The Van Buren press., 1868-04-03
Ff0W IIlIIf H1tt H02eTT'.
Radical Frauds-The Proof.

haulcaI fIauuS- fIovi'
/ In our issue Of yesterday We published I
letter from a reliable citizen OfJohnson, re-
citing the frauds which had hccn pricticct
upon the voters of that county. Since ther
VIC have received letter from another prom
7 incnt citizen of that county, from which VI
take the following:
GAINESVILLE, ARK- March 2lst, 1S6s.
GHTs :-Stupcndous frauds have been &C M
mltted in the election here. At this precinct
| (Carksyillc) il seems there were us Note'
polled. As counted out llg were for and 81
against Constitution. We send you the all
dayit, of one hundred and fifty-two of the
voters. and know that l7O voted against IL. The
votes were counted out right. On edncsddy
night the commissioner of the state election
one Jas. V. Fitch, had the custody of the mill
tary boN--,o states the registrar who held the
election. Evidently he changed the ballots
but it was all understood by all the parties.
When we started out officers 10 take the at
idayts of the voters these fellows began TO
see the situation, and indeed | never saw 80
mean looking set OF Williams. Fitch and
Sarber have gone TO Little Rock and will
doubtless Try 10 MAKE II appear that II Is all
right. W. \. f.. TiSdale, one of the registrars
voted twice at the box here, and the registrar
counted the vote so announced it and tore up
one ticket for the constitution. These fellows
knowing that they are caught may change
their returns, but YOU will observe that lhe
ailidayits of Connolly and CrayenS state that
the ballots were properly counted.
am satisfied that frauds were pcrpctrated
on the south side of the river where very large
maioriies are reported against Us. Had the
vote been properly shown at the polls here we
would have had loi majority in the county
1t is desired that you present To the proper
military authorities the facts aS shown by the
ailidaviS forwarded We do pray the appoint
ment of other registrars and would like Il re-
vision before new election.
The statements herein made are substantial
ted by aidayits accompanying, all of which
we now have in our possession to the number
ofonc hundred and liity-siX,and we are prom
iscd fifteen more, showing the number of
votes against constitution of Spadra precinct
to have been one hundred and seventy one,
instead of ninety The form of the ALL
davit is as follows, and each is attested as
sworn to, By justice of the peace or the coun-
ty clerk, and have the seal OF The county at
tached:
y
County of johnson. ( SIS.
The undersigned do sevcrally solemnly
swear, that at an election held on the 18th and
18th days of March, 4. d. 1868. at the city of
Clarksyillc. for the Spadra precinct. in the
county Johnson aforesaid, upon the adop-
ton OF the constitution Of the State of Arkan-
saS submitted to the people under the proyis-
ions of the reconstruction acts Of Congress, we
voted against the adoption OF said constitution
having voted tickets against constitution
at the election polls superintendent and con-
trolled by Russell b. Chitwood, one of the
registrars for said county.
In addition to these ailidavits, we have the
following sworn statement of Messrs. Craven,
and Conneley, which gives an insight as tC
the manner in which the frauds were pcrpe-
tratcd;
STATE or ARKANSAS,
County of johnson. SIS.
We, the undersigned, do solcmnly swear
that we were present ON the evening of tht
10Th March. \. ID. 1868. when the vote of tht
Spadra precinct, in the county ofJohnson.w
counted out; and that it was announced by
Russell B. Chitwood, one Of the registrars 0
said county, and the one who conducted tht
election held for said precinct on the 18th anC
stood one hundred and nineteen for the con
stituton, and nnety-nne against the consti
tuition.
We further swear, that said Russell i. Chit
wood after the ballots were all taken ont o
the box. publicly stated that Major W. A. Il
Tisdalc, one of the registrars for said county
of Johnson, had voted twice that day for tn,
constitution, and tore up one ticket for con
stitutiOn.
We do further swear, that we are citizens O
the county of johnson, and believe, from on
knowledge of the voters, that at least one hun
dred and seventy voted against constitution
ont of the 2lS polled. That we verify believ,
the vote was counted out right, but that it IlaC
been stuffed on the night OF the 18th. -
From these considerations, and the affidavit
of one hundred and forty-scvcn of the votcr
who voted at said precinct against constitu
ton we, upon oath, do charge fraud in sale
election at said precinct and do believe tha
other frauds have occurred in holding til,
election in said county of Johnson.
We submit this affidavit and the accom-
panvng afidayts Of one hundred and forty.
seven of the voters of said Spadra precinct, t
the military authorities OF the ith military
district, and pray for redress of these grca
grievances to the voters Of johnson county.
| We further propose to forward addtiona
ailidayit~ to show that one hundred and seven
ty OF the 2l0 voters voted against the consti
tuition. WILLIAM l., CRANENS,
JOHN G.. G.CONNELLEI.
STATE or ARKANSAS,
County Of Johnson. :. 5.
|, ,tohn Il. Mcdonnell. clerk of the c.rcu
court. in and for the county ofJohnSon. in TIN,
State of Arkansas, do hereby certify and max,