Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-10-16

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are declared IHegaI-Aa important Let
ter from Judge Read-A Death. Blo,1 IN
Democratic Frauds
The Hon. John NJ. Read, Associate judge
of the Supreme Court Of PENNSYLVANIA, has
written the following letter, which speaks
tor itself, and which viii be read with deep
interest at the present time
PHILADELPHIA, October 7, 1868. No.
lll9 Chestnut street-My Dear Brother:
In the early part the week ending on
the 10Th Of September last heard casually
that the number of naturalizations in Nisi
Prlus was very large, and on Saturday | was
informed that some persons were arrested
for naturalization frauds in that court. This
arrested my attention, and | wrote a note TO
my brother Sharswood, who was holding the
court, suggesting certain regulations which
were adopted by the courts of New York.
giving facilities to any citizen to know who
was naturalized on the preceding day, his
residence and the name and residence of his
voucher, or witness The suggestion was
only partially adopted
Ga Monday, the 2Stb, it was stated to me
that seven hundred and twenty persons had
been naturahzed on that day, and that there
was strong suspicion Of fraud That evening
wrote and had delivered to the Prothono-
tary note requesting him to give me the
number nat1rallZed on each day In Septem-
Der, including the 26th. The next morning
called on brother Sharswood, and finding
his views were so different from mine. I
wrote him letter, which was delivered 10
him before one o'clock on that day, copy
Of which is annexed to this note, marked Al.
Complaints being made that all access to
the naturalization papers or records was re-
fused TO respectable citizens, on the nextday
lhaying received from the Prothonotary the
list had asked for) wrote another note to
my brother SharsWood, a copy of which is
annexed marked b.
In the proceeding before Alderman Beitler
Colonel Snowden testified ''his duty was to
attach his name TO the papers when brought
to him by the tlpstaves of the court, and he
admitted that his name might possibly be at
tached to them without their having been
sworn to. " The Crier of the Nisi Prius said:
: or Mr.. Schell swear the petitioners or
vouchers, but do not mark the papers so
that We can recognize them; have ad-
within the last ten days from
two to four thousand oaths One of the
persons naturalized, named Huainger,
sWore: was in the rebel army from 1862
to 1865 Schnltzel asked me how long had
been IN the country, aud | told him; he
asked me If had any citizen paper, and
said no, and he said ] could get il without
much cost; we went to Nos 495 and 497 N.
Third street, to Democratic committee; lie
put his name to paper aud paid ten cents,
and got ticket We then came to the
court; Sehnitzel also swore to George
Minnich; he said taking an oath was moth.
ing; at Leekfeldts he said, Il can swear
nifty times FOR glass of beer -
Another natuTalized person, named Null
lock, said. u am forty-two years old; have
been at Leckfeldt's fourteen DAYS; came
there from New York; a man named Sny-
der swore | resided here over one wear
Immediately before | made the application;
| never saw him before, nor have seen him
since.
Colonel Snowden could not recognize any
Of the men. It IS clear, then, that the