The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-02-02
THE BALLOT-BOX.
THE NEcRoMASeK OF POLITICS

How BalIot-boxes are Manfpulated-
The Testimony of Reformers, Bowen
ties and DeLnrg rgfsts--Continuation Of q
Remarkable Trial.
We resume the broken thread of some
what tangled narrative which was commenced
| iu the columns OF TIE News yesterday. The
testimony adduced, shows that the votes of
! Beaufort precinct were manipulated by some
body, and now we have further proof to the
same fact.
Mr.. Pollltzer, merchant of Beaufort, testi-
fed that he prepared several tickets with the
names OF Scott, Butler and Bowen thereon,
and gave them.to his employees. Several Of
these voted the ticket thus handed to them.
all were produced upon the stand, and from
the pile before them selected their ballots. In
each instance the name of Bowen had been
erased and that Of R. c. DeLarge interllned
Witness could not swear to the handwriting,
but imagined who was the writer
Colonel VIM. Elliott, Of Beaufort, testified
that he was one Of the committee on the part
OF the Reform party; prepared Reform ticket
for colored man by making certain erasures
and nterlneatlons, which he saw the man de-
posit in the ballot box. Now recognizes the
ticket but finds additional changes made since
the election, to w.t. the name Of c. c. Bowen
stricken out and that of R. c. Delarge substi-
tuted. Would not swear to the handwriting,
but OH one of the tickets shown him recegnl-
zes distinct resemblance to the writing OF L.
s. Langley. The election was conducted
quietly, and at Its close the box was carefully
sealed. There were very few sDeLarge tickets
In proportion to the Bowen tickets. The large
proportion of voters were avowed Bowen
men. In counting, the rule adopted was to
hand every ticket to witness after it had been
counted By one Of the commissioners. Wit
ness objected to their counting folded or
double votes, and it was finally agreed that
note of the Irregularity should be taken. The
7otes were strung in the presence Of the
managers.
Philip E. Ezekiel testified that he voted for
Bowen in the Town of Beaufort, and could
identify his vote by his own name written on
the back. WITNESS examined the ballots, and
recognized his vote.l A change was made In
the ballot since it was deposited, the name of
Bowen being stricken out and the name Of
DeLarge Inserted. The alterations were made
in pencil. Witness was present on wharf in
Beaufort when Mr.. Williams, one of the COM
mlssloners, told Mr.. Judd, in the presence ola
large crowd, that he "had things in his own
hands, and would manage them as he pleased"
The point at issue between the commissioners
and the public was that the citizens wanted
the boxes kept in public place under proper
guard, while the commissioners insisted on
their right to keep them In a priyata place.
When the invitation to identify votes was
given by Mr.. Judd, the United States commits
sioner, 1t was generally understood that 1t
extended to all parties. Witness did not like
the way the election was conducted. In some
places out of Beaufort the Bowen party were
not permitted to speak by the DeLarge party.
Witness belonged to the former; believes that
nine-tenths of the people of Beaufort town
voted for Mr.. Bowen; Judges OF. this fact frSm
seeing the tickets Issued and deposited, and
from the general expression OF the public
sentiment. Fully one-half OF those who voted
could read enough to understand their tickets.
Sam Black, colored, stated that he voted for
Mr.. Bowen. The only change made upon his
ticket by himself was the erasure Of the name
of John W. Moore, candidate for the House of
Representatives, and the insertion OF the
name OF Gabriel Haynes. The latter name
was written by Mr.. Middleton Stewart. Wit
ness would know the handwriting again,
and be able from that fact to recognize the
ticket.
ron examining the votes, witness selected
his ballot and swore to its identity.
Another change made upon the ticket since,
consists In the striking out OF c. G. Bowens
name and the insertion of the name of B. C.
DeLarge; cannot read writing, but knows
enough of letters to read G. c. Bowen.
Major Louis E. Johnson, United States mar
shall, testified that lie received the package of
ballots from Mr.. Judd, ordered them to be re-
wrapped, and they were sealed with hia pri-
vate seal; then deposited them With the
United States assistant treasurer, MIR. j. d.
Geddlngs, since which time they have been in
his possession. Witness identified the seal
aud wrapper as the same. Witness could not
state whether the result of the election in
Barnwell and Colleton was made before the
arrest of the commissioners or not. Does
not know who instigated the arrests, or the
man vino made the affidavit.
Counsel here produced in evidence the
affidavit OF Isaac Reed, upon which the war
rant was lssued.l
Mr.. Bowen was managing his own affairs at
the time, and witness simply attended to the
duties oil the marsial's office. Have, heard
Mr. Bowen SLY, however, that he intended to
protect his own interests.
Messrs Mosely, Dayton and Freeman, depu-
ty marshals, were examined to complete the
chain of evidence going to show the custody
of the package.
The district attorney now proposed to put
in evidence the record OF votes kept by the
members of the committee present at the
counting. He stated that for some reason the
commissioners had not returned the vote of
the several precincts, but an aggregate vote
of all the precincts, thus not making the re-
cord required BY law.
The court admitted the evidence, and eX-
ception was taken thereto by counsel ior the
defence.