The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-11-04
NEW YORK SOLDIERS VOTES.

NEW IOkk SOLDlEkS' VOTES.
Interview Of the Commissioners with
the President aud Secretary OF
War.
BALrIsroRK, Oct. pa verdict was found
in the case of parties chirged with fraud in
soldiers votes, but it must first be passed on
by the President before being made public.
! The court has adjourned.
ALBANY, Oct. pa dispatch received here
| this evening from Jas. A. Farrell, Commissary
General of Ordnance. states that 90 far as the
| confession of II. Jeffry, contained in the morn
ing papers, refers to him or in any respect con-
| meets him with alleged frauds with reference
! to soldiers votes, it is an unmitfgated false
hood, that he never received any letters or pa
| pers from him and never heard of him until
| he saw the CONCESSION In print
NKw York, Oct. 29.-Ow!ng to the storm
last night the proceeding in the case Of the al
| legged election frauds on the soldiers vote
could not he transmitted over the wires. The
following is a brief summary of the proceed
ings:
Donahue, one of the prisoners, admitted that
he had signed certain blanks with the name of
c. G. Arthur, Captain and ABIDE Camp. and
no others, but claimed 1t was no crime as there
! 'voa no such officer in the service. lie also
| nied the Jurisdiction Of the commissioners.
The Judge Advocate claimed that the court
| had jurisdiction. and said the offence was in
| violation of General Order No. 269. The court
decided it has jurisdiction.
o. X. Wood, of West Chasev, Clinton Co.,
sworn on the part of the gov 'nment. He
was agent of the Union Committee Of his
county. He had had bis suspicious aroused
while on visit to Fort McHenry and finally
went to Mr.. Terry, State agent.
Representing himself az Mcclellan agent
! here he soon learned that when Lincoln votes
were sent there from the soldiers they were
changed for Mcclellan votes, and he was as
sured there was more of that done than he
thought Of
| filling up the blanks, &C.. and much other In
| formation showing q eytematic fraud.
| While in Tcrry's office two soldiers came in
| and signed power of attorney and each placed
q Union electoral ticket with Democratic
State ticket in envelopes, but Terry distracted
! the Union and substituted Democratic electoral
| tickets.
Mr. Wood then informed the Provost Mnr.
shall of the ,Tiness; the number of Letters, &c
seized In Eerri's office were exhibited. The
letters are oil cnigmatical, and contain no open
! admissions of frauds.
The names of Peter Cagger, II. Crantiall
Sheriff Of Albany, and E. NeWcomb of Albany
frequently occur. After an address by the
Judge Advocate, the case of DOnahue was an
elaborate address to the jury.
Their decision was arrived at in an hour. but
J; goes 10 the President for approval before be-
Ing made public.
Mr.. Newcomb, under OATH mats state
ment that he was commissioned l. >,ov Sey-
mour to leave ''a votes at Baltimore and Wash
ingtOn. He DOnahue, Wood and Ferry
| writing out Pow ers OF Attorney ind Proxies at
Ferrys office. In some cases he saw officers
names put in at Donahue request.
He filed in the date, g.. of the Powers of
Attorney and afiidavits to = hich Donahue had
| signed names. Donabue made statement in
which he said that what he lad done was
fOolshly done. and without any knowledge or
idea Of the consequences. He appealed to the
Court To view his case with leniency.
New YoEK, November 1st.-The 2,i5uae's
Washington special says Governor Seymeur's
Commissioners called upon the President this
| morning. They were courteously received
but OH the subject Of the matter of their mis-
sion, he referred them to Secretary Stanton.
who had all the evidence.
They accordingly went to the war Office aud
| held long Interview with Stanton, and report
| they were more cOurteOusly received and con-
sidcred than they expected. 1t is understood
they desired The punishment of Ferry and
DOnallue should be made Us light rs possible,
but their great pressure upon the Secretary is
understood to have been in reference TO Col.
North. Ferry and Donahue's fate being seem
ingly of secondary consideration.
Tie Secretary submitted to them such evil
dence rs was before them, and 1t is said some
| what staggered their hopes of an easy escape
of their friends by its extent and cIearness. He
referred them to the Military Court for further
prisoners at the Old Capitol, and assured them
of q desire to vindicate the most sacred rights
| OF all the soldiers in the field.
To night the three Commissioners had con.
ference with Assistant Secretary Dana. Colonel
Foster, Judge Advocate, Capt. Ellis, of the
Court, ard sundry other gents were also pres
ent at the interview.
Judge Parker was the principal spokesman.
and urged as a matter Of policy that the pris-
| Oners now III confinement here should be re.
leased. He spoke of the great popularity and
high social position Of Col. North in the State
of New York. He was an aid on Gov. Sey-
mour's staff, and enjoyed the confidence of men
| of all parties, who would not believe him
guilty whatever evidence may be adduced, and
only strife and proba'' more serious disturb
ances would be the cu..-oquence on the trial.
The Judge pressed hard to know the evidence
In the hands OF the Judge Advocate, but to lit
tie purpose. ~ .,,. ..s',.i,,f
He was shown several blanks sworn to and
witnessed as bow been signed without any
signature, seized in Col. North's
hands, slD, nc seized at Baltimore.
He then mac that the fact that these
| were found lii )rth's Office, would not
convict him Of pa patton in their execution.
The Judge Is unoerstood to have replied that
the TACT OF nls guilt or innocence was to be de.
termined only by trial, and he deemed it of
great importance to Col North as we'll Us to
the Government that it proceed Immediately
Judge Parker then proposed to have the trial
postponed till after election but he found the
judge advocate equally determined, and to-mor-
row the court will be occupied with prelim-
mary examination of the documents seized. of
witnesses and evidence in their possession.
| 1t is surmised that much proof was DESTROY
| ed, as they had thirty-six hours notice before
the arrest. The commission will remain in