New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-11-05
Especial dispatch q ths Missouri Democrat. /


ANNAPOLIS, Oct. 81, via Washington Oct 81
The counsel for the defense in the case against
the Baltimore commissioners finished presenting
their evidence about two O'Clock this afternoon,
and this evening the attorneys are presenting
their arguments. During the day about thirty
witnesses were called, half of whom are judges
Of election. The police commissioners were
present. but the governor declined to put them on
the stand, intimating, however, that he might
examine them privately. The chief witness of
the day. was Mayor Chapman, of Baltimore who
stated that ne had done nothing, directly or in
directly, about the appointment of Judges of
election, that he had been in almost daily inter
course with Commissioner Wood for three or four
years, and never saw him under the influence of
Intoxicating liquors either In office or out of office.
The points made or ATTEMPTED by the prosecu-
ton having been already stated it NAV now be
shown how these were met by the defense First,
relative to the character of the judges it admitted
most OF these are of the so-ealled radical party,
yet that political opinion was not made the test Of
qualification, is proyedby the fact that conserva-
tive judges were brought forward as Witnesses on
the stand yesterday and to-day by the defense
themselves. During the examination some fifty
judges, representing seventeen out of twenty
wards in the city; have been introduced as wit
nesses, and they certainly are men most eminently
qualified for duties Of their position.
Inc general evidence relative to others is, that
except in a very few bad precincts, they are as
discreet, respectable and conscientious officers as
the city ever had and except in matters Of refns.
ing to receive the ballot of persons not registered
IN 1865, there not dozen out of aggregate, 240,
against whom any. complaint has been made save
that they are radicals
Second. Relative to the intoxication Of Commits
sioner Woods, the evidence Of Mayor Chapman
has been already given, but it may be stated that
the base insinuation Of the prosecuting counsel in
this regard created such indignation in Baltimore
that after the mayor has given his testimony to-
day, they publicly withdrew the charge.
Third. Relative to transactions in hats by Com
missioner Kinds; it has been shown that he sold
the hats as cheap as could be bought anywhere in
the city; that no member of the police force was
required to buy Of him il he chose to trade else
where the only restriction being the style fixed by
the board should be adopted.
Fourth. Relative to the order directing persons
arrested for riotous conduct on election day to be
kept in confinement unit the polls closed /; it has
been shown that the board had nothing to do
with this matter; that it was issued by the mar
slal, as 10 some previous years, was obeyed in
only part Of the city at least, and was rescinded
before night
Fifth. Relative to the politics and characters Of
special police; the existence of both sides shows
thatthe commissioners had nothing to do with tine
election or appointments of these; threefourths of
them were probably radicals so-ealIed, but four
Of the captains have sworn that politics had moth
ing to do with the appointment of any of them,
the only requirements being that they were loyal
men during the war; that nine-tenths Of the whole
number were good men aAdperformed their duties
lmpartially il admitted by everybody; that few
Of Inc number are in the employ of the city gov,
ernment in come capacity is admitted but ii Is not
charged BY anybody that they abused their po-
sition.
Sixth. Relative to boxes for rejected ballots.
The clerk OF the board swears they were sent as
usual TO every precinct, and every Judge put on
the stand has sworn they were ready for use in
his precin68 at least, Tile evidence 81 nroseeu-
ton on this point was TINT some persons had not
seen these bones and therefore, inferred there
were none.
Seventh Relative to persons votes, It has
been shown the commissioners, time ana time
again, refused to is-ue any Instructions on this
point but repeatedly said that they shouldappOint
The best men Ion Judges, and leave them to inter-
pref the law for themselves.
ltalso appears thatnone but persons registered
in 1865 We're allowed to vote; some Judges acting
upon their own opinion Of the law, and some fol-
loving that Of the attorney general of the State.
These seven specifications cover all Che distinct
points thatcan probably be made by prosecution.
Ihe partisan character of the movement against
the commissioners is shown By tie way they have
been met by the defense. 1t il the concurrent
testimony of all respectable witnesses that no
election 10 the city ever passed oil in more quiet
and orderly manner.
1t should be stated that certificates from the
clerks of the Baltimore ao1rls were faad no dly
showing that SIX or seveA q the witnesses Tor tr
prosecution haze been indicted and convicted Of
lenous otfenses, some Of them two or three times