The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-02-06
Philadelphia Election Frauds-How the
Democrats Voted Early and Often.


Harrisburg, an investigation has been made
into the election of q Representative from
the Eleventh District of Philadelphia, in
which the seat held by Daniel William,
Democrat. was contested by William Bum,
Republican. The case was ended last
Wednesday by the admission of Bum, and
the election of Witham. According to the
returns made by the election officers,
Witham had a majority of 30 votes in the
district. The evidence in the case showed
an amount of fraud that is positively start
ling, and it goes far to show how it was
that the Democrats carried the city in Oc-
tober. We quote below the testimony of
two or three witnesses
Michael Slaven, sworn-I reside in
Christian street. between Fifth and Sixth
streets. Philadelphia; on tie 1871 Of October
Ihud no particular home ): | know of per-
sons in the Eleventh Legislative District
who We're not residents therein | know of
them having voted i'll the Sixteenth ward;
l, Mr.. Lamb, Mr.. Elliott, Mr.. Rowan, Mr..
Reading, three New Workers and Balti-
moreans went that day up there; eight of
us started from Third and Christian, and
met two others at Third and Queen streets;
took the Third street car and went to Pop
lar; got out and went down Poplarto Front;
went to Bulls Head Hotel, Front, above
Poplar and got from Il man there a name,
residence and occupation, and voted; got
the ticket from this man; from there We
went to Front and Otter streets; got the
name and residence and voted there; then
we went to New Market and Laurel from
there to Second and Germantown road;
from there to Second and Beaver streets
from there to Fourth and George from
there to Fifth, below George; from there
to Fifth and Poplar; from there to Frank
lin and Girard Avenue; from there to
Tenth and Girard Avenue; we got a So
bill there from a man who gave us the tick
cts, and five of us went down to the Girard
Avenue market and got our dinners; the
other five went down town; tie aoh0te ten
roted in tic pIaces lure mentioned; tie fce
I 1oas aoih ,cent to Front, ADORE Poplar, and
rent 0rer the same track that the ten had gone
before was sent to Front, above Poplar;
don know the name of the man who sent
me | had mark to know the man from
whom was to get the ticket; he had a
piece of store-string tied to his button-hole :
each one of us received a slip of paper with
name, residence and occupation on; we did
not go in a body from one poll to another;
| c0nOnt fec0llect tie names acc COted on as
soon as we voted we gave the slips of paper
to the man who gave them to us; do not
know the names ofthe parties who furnished
the ticketsi; are r0ted tie Democratic ticket ;,
did not examine any Of them; the men we
took them from had the Democratic badge
on. / was not challenged nor put on my
oath nor any of the others that saw did
not see all the votes taken in {; looted t'oen-
ty times myself that day. arc started at eight
o clock IN the morning, and stopped at ha!t-
past flee.
Christopher Lamb, sworn.-I was one of
the party spoken of by Mr.. Slaven Slaven,
Elliott, Rowan and Redding, three New
Workers, two Baltimoreans and myself
composed that party; l then lived in Ship
pen street. between Second and Third |
Coted tacenty times that day, at the same
| polls at which Slaven voted; / cannot rec
| olIect the names l voted in l voted the
Democratic ticket, at least got it from a
man with that badge on ; did not examine
them do not remember the names. of the
| New Workers or Baltimorians have heard
their names, but forget them now. My
vote was not challenged at any of the divi-
sions where we voted.
| Henry Elliot, SwOrn.-l heard the teStl-
mony of Slaven: was with him on the day
of the October election; then lived at
$50 Cherry street, roted taoenty times, the
same as !Sldren, and at the same places ):
voted the Democratic ticket, Judge
didn't eransiae any Of them, because didn't
think 1t requsite. We changed hats and coats
sometimes in going from poll TO poll; nerer
tired in Sixteenth mard.
John Rowan confirmed the statements of
the preceding witnesses, he being one of
the voters, ercept that he roted only ten times,
he having left that party at Tenth street
and Girard avenue.
Danniel Redding was one of the party,
corroborated the former witnesses.
Henry MITCHELL sworn.-1 reside 1910
North Fourth street, Sixth division, Six
teenth ward recognize the parties here
tonight as portion of a party who voted.
Immediately after voting myself | went to
Third and Popular streets after voter
saw these ten men get out of the car; rec
ognized Slaven as a man l had known ;
from their conversation | was induced to
follow them; Mr.. Fields accompanied me ;
they went to Front above Poplar, where
they were furnished with 4 ticket by a man
carrying Democratic badge; then went
to the window and each got his vote in
after they left the window | went to the
same man and got ticket, and opening ii
saw it was Democratic ticket. Witness
then enumerated all divisions where they
voted, having followed them the entire