New-York tribune., 1868-10-28
THE PHILADELPHIA ELECTION FRAUDS.

The Judges in the Court of Common Pleas
in Philadelphia have met for consultation, aud re-
ccyed petitions on behalf OF officers claiming to have
been regularly eoeted at the last election They are
Charles Gibbons, DstrictAttorneyi Richard Peltz
Receiver Of Taxes. aud Capt Richard Donagan, Pro-
thonoary tho Court OF Common Pleas These petitions
are signed by many prominent citizens OF Philadelphia
and charge that while Albert W. Fletcher was returned
elected Prothouoary Of the Court OF Common Pleas
by receiving vote Of 6o,9GO TO tO3S4 cast FOR
Richard DOuagan, he IN reality did not re-
ceye more than $1,000 votes. To sustain this
assertion the petitioners specify that In the
six election divisions OF the Third Ward, the election off
GERS permitted many persons 5 In number whose names
known not qualified 10 VOTE neither receiving proof
they qualified electors m that division, nor ed
ding their names tho list furnlsbcby the City Com
missioners: that they permitted many Othefs 70 Yoe
fraudulcntly whose names are not known 10 the petit
TONER'S they irauduenty neglected ana refused 10 marx
the letter W opposite the names OF Those VINO VOed IN
that division, thereby keeping record Of those who
bad cast ther No'os 'nae tuey icus W
tions OF voters whose right 70 vote was legally
the votes OF nonrcsdcnts of that election division The
petitioners then specify the number OF Illegal votes cast
for Fletcher few Others OF the election divisions
when the reading Of the petition had been concluded,
the court all the Judges being on the bench made an
order that the petition be iled that ten days notice be
elected that the hearing be fixed for November a.
The petition OF the citizens the election OF
Furman Sheppard the office OF Distrct-Attorney, is
nearly similar 10 that IN the case OF the Frothonotry OF
sets forth for Mt Sheppard aud $500 for Mr. Glib
b0us giving tho former majority OF Las votes, which
u
that In truth Mr.. sheppard did not receive more than
500 votes and Mr. Gibbons did receive at least tgSl
which would give the latter majority OF 1000 After
enumeratng some of the election divisions IN
which the petitioners charge that fraudu-
And your petitioners further represent that at each
aud all aforesaid divisions the Sheriff of Phndel-
phla unlawfuy conspring with certain persons whose
names unknown to your petitioners, 10 lntDldle
the legal voters In the said several divisions and wards,
and To exclude them from the right 20 vote at the said
election did in violation OF law, depute certain per-
sons OF bad reputation TO attend the election 40 the
SAID several divisions and wards armed with divers
deadly weapons. and that said persons, so deputed
and armed By authority Of the Sheriff. did conduct them
selves ia such riOOus. dsorderly and violent manner at
the said several election polls, 10 intmidae aud drive
away the lawful Ia the said election divisions,
and thereby prevent them from voting IN their resec
tive election divisions and did encourage divers law.
less persons citizens Of Philadelphia 10 vote at said
election In the said several election divisions ana VINO d
accordingly frauduenty vote thereat IN the names OF
lawful voters OF Philadelphia thus excluded from tho
said polls and also I'm the OF other persons returned
by OF the said several Wards as voters who
reason whereof legal election or could be held IN
the said several divisions of the said Wards" The office
OF Receiver OF Taxes is also included in the
test on ground OF fraud and this ground the petit
oners as tho Court 10 cast out OF the general court
eleven OF the voting divisions, while they charge that
in each Of the others 30 fraudulent cast.
The names Of attorneys indorscd upon the petition are
Gen Coils, Erastus PoulSon, W. 3 Rawle, and W. III.
Meredith esq In all probability the Court VIII appoint
examiners after the argument and the testimony viii be
rapidly taken