Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-11-05
THE NEW YORK EI ECTIoN FRAUDS

The Military Com mission, of which Major
General doubleday, L. ". is president,
sumed the case of Saml North ct al, a t3 o'cl'k
last evening, at their rooms, on F street, be-
tween 18Th and 14th SITS. Present: Maj Gen.
Abner Doubleday. u. 5. "; Brig Gen. Francis
F.ssenden, u. S v; CGi r. Butler Price, I'd
Pa cav; Lieut.. Col. T. A. Barker, l4th N. II :;
Capt. M. III. Ellis. l75th N. Y. VI Capt. J. Il.
Piatt, A. ID q; Col. }. A. Foster, I75th N. Y.
V, Judge Advocate.
Messrs. Gillett and Mcpherson appeared in
behalf of the accused.
The Judge Advocate read a list OF seventeen
persons whom the defendants wished to have
summoned rs witnesses for the defense, one OF
whom was Reuben L. Fenton, OF Chatuaque
county, New York, and said 1t was natural to
suppose thatthey were asked for in good taltn,
but 1t seemed to him only trick to gain time,
and II seemed very strange that the most OF
Them should happen TO live so far away off
from the line OF railroads. He said the defense
desired these men as witnesses to testify to the
good character of the accused. and held that
two or three would answer that end. Colonel
North need not go beyond the city for that pur
pose. He was willing that they should have
those who might be obtained in reasonable
length OF time, but did not propose 10 send to
all parts OF the world for them. He was will
ling, to geton with the business, to acknowl-
edge the private character OF Coi. North and
Mr Jones to have been good heretofore.
r. ii. Gillett counsel for the defense, thought
tnat persons of all political creeds should be
summoned to testify 10 the characters of those
accused These Wi nesses were not ali intend
eG to testify to character of one person only,
but that the different ones accused desired wit
Iessts from their respective localities to testify
10 their characters respectively. He SAID that
at least two who lived ia remote parts OF New
York State were absolutely required as two Of
the accused were residents of different and re-
mote localities, and had no familiar acquant-
aEces here. Those two were the only ones
whom lt would be any trouble 70 produce. He
said they wished Mr.. Seymour (brother of the
Governor,) summoned, as ne understood as TO
how the votes were received in New York,
and was familiar with the whole routine and
by whom he would prove that Colonel North
had no agency in procuring soldiers votes.
Some ethers thatthey wished as witnesses hap
pen to be out OF the city just at this particular
time. The counsel tor the defense denied that
Colonel North was authorized by any one in
New York to commit the crime charged against
him.
The Judge Advocate said he did not wish to
try Mr. Seymour in the present case. He said
the crime charged against the accused was
that of defraudIng soldiers OF their votes, ana
the point for the Court to decide is whether or
not they committed the act and not whether
they were commissioned for the purpose of
com mittiDg the crime. Even granting Col.
North was no authorized agent, the defence
would gain nothing, for the charge was simply
that OF defrauding solsiers OF their votes, and
If Col. North was guilty, ne should be
punished.
Mr. GilIet said that he would prove by the
witnesses that at each and every hour OF the
day. business of the offlce was open and pub
lie, and that the former State agent, political
adversary, was present, and could have seen
everything that savored oi political or moral
wickpdpess He sand all the votes were takan
openly and publicly since the arrests were
made in Baltimore, and he would make il ap-
near in this case as clear as the noon day sun
that there was no intention Of fraud on the
part Of the accused
The Court was then cleared to decide
whether or not all the witnesses should he
produced, but reserved Its decision for the
present
that he lived In Washington; was reporter to
the supreme Court; saw NIT. M. M. Jones first
in Carroll prison; took his deposition at that
place; Jones was sworn.
Cross.examined by defendants-This oc.
Cured about ten o'clock in the morning. two
days since; Col. Foster was present: Others
were there part Of the time; thinks Col Foster
had no uniform on save his cap; was not posi-
tive that Col Foster told Mr.. Jones who he
Jones to state all he knew In relation to this