The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-04-16
{ From Weekly State Guard, AprH8tb. ]
The CONTESTED Election Case.

O clock, m, the Speaker administered the.
oath to John Ii. Robinson, who took his
seat as a Senator from the Twenty first
District
This was not only the longest but in
many respects the most remarkable con-
tested election case ever tried III the Le-
gislature The petition was presented to
the Senate on the first day of the session,
and on the 9Th day of January the Com
mittee ~as drawn From that time un
ill yesterday, the Committee wass enga
ged labOriously IN the investigation, hay
ing held froW two TO three sessions daily,
during which they took the testimony of
witnesses, recouniei ballot boxes, heard
the arguments OF couusel, examined re-
cords, papers, &c. The evidence OF three
hundred and eighty witnesses, with the
uecessery. minutes of the Committee. will
constitute q printed volume as large ar
the Journal OF the Senate, and will afford
some proximate idea Of the vast labor
performed by the Committee. The mem-
bers deserve great credit for their per-
severiug industry
The most material and importment
ground of contest was the fraud perpetrat-
ed at Philipsburg, 10 Centre county, by
the importation of foreigners. A large
nun Der of Irish laborers. v no were working
on railroad III the adjoining county,
| were brought over the line about ten days
before the election and quarted in Phil
| lipsburg, in the hotels, where they were
kept until the fraud was cousummated,
when they returned to their work In the
other county. They were unnaturalized
foreigners, and were led up to the polls
on the day Of the election. like So many
sheep to the shambles. Forged papers
were procured 10 Luzerne county, where,
it was proved, the were lying about loose.
bearing the seal of the court, and signed
by NJ l. Philbin, prothonotary They
were sent up by "a lawyer" from Phil
adelphia, put in the hand, OF one Mark
Leddy Il boss on the railroad. and after
being soaked in coffee to give them tie
appearance of aye, they were distributed
to the men to produce at the polls as the
evidence Of their right to vote The
poor dupes were led up, one after another,
by the Irish "boose," (having also been
furnished with tickets specially prepared
for the purpose by one Sheriff
Perks,) and were made to perjure
themselves by swearing to their papers
aud residence, in order to vote the Dem
ocratic ticket. \ more gross and infa-
nous fraud was never perpetrated in the
! Commonwealth.
! AS soon as it was known that the cleo
ton would be contested, the authors and
perpetrators of this iniquity attempted
to bribe the most important witness to-
leave the State employing for this pur-
pose Catholic priest named Tracy, vino
was produced on the stand and testified
that after corresponding with the Chair
man Of the Democratic State Central Com
mittce, be paid the witness $500 70 leave
the State and remain absent until the in
vestigation was over. Another witness,
| named Jones, after he was subpenael by
| the Sergeant at. Arms, was hidden a
way in stable. and his food carried to
him daily from the hotel where majori-
| ty of the lrishmen had been quarterel
Still another witness, after he was actual
| ly on his way, was slipped out oil the car,
from the very presence OF the officer, by
one of the contractors, who had under
the fraud Oar readers will remember.
that another witness, after he testified be
| 'ore the committee, was murdered IN cold
blood while on his return home Fraud
perjury, bribery and murder-all legiti-
mate consequences Of the tactics OF the
Democratic State Central Committee
What fearful responsibility rests upon
the shoulders of the man who made the
contract for enough votes 20 carry the
Twenty fiost Senatorial District?
| Before, and during, aud after the trial,
every means were reSorted TO by the De
mocIa:y to prevent The truth heinr
brough to light. When all oshe, efforts
failed they brought enorm us 5ums of
money here and attempted to lanpcr with
the committee. The tangne OF runsur
was busy with the names of Republicans
members Of the committee. Professional
borers OF the Democratic stamp. who have
infested and disgracssf the Capital for
years, were insidiossly whispering that
money would secure the sitting member
in his seat In the face of all the evidence
of crime, fraud and iniquity. But they
counted without their host. and the re-
suit fully vindicates the members of the
committee, showing that they fairly. faith
fully and conscientious,y discharged their
whole duty.
Our friends througuout the State arc
indebted for the result Of this contest,
aud the development Of this stupendous
fraud, to the untiriug zeal, cnergy, and
ability of the counsel for the contestant,
Messrs. John Cessna, OF Bedford county,
and IL. Bucher Swope, of Clear6eid coun
ty. Counsel In no election case on re
cord in the archieves of Pennsylvania,
displayed superior ability than hat exhibit
ted hy these legal gentlemen. They made
pTocedents in this case which are destin
ed to be of great force in future similar
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