The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-09-06
FIRST EDITION
THE ELECTION CONTESTS.
The Beginning of the End-The Argu-
ments of Counsel To-day.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAs-P. j. Allison and
Judges Ludlow, Peirce, and Brewster.
This morning all the judges sat to hear the
arguments to be made by counsel in the con-
tested election cases, which, having begun in
November last, are now just approaching their
conclusion. At the suggestion of Judge Allison
the order of argument was settled as follows
William B. Mann, Esq, to open for the contest
ants, and to be followed by his colleague Judge
Strong, the two presenting the case of the con-
testants both as to law and fact these to be re-
piled to by d. w. Sellers and William L.
Hirst, Esqs., and the case of the con-
testants to be closed by Hon. William
NJ. Meredith. This arrangement afterwards
was undone, counsel could come to no agree
ment, and could only launch out upon this sea
of words, knowing only so much of their course
as that the contestants should open and close.
The Court announced that this week would be
devoted to these cases, and it was intended that
the arguments should be concluded by next Fri
day afternoon. Counsel said they thought this
could be done, though Mr.. Mann expected him
self to take two days, Mr.. Sellers also that
length of time, and three at least and may be
four gentlemen will then remain to be heard.
Mr.. Mann then began, and without any pre-
liminary remarks proceeded to present the con-
testants' case in substance as follows:-
May it please the Court as you are now quite
familiar with these contested election cases,
deem it unnecessary to enter into any prefacing
explanation or introduction, other than to begin
upon the facts. l commence at once with the
Seventh division of the Third ward. By eXamin-
ing the list of taXables and the list of voters we
find that there are S62 names as having voted on
the window book, and there are 40
voters whose names are not upon the book;
and there are 3S names marked as having voted
who did not vote. In prepared book we have
provided for our own and your Honors convent
ence, are set forth those votes which we have
proven to be Illegal and to which no answer
was made or attempted by the respondents.
All those votes which we attacked, and the re-
spondents attempted to defend, we have re-
those that stand alone glaring with fraud, thus
securing much certainty and relieving all par
ties from much anxiety. These votes, specified
in the book mentioned, are numerous, and con-
sis principally OF false RerS4n&tons T6nS but
haps, is worthy of special mention. We
attacked the vote of William Hughes, and
having no better evidence, were obliged to go
into the enemy's camp and examine Ihomas
Moran tavern keeper at Ninth and Catherine
streets, at whose house Hughes was put down
as a boarder This witness said that he had
great many permanent boarders, who were
carriers, drivers, laborers, bartenders cordWam-
ers, photographers, painters, artists, etc. We
asked him the names OF great many persons,
and as we mentioned names he would answer
that each was boarder with him. We
mentioned many names that were
not upon the list, but nevertheless Moran didn't
detect it, but continued to answer, "1es; he's
my boarder." The mans testimony is, of
course unreliable; but it serves to show one OF
mined to resort to in order to perpetrate most
stupendous fraud in this division, the half of
which, do not doubt, we have been unable to
show; yet / think we have proven enough to tire
your Honors in its hearing and convince you OF
the great wrong practsed there.
The vote of James English also presents some
curious facts. Here it is proven that that vote
was polled, not by James English, but by Michael
FITZGERALD, of New York, This man was a
handsome rufian, who came here specially to
do this, and led gang of suffers from division
to division, and voted in all sorts of ways and
Names 800
This man was arrested upon a requisition, and
sent from New York here for trial; bail was
given for his appearance; he Immediately re
turned TO New York in triumph, and he has
never been tried to this day. When we are asked
why we do not punish these Offenders, ana tnus
protect honest men from Acknowledgement what
else can we answer than that the idea OF punish
ing them is idle.
Thus we have 80 such votes, enough perhaps
for our purpose; but to say that these are all OF
this kind, or that we have been able to slit the
mass of fraud and deception down, would be
false pretense.
Take another view of this, and we find that
during the first hour 1872 votes were taken, which
is an utter impossibility. | defy any man to
comply with the forms of the law and take this
number of votes in an hour.
The reason why all this fraud succeeded is to
be found in the manner OF conducting the cleo
tion in this division AS soon as the poll was
opened number of hands were thrust into the
window and the Democratic inspector took
vote from each. The Republican inspector
challenged, but the judge disregarded his objec-
ton.
Mr., Mann was still talking at the time of our
going to press, and as he expects to continue to-
day and tomorrow, it may be correct to say
that the contestants case is not yet fairly under
way.
SPAIN AND CUBA.