Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-04-01
HARRISBURG.
The Contested Election Case.-The Evidence of
Father Tracy.

Father Tracy.
The following from the correspondence of
the Pttsburg' Commercial, Of March 24th,
will be perused with interest by our readers:
The Committee on the contested election
case of Robson VS.. Shugart is drawing its
investigations to a close. The counsel for
the contestant are offering rebutting testi-
mony this week. They are bound to close
that tomorrow night. Your readers well
remember that at the commencement they
produced a Mr.. o. Mara who testified that
he had been paid FIVE hundred dollars by
priest, named Father Tracy, for going out of
the State and staying out until after the trial
of this case, so as not TO testify as to what
he knew about the fraud that had been prac-
ticed at Philipsburg. Mr., Shugart's coun-
sci aud all the copperhead leaders said that
o Mara had sworn to what was not true
They impeached his character for truth and
veracity. They summoned witnesses to
prove that he was not to be believed upon
oath, but they never produced Father Tracy
to disprove Mr.. o. Mara evidence Faith
er Tracy they took care to keep out of
reach during the whole trial Robson s
counsel could not find him until last night.
But as the case was known to be about clos
ed, Father Tracy concluded it was safe for
him to return to Clearfield and Elk counties.
One OF Robson S counsel happened to be on
the train from Philadelphia westward last
night, and he soon discovered Father Tracy
ON board the cars and entered into converse
tion with him, and found out that all Mr..
0 Mara had testified to was true. Howev-
er as the counsel had no subpoena with him
he could not compel Father Tracy to stop off
as Il witness. However, such men as H B
Swoope and John Cessna are not to be baf-
fled ii enc gy and legal talent will prevent
1t. 1t Is not necessary to say how they did
it; but they had a man at Tyrone with a
subpoena when Father Tracy arrived there,
who subpenad Tim and brought him back
here to-day, and when the committee met
this afternoon and two or three witnesses
had been examined, Mr.. Cessna called Rev.
Thomas Tracy 1t was rather laughable to
see the long faces of Mr.. Orvis and Mr.
Miller, Mr.. Shugart's counsel, when the
name was called, and when the priest came
forward to be sworn. That was the first
hint they had he was on hand. They de-
manded at once to know what was proposed
to be proved by the witness. Mr. Swoope
wrote down what he proposed TO prove by
Father Tracy. MIR. Orvis noted down his
objections. They were both read to the
committee and the objections ovcrruled, and
the testimony admitted. 1t was offered to
prove the correctness of O. Mara's testimo-
ny, and to rebut the testimony of those who
swore that they would not believe him on
oath. The following is substantially Tracy's
testimony as taken down by your correspon-
dent at the time:
About two or three weeks before the
meeting of the Legislature-the first of last
January paid Mr.. o Mara five hundred
dollars in his own house in Clearfeld; it was
in the evening | paid him. The agreement
was he was to leave tire State and stay out
Mr.. Collins gave me the money to pay to
O'Mara. 1t was at the instance of Mr..
German made the arrangement with o.
Mara. had correspondence with Mr.. w.
A. Wallace on the subject The intention
was to keep Mr.. D Mara out of the State
until this contested election case was deci-s 4
ded
The foregoing was on examination in chief
Mr.. Orvis cross examined him and elected
the following:
Mr.. German was the only man that [
was aware knew all about my arrangement
with Mr.. o. Mara; he was the only person
who gave me any money; the only person
who authorized me to make this arrange
ment with o. Mara. Had some correspon-
dence with w. A. Wallace he never gave
any of HIS OWN MONEY for that purpose"
At this point the-committee had to arrest
the examination, as the hour for the meet
ing of the Senate had arrived, and they
could not sit when the Senate was in session.
1t was great pity this witness had not been
allowed to give his evidence in full before
adjournment, and before Mr.. Wallace and
his friends had time to have an interview
with him. He evidently was disposed to
tell the truth. 1t will be seen how much
influence these desperate leaders will have
on him by his testimony before the commit
tee tonight. Comment on this is entirely
unnecessary Just think of Catholic priest
being employed to bribe one of his own fol-
lowers to leave the State, so that the frauds
practised by the party claiming to have such
reverence for the Constitution as the lead
ers Of the Copperhead party have the eff
frontery to claim. JUNIUs.
By the arrest in Troy of drunken man,