The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1868-06-24
DEMOCRATIC FRAUDS.

In oider to show how Pennsylvania
was carried last fall by the Roman
Catholics and Copperheads combined :
we publish the testimony of two wit
nesses in the contested election case of
John X. Robinson, (Republican) Us.
Samuel T. Shugart, (Copperhead.)
From the testimony taken from tine
Legislative Record, Session Of 1868,
it appears that a railroad sixteen miles
long was being built during the sum
mer and fall of 1867, in Clearlield
and Center counties, that but few
rods only of this road was in Center
county; about four hundred Irishmen
we're employed on the road and boarded
in shanties along the line. A State
Senator was to be elected in the Center
District, but none in the Clearfeld.
Center county is Republican county,
but in order to elect Copperhead
and defeat the will of the people,
Senator Wallace Chairman of the
Democratic State Central Committee,
and the leaders of the party in Center
county, combined with Roman Cath
Ollie Priest, had these four hundred
Irish Catholics transferred from their
shanties in Clearfield into Center
county few days before the election
procured fraudulent naturalization pa
pers and voted them against the Re-
publican candidate and defeated him.
Father Tracy, the Catholic Priest,
when it was discovered that the fraud
was going to be investigated, gave
O'Meara, a principal witness, $500 to
to leave the State-the money said to
have been received from Wallace.
The Copperhead papers harp on Pro
tcstant Ministers meddling in politics,
but can any of these ribalders OF
protestant ministers and religion men
ton an instance wherein protestant
minister was ever implicated in de-
liberate fraud upon the ballot box.
The bloody hand ofthe Romish Church
is hidden in her dark and damnable
deeds. 1t is only over the low and
ignorant she sways her sceptrc, and
Democratic politicians, are always
ready, anxious and willing to sell
their country into the hands of Rome,
if they can but obtain paltry office.
We would like to publish all of the
testimony in this case, but our space
is limited, and therefore will give the
testimony of but two-OMeara and
John Cascy-this witness, on his re,
turn to Clearfeld county, was waylaid
and murdered, but the murderers W ere
never apprehcnded.
In the Senate of the State of Pennsyl-
vania, John X. Robinson VS. Samuel
r. Shugart-XXIst Senatorial Dis
trict, Legislative Record: Session
1868, pages 1,406-7.
JANUARY %, 1868, Committee met
all the members present.
NJ. O'Meara, sworn-I was work,
ing for Mr.. Collins, railroad contrac
tor, on the railroad; was pit boss
had from ten to twenty men under m'
at times; Patrick German was walking
boss; l was working four miles from
Clearfeld, east, twelve miles from TIN
line, when James Collins and Patricl
Gorman came to me and said the,
wanted to go to Centre county for tel
days, saying their object was to carr.
the election; they said it was Repub
lican hole, and they intended running
in enough votes to carry it; | took tn
men to Centre county; Col. Skelly'
gang also went, all that were at worl
then; in and around PhillipsburI
there were about one hundred men tn
day of election; they were quartere'
at Mr.. Keplar's, Mr.. Gray's, MI
Harris's, and Mr.. Donehuc's; was il
Phillipsburg all day, most of the tim
at the polls; the polls are in the sam
building. Igave two men Democrat
ic tickets; Sheriff Perks and Mr.
Lede distributed tickets; Lcde was
walking boss on the road; saw then
giving the men tickets; Sheriff Perk
borrowed sheet of tickets from me t
have others printed; the tickets wer
all Democratic; about all that were O.
the ground voted; all had naturaliza
ton papers; obtained them, as we sal
in Luzerne county; this one on tn
table is similar to those used; the
were colorcd; the men said they oh
taincd or arranged for the papers tw
miles out of Clcarfeld, on Saturda
evening before the election, in shan
ty kept by Mrs. Lynch; they said tw
lawyers came from Philadelphia, an
, after they were sworn, Lede took pos
session of the papers, and that he col
ored them with coffee; the day {
! election they were handed the papers
, Mr.. Lede at the same time firrnishc
, the tax receipt a receipt shown wit
ness, and identified as similar to thos
used did nothing while in Phil
, lipsburg; l did not vote; l saw a
vote that l named; 1 had no Rcput
: lican tickets.
Cross-examination-I never agree
to vote my men on the Republica
, side; never said for 500 l would d
! so; l received money the day befor
! and day after, of Mr.. Crisman $25, c
Mr.. johnson, day after, $50, of Sher
iff Perks $l2;I received of Re,
Father Tracy $500. r *
The $500 was given me two week
ago last Tuesday to prevent my bein
t a witness. The priest came an