Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-07-22
WHY A REGISTRY LAW Is NEEDED.
Extracts from the Sworn Testimony
Naturalization Papers by the Thousand.

Naturalization Papers by the Thousand
From the official report of the Contested
Election case of Robson VS. Shugart, we
extract the following testimony. 1t will be
found in the Legislative Record, No us,
and demonstrates the necessity OF Regis
try Law more forcibly than any argument
We could make.
Benjaain Hughes, sloorm Il reside in
Scranton, Third ward, Luzerne county
have lived there seventeen years, L under
stood that false naturalization papers were
were being circulated freely In Lqzerne
cousty. and got Thomas Reese, W elsh-
man who had been eleven months in the
country. to 90 to Sheffield Reynolds, jus
tice of the peace told him to go and tell
him how long he had been in the country
this paper he brought me Naturalization
paper produced, Reynolds is Democratic
politicia n; | was clerk at October election,
! 1866, in Third ward, Scranton Andrew
Caffrey presented a paper, issued August
/ term. 1865. and offered to vote; he would
| not be sworn and did not vote Patrick
Collins snatched the paper from hun and
kept it; Catfrey was excited; John New
! comb presented a similar paper, and oi1er,
! ed TO vote he was sworn, and said he had
! never declared his intentions; ;. u. Oren,
! the Judge, got the other paper. | sent
! Thomas Cove to Squire Reynolds for
! naturalization paper, and he brought me
| this one, issued by the mayor, dated Sep
| tember22. 1866 (Thos Reese and Thomas
Cove's papers were offered III evidence and
| filed.
Cross examination Thomas Reese's
papers were brought to me by himself on
! Saturday, and the ether on Monday before
| the election.
| Thomas Reese s,corn Mr.. Hughes sent
me to Squire Reynolds for naturalization
| paper; [ had been eleven months IN the
cou try; | asked him if | could have a na-
turalization paper to vote for Clymer he
| said could get one, and more ike me could
| if they wanted them ). he gave me the pa
! per, charging me one dollar and ninety cents;
! the paper Reynolds gave me [ took to Mr..
! Hughes this one on the table looks like 1t;
/ | can read.
Cross e.ran,ined:-I never voted III this
! country never Jried to vote on this paper
| was not acquainted with Squire Reynolds;
I he is much older than myself | went alone
( and saw him; wrote my name in the paper;
did not see him seal it L gave the paper
/ to Mr.. Hughes the Saturday before the
election, the day got it. Benjamin Hughes
recalled The paper brought by L. Reese
Is in the same condition as | received 1t.
! james RHshdc1l S1COrB Il live in Scran-
ton; was Judge of election October, 1867
! eighth ward j. | received three illegal na-
turalization papers /; these are the papers,
| bearing the prothonotary 5 seal and sigma
ture swore each of the men Patrick
/ NJ Calf swore that he had got his papers at
Hyde Park, of Squire Reynolds, and paid
! two dollars he was born in Ireland came
to this country in 1861 Martin Rodde
said he got his papers at Wilkesbarre could
/ not give any particulars said he was born
in Ireland came in 1861 William L. Dn-
gan said he got his papers at Carbond,le,
| in the Mayors court /; he sent for them by
/ Frank Collins. The naturalization papers
! were offered in evidence and filed. Witness
! prodaced twelve naturalization papers, sign
| ed NJ. j. Philbin, with the county seal
they were brought to the Republican county
committee by different perons.
Gross ecanlined - | cannot tell the par
! ticular persons who gave me these blanks
| they were brought in previous to the Octo-
| Der election, 1867 | was present when part
| Of the blanks were brought in saw twenty
or thirty more | have no doubt but the
county seal on the blanks is genuine these
! blanks purport to be signed by the clerk l
! do not know the hand writing of any OF the
clerks Martin Roads lives in Scranton
| NJ Calf | did not know Dugan, L think is
| away.
ITna. l.. Piiichard s,corm Il was judge
of the October election, 1867, in Scrant n
| have nine naturalization papers that | re-
ceived at that time one of them Is An
drew Loddes his vote was challenged at
| the window; he was called in and swore
that he got his papers at Wilkesbarre; the
| M than aSta1 kim when he went
away to get them he replied he had not
lett the mines for three months the pay
master then told him to tell the truth he
then said he was sick, and Patrick NJ Cam
brought them to him. %, Patrick Coggins;
he was challenged and would not swear |
took his papers dated August, 1866. Sd.
John B. Larkin, he would not swear, his
papers were the same. 4th Jno. O. Hara,
the same as the others. 5th. Martin Joice,
the same he doubted my righJ to retain
the paper the outsiders threatened me |
retained most of the papers. 9th, James
Connor; | retained his on the same grounds
as the others his was the same as the 9th
erS he would not swear. 9TH. Patrick
Campbell's was dated September, 1866 ; |
knew he had been in the country but eighteen
months; his was the same. Sth. Joseph
Larkin; dated September IS, 1866 the
same would not swear he was in the coun-
Try TWO years, IH DOaru were ali hepuDl-
cans.
w. j. Carlin s5cora ::-Iliv in Scranton
Ninth ward, and have three naturalization
papers Hugh Cosgrove; | challenged his
vote when he came out of the room he
said the clerk would not give his paper to
him /; he gave it to me; William Figin and
Peter o Rourke are the names of the Others
Dr. Roberts slcorn Il have three of
these papers, signed by Philbin one dated
August 22, and the other two September %
these papers were given me by man who
said they were left in his neighborhood for
distribution he was Democrat | do not
wish to give his name these papers were
used by the election board for the purpose
of comparison.
| d. Il. FordIiom s1rOra Il was inspector
I of election in the Second ward, Scranton
| have one paper, Dominick Gillespie, sign
| cd AMI sealed he offered to vote at the
election, ard was asked where he got the
/ paper: he said Squire Reynolds gave it to
[ him: | asked him if he went to Wilkes
barre; he said not, that the papers were
/ brought to him.
On motion, adjourned to meet February
/ 5, at 3 p. NJ NJ r. ADAMS. Clerk.
Gen. H. " Hoyt sworn:-I live in