The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-10-18

WARD-STAT EMENT OF GEO. WILLIAM
BROWN, ESQ.
On the 18th inst, at about 10 A. NJ, l went to
the polls of the 10th ward and voted an open ballot
for the Reform candidate. The chalengers on that
side had been arrested by the police or driven
away, and felt it to be my duty to take my place
as challenger The polls were surrounded by vio-
lent and rude body of men of the American party,
among whom the chief and most disorderly were
Erasmus Levy and John Engsh-there was not in
the immediate vicinity of the polls single member
OF the Reform party. My presence was violently
objected to. was told that it was quiet before l
came, and that caused all the disturbance. was
threatened with violence, seized by the throat
stantly hustled and pushed-a rude hand was thrust
in my face-my foot was Intentionally stamped on,
and was struck in many places with some sharp
instruments, which left more than twenty marks
on my person. The injuries inflicted were, how
ever, trihing. / repeatedly asked for the protec-
ton of the Judges, who demonstrated with the
crowd, and requested them to give me place near
the window. The challenger on the American side
occupied such place without any interference or
objection. Once or twice l obtained a suitable
place, at the instance of the authorities, but in
sequence of the confusion, crowding and violence,
did not keep itlong. The moment moved for the
purpose of aiding a voter, my place was
taken, and | was not allowed to resume
it. | was unarmed, and did not raise
my hand against any man, even in self
defence, but confined my resistance to remon-
strances and carefully avoided giving offence to
any notwithstanding the insults and outrages which
| / endured. | challenged some votes which were
suspicious, but finding that this always produced
additional excitement and that the Judges objected
to votes which they considered doubtful, exerted
myself chiefly in rendering aid to voters who
were intimidated or obstructed in their efforts to
| reach the polls. The Judges manifested determi-
nation to do justice in the reception of votes, but
seemed to think it beyond the scope of their duty
| to attempt to quell the disorder outside. No com
mtments were made by their order, nor wac the
nhn ch1If6
an hour and half, and during that time much
ill-treatment of foreign voters of the humber
classes who were all greatly alarmed Nearly every
such voter was stuck with avis, hustled and kicked
and in one case the certificate of naturalization
which the voter about to present to the Judges
was snatched from him by Erasmus Levy, and the
man lost both his vote and his paper. There was
much threatening and violent language used. l
frequently invoked the aid of Sergeant McComas
who had charge of the police and who exerted
himself to do his. duty in which effort he was
aided by only few of his men, but he did
not succeed in protecting me or the voters,
or quelling those who were disturbing, the
peace. After enduring this state of things
for long time went with large number of gen
tlemen to the Mayor. lie came to the polls twice,
and interposed, but with no permanent effect Very
soon the disorder was as bad asever. | again went
to the Mayor to lodge complaint against Erasmus
Levy who committed most of the Cutrages upon me
which have mentioned above and for the account
of his arrest and discharge refer to the statement
of my friend Mr.. Wallis, which was published
Yesterday.
About l o'clock Sheriff Dreamer passed near the
polls My partner, Mr.. Bruno, who with me
called his attention to the state of things, and
asked him to summon the posse con,itatus, voun-
teering my own services and assuring him that
there were an abundance of men ON the ground
who were ready to assist, but he declined to act
1t is my deliberate judgment that the ommit
ment of some two three of the ringleaders would
have restored quiet and order, but they with
their associates were allowed to insult obstruct
-, o4.,
GEO. WIN. BRowN
STATEMENT OF JERVIS SPENCER, ESQ.
From the time took my stand at the window
II o'clock NJ, until left, English, Levy and Eakle
seemed to regard themselves as privileged charac
tiers, and promenaded up and down the space in
tended to be kept open for the approach of voters
at pleasure. There number of other row
dies in sympathy with them, who were grossly in
suting to every one who showed any disposition tt
have fair play. ! do not think the Judges inter
tered in any instance to repress disorder-and the
+ police showed no firmness determination.
thought however, there was no occasion of accu
, sing the Judges of any unfairneSs, and may sa,
the same of some of the police. They appa
rently afraid to oppose the rowdles. The passag
was generally kept open, the rowdes having certain
possession of one side, and number of the mem
| bers of their party annoying and extremely discom
moding the other side | applied to the police t
know if the side we on did not of right belon
| 10 us, anu was tOlu III uluy DuJ iuey WOulu no
attempt to remove the intruders. English, Lev
and Eakle seemed to stand sponsors on their mer
word for men who went to the polls, and could Civ
e no satisfactory account of themselves In some in
stances they said they lived at place outside @
- the ward-and were then prompted to say ano
: Their place-and being unwilling TO swear, thei
O votes admitted upon the mere verbal assuI
- ance of one of the three ] have named, that b
knew the party and that he lived in the ward. A
II one time Eakle brought up number of suspicious
s looking persons, and having known him before
as engaged in the work of persuadng persons
vote that he knew were not legal voters, / aske
o the Judges to swear all the persons offered
n This request produced good deal of excitement
and though | insisted on it, believe not one wa
) sworn and their votes taken.
l. Levy seemed to become about this time furiou
n Standing Immediately at the window, within thre
= feet of the Judges, he exclaimed, "By God let
g fght-le's XII the damned rascals. PHfght" or "I
ID be damned if don't fight" and turned upon u
" making demonstration of attack He threw ope
biz qa at f t tina spa d ARWsd ap b 5
of an attack further than by pushing; and no MOTIF
o. was taken of it. When left, the disorder SCENE
% to have become hopeless, and we were wholly will
. out means to overcome it.
III must say in justice to the Judges, that the
s. behaviour, thought, was gentlemanly and as
m the police, though they did not act with vror
. saw nothing to justify the belief that they encou
Il aged the rioters. Though received little prote
It ton from them, they treated me politely.
, have made this statement at the request of I'll
= Reform Committee of the 10th ward
e October 10th, 1859. JERvIs SPENCER.