The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-28

CHARGE OF PERJURY-FRAUDULENT NATURALI-
zATIoN.-The Central Police Station was crowded
on Saturday afternoon. An investigation relative
to fraudulent naturalization was the attraction.
The defendants were Henry Leckfeldt, keeper of
the well-known castor House" and Charles Snit-
George Minnick all residents or visitors at the es
tablshment They were represented by Charles
Brooke and John O'Byrne, counselors. L. Q. Cas-
sidy Esq, was present, but took no part i'll the in
yestgatiOn.
One of the defendants few nights ago presented
himself at police station to get lodgings He there
met German to whom he stated that he had been
naturalized. An investigation resulted in discover
ing the frauds as charged.
When the accused were called up and asked their
names, ages, residences, &c. they were instructed
by Mr.. O'Byrne that they were not compelled to
say anything which would or mi ght crimnate them
selves. Certain certificates of naturalization were
then produced, and j. Ross Snowden, Prothonotary
of the Supreme Court, testified to the genuineness
of his signature to them. He could not, however,
swear that the defendants were the persons who
had been sworn. Clerks in the Office had sworn the
parties and the papers were then handed to him to
sign. ,..a,oa o,,s r,o
mas b. Worrall identified Snitchel as one of the
persons he had sworn. He could not say how often
he had sworn him as a voucher; but it was more
than once He had no way to identify the papers
he had sworn parties to; made no mark upon them
whatever. 1t was impossible for him to remember
the faces OF the persons who had sworn bei0re MN,
there had been several thousand in the last few
weeks. - =.
Snowden testified to the same effect He could not
identity any of the defendants
Charles Hunger, one of the defendants, was then
called to the stand lie testihed
know Henry Leckfeldt; have been four weeks
at his house; came from New York; the last time
was in New York one month; worked for Captain
Sanford and for another man on Long Island; L
know Charles Snitchel saw him last November at
Leckfedts that was the first time he ever saw me;
saw him last March at the same place; he went
with me to court to get my papers, and he swore
for me.
that he had known Hunger five years as resident
Of this country and one year as resident of Penn
Witness-He did not know me for five years. nor
for one year a resident of Pennsylvania; was
in the rebel army from 1862 to 1866 got no money
for obtaining my papers; Mrs. Leckfeldt gave me
ten cents, and l was told 1 would have to pay
twenty-five cents year to vote; put my name
three times to the paper, and Snitchel signed it
also; he was my voucher; he vouched for George
Minnicl also had conversation with Snitchel
about taking the oath as to my residence in the
ference, that he could swear fifty times for glass
of beer; he said they did not swear him as they
would in Germany; Leckfeldt got my papers; he
said would receive them after the election if
wanted them; saw Minnick here twenty months
ago, when he said that he had been only few days
George Minnick testified that he came from New
York two months ago. and was living at Leckieldt's
Philadelphia two years ago This witness did not
know the man who vouched for him; he was
stranger to him, had never seen him betore he had
also given his papers to Leckteldt.
Frederick Mullocl1 testified that he came from
New York fourteen days ago; was stopping at Leck-
teldts house; came here to work at his business,
taoring was getting two dollars and half per
week; he landed in New York in 1861 mad known
Leckfeldt four years. had given his papers to Leck-
Sergeant Magee testified to the arrest of the de-
fendants and to the finding OF seven naturalization
papers in Leckfedt's house.
were held in $1,000 bail, and sntchel in $4,000 bail
'V Ieckfeldt was liberated on Anthony Campbell, a
member of Common council from the Eleventh
ward, going his bail.