Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1868-04-08
The Contested Election Case.

In another column we publish the report
of the Committee in the Robson -Shugart
contested election case, as made tothe Sem
ate on Friday, April 3D. The report being
in favor of the contestant, the Speaker, at
u clock, administered the oath to John
K. Robson, who took his seat as Senator
from the Twenty first district.
In referring to the evidence, as well as to
the labors performed by the Committee and
counsel engaged in the investigation of this
case, the Harrisburg State Guard says:
This was not only the longest, but in many
respects the most remarkable contested eiec-
ton case ever tried in the Legislature. The
petition was presented to the Senate on the
first day of the session, and on the 9th day
of january the Committee was drawn.
From that time until yesterday, the Com
mittee was engaged laboriousy in the lnves-
tigation, having held from two to three ses-
sions daily, during which they took the
testimony of witnesses, re counted ballot
boxes, heard the arguments OF counsel, ex-
amiued records, papers, &c. The evidence
of three hundred and eighty witnesses, with
the necessary minutes of the Committee,
will constitute a printed volume as large as
the Journal of the Senate, and will afford
some proxlmate idea OF the vast labors per-
formed by the Committee. The members
deserve great credit for their persevering
industry.
The most material and important ground
of contest was the fraud perpetrated at
Philipsburg, in Centre county, by the lln-
portation of foreigners. A large number OF
Irish laborers, who were working on rail-
road in the adjoining county, were brought
over the line about ten days before the cleo
ton, and quartered in Philipsburg, In the
hotels, where they were kept until the fraud
was consummated, 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 in Luzerne county,
where, it was proved, they were lying about
loose, bearing the seal of the court, and
signed by VI. T. Phibin, prothonotary.
They were sent up by "a lawyer. from Phil
adeiphia, put in the hands OF one Mark
Leddy. !tboss'' on the railroad, and after
being soaked in coffee to give them the ap-
pearance of age, they were distributed to
the men to produce at the polls as the evi-
dence of their right to vote. The poor
dupes were led up, one after another, by
the Irish boss, (having also been furnish
ed WITH LlckeCS SpeCialiy prepdrCu lOT tut
purpose by one Sheriff Perks and were
made to perjure themselves by swearing to
their papers and residence, in order to vote
the Democratic ticket. A more gross and
Infamous fraud was never perpetrated IN the
Commonwealth.
As soon as it was known that the election
would be contested, the authors and perpe-
traitors of this iniquity attempted to bribe
the most important witness to leave the State,
employing for this purpose Catholic priest
aamed Tracy, who was produced on the
stand and testified that after corresponding
with the Chairman of the Democratic State
Central Committee, he paid the witness $500
to leave the State and remain absent until
the investigation was over Another witness
named Jones, after he was subpenaed by
the Sergeant at Arms, was hidden away in
n stable and his food carried to him daily
from the hotel where majority OF the Irish
men had been ouartered Still another wit
ness, after he was actually on his way, was
slipped out of the car, from the very pres
ence Of the officer. by one OF the contractors,
struments of the fraud. Our readers will
remember that another witness, after he tes-
titled before the committee, was murdered
in cold blood while on his return home.
Fraud, perjury, bribery and murder-all le-
gitimate consequences OF the tactics OF the
Democratic State Central Committee. What
fearful responsibility rests upon the shoul-
ders of the man or men who made the con-
tract for enough votes to carry the twenty
first Senatorial District
Before, and during, and after. the trial,
every means were resorted to by the Democ-
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