William brigham
appears in the list as having yoted, and said
brigham was in Sioux City At the time Of the
election. The natne Of Dodson, (son OF D. B.
Dodson Of Niobrarah) who is minor and did
drovet who resides in Council Bluffs, Iowa,
whose name hare not ut band, but can obtain
it, appears on the list as having voted. This
gentleman was at Council Bluffs at the time Of
the election, Above have siven plai1 state
ment Of facts, such rs Mr.. james, myself and
others will testify to when called upon.