The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-10-07

of the last city election, wIs at the
time satisfied in his own mind that it
was carried for the Democratic ticket
by fraud. The outward evidences
were apparent to all. Two or three
days before the election leading Dem
ocratic politicians boosted that He'll
MAN mould be defeated at all hazards,
Notwithstanding the known facts that
the Fifth Ward, in which he was a
: candidate, was decidedly Republican.
The declaration was openly paraded
that they "ha1 the Uotes with which
to beat WILLIAM BAKER for Mayor
1t was known that the Irish and
river boarding houses were filed to
their utmost capacity with men but a
few days before theielection. Strange
faces were seen upon the streets on
every hand. The City Collectors Of
flee was filled with men who had never
been seen before, procuring certificates
of non-taxation. When the cleo
ton day came, these same men
swarmed about the Vine Street voting
place, aud when their votes were
challenged and their names were not
found on the Registry, they invaria-
bly, presented the Collectors certi6-
cate and produced the affidavit re-
quired by the Registry Law; and in
the hurry, press and excitement at
the polls, their votes were received. F
When the election day was over,
the Irish boarding houses were speed
lily emptied, and the strange faces dis
appeared aud have not since been
seen in the city. There was no ques-
ton Ia the minds of Republicans that
these men voted in large numbers in
the Fourth and Fifth Wards. and sew
eral of them in the Third Ward. That
at least three Councilmen, the Mayor
aud the Democratic city ticket were
elected by fraudulent and imported
votes, well-informed Republicans do
not doubt. And yet the facts, sufi
cient to convict the guilty parties aud
satisfy the public, were not then within,
reach. But the fraud was not forgot
ten. 1t required time, however. to
work up 1.-THE cases. Murder will
out!" AMI the ill-gotten triumph of
the Democratic officials aud leaders
could not always be kept a secret.
Recently, facts and documents came
to light which established the frauds
and the manner in which they were
accomplished so clearly that some of
the guilty parties could be punished,
even under our lame aud deficient
election laws. To bring them before
the public, several of the defeated
Republican candidates decided to
commence prosecutions against few
of the guilty parties in the Magis-
trates' Courts, in order that the public
might be informed before the pending
election Of the methods by which the
people of this city were defrauded
out of free and honest election.
The restA of the cases were reserved
for the consideration of the Grand
jury and the Circuit Court, where
conviction could not be reached until
after the election. Afidavits were
filed against Thomas O'Conner and
George Flerlong. two Irish river
boarding house keepers, charging
them with election frauds, in aiding
men to vote who were not legal voters,
and with perjury in swearing that
they were freeholders when they were
not. Prosecutions were also filed
against A. T. WHITTLEsEY, the Post
master, GEO. STAcKHOUsE and JOHN
BURKE. well known and active Dem
ocratic politicians, charging them with
perjury in swearing lie votes by making
afiGavits that they were freeholders
Gas required by the Registry Act).
These are only a few of multitude of
cases wherein the election laws were
evaded and the Democratic triumph
secured. .-
The cases were set down for trial
before Esquires STINsoN, EMERY and
DAVIDSON; but the prisoners, upon
the recommendation Of the Demo
cratic managers aud lawyers, aoaived
aslaation, and gave bond to an
ssaEer tOsthe charges before the Grand
sJuh'y and the Circuit Court. They
were .uHwilling to have the evidence
brought out, for fear of injuring the
prospects OF the Democratic County
ticket. They were anxious to get
control Of Vanderburgh County by
the same means as they had triumph,
ed in the city election.
1t is now clearly aseertained that
the Democratic managers, at the last
city election, were engaged in regu-
lar and systematic method to carry
the election by the free expenditure
of money and importation of voters
In the light of the facts which will be
developed, the boast of leading Dem
ocrats a day or two before and on the
morning of the election, that they
"had tie Uotes, may be understood.
The declaration Of Mayor WALKER.
in theward meeting, on Friday before
the election, that he kaseso that he
would be elected, has forcible sig
nifeance. 1t is not proper for us