The New York herald., 1871-12-08
THE STOLEN POLL LISTS.
An Irresponsible Pol! Clerk-An Alderman
as a Substitute.
The Distinguished Dummies ON
tlae VOteYs' ROi7.
August Belmont and Andrew J. Garvey
in the Sixth Ward.

election In the First district OF the Sixth ward OF
Brooklyn, were tried in the City Court, before
Judge McCue yesterday, on the charge OF having
placed bogus names on the poll lists anu stuffed the
ballot boxes. The court room was densey crowded
by spectators among whom were many politicians
and Once-nOlders. District Attorney Samuel j.
Morris and Mr.. A. q. Davis twho is the counsel for
the Reform Committee and also is assisting Mr..
Norris Morris y gs rs lnyssssisat!9n q !se !raaas
peared fof the people, While Mr.. d. p. Bar
nard, Of Brooklyn, ana Nj. John f. Dow,
OF New York, appeared for the defendants.
Considerable time was consumed N obtaining q
jury. When twelve men had been secured counsel
for defence challenged four OF the jurors peremptoy
ana they withdrew. Four other jurors We're called
and examined when counsel challenged two OF
them. Two Others were Obtained, anu no further
objections being raised, the jury was sworn In.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OPENING.
District Attorney MOaRIS then proceeded TO open
the case. lie said:-
If the Court please, gentlemen OF the Jury. the
defendants are charged with having falsely fraudu.
lently and knowingly put a large number OF ballots
into the boxes kept for thar purpose at the First
Election district Of The Sixth ward. They were in-
spcctors there ana acted as inspectors al that pOll.
They are further charged with fraudulenty can.
vasslng and counting those votes, those ballots,
those fraudulent ballots ana certifying to fraudu.
lent return. In thai election district as appears
were tnRnR Ink so votes vs cast and there are some
other peculiariiies about the humber OF ballots as
wlil appear py the retntns.thai IS .ne Senatorial
ahead OF the State ticket, a fac6 that Is very unu-
suai. AND the poll list, ! think, w reveal tins
fact that very few have omitted TO vote the State
ticket according to the checking Well, the fact OF
tins number OF $40 votes on the state ticket
to arouse suspicion. IL was an enormous increase
OF the vote and It was a very large vote to be
list discovered tnat the first 500 names on the
poll Inst were all written IN UNIFORM hand as
manlesthen they were writien diIerently, as names
| upon \ poll list always are. The first 500 names
as though they mad been copied CONTINUOUSLY right
| along And another peculiar,iy witch venture 70
else, a fact that has never occurred before and,
trust will never occur again, i that those hrst 800
q single ballot omitted. And nrier the handwriting
changes the voting changes There is an occasIonai
! vote some one or the tickets. That change COM
mences when the character or The hand writing IN
the doll list changes. Now 1t Is Simply seevident
gentlemen, and upon that subject don't apprehend
| that you will require one moment for reflection or
OF the commencement OF the voting there that morn
ing written upon the poll lis 1t Is fact rhat can
into that box somehow fraudnently Is
fact that cannot be disputed. It IS not for us TO
manner IN which they put IN the box, but that
they were put In tile box Is a fact that VIII be
you. gentlemen; that parties came there and voted
before seven O'Clock In the morning. One OF them
morning living not very lar from the polling place
III Atlantic street. one OF them was tnero before
person ,hat voted, and his name stands sos upon
the poll ist and there Is person who voted before
seven O'Clock, aud who met tue person who voted
his name stands some 6l5; and he voted
before seven o'clock IN the morning. We are
who were present wher this fraud was perpetrated,
who were there re when these names were written
witnesses who were there present and saw them
write these Dames upon the list. 10 Is sulclent for
us TO show by such facts and circumstances that It
was done, and II ls for tnem when we have pointed
out these facts when we have shown these facts
1t is for them to show that there fraud per-
petrafed there because our case VIII have bcen
prilaa fdcie, made out. don't know exactly now
this hllg was done, but have pretty good Idea
OF It, think It was done something ike this:
The names upon the poll list were written before the
polls opened that morning. That part OF the fraud
had been prepared in advance. rhere is no ques.
ton about that. They obtained these blank forms
OF poll llsis ~ some way from me ONCE where they
houses 10 be taken 10 the polls. SO thar when the
voting commenced in the morning they had 500 to
start with. That Is pretty good start: and then
they commenced jo write the names In the changed
hand spoke or SO far as the names on The poll
before the opening OF The polls been prepared In adj
vance because ie was SIMPLY physical impossibiIy
500 names and check them OF. After they got their
they had got there. Or course mat portion
OF the fraud. must have been prepared
how these five hundred names should be got into
as upon S'A t bS sYYs9n s sy;!ss 9 #s oas
care. III was done with the knowledge OF the ln-
speclors, because they had charge o. the books,
names down they put down some distinguished Fiisd
ones. such as August Belmont, vino never lived In
the sixth ward or the city OF BROOKLYN. Mr. Morris
then went on 10 say tplt the original lists had DIS
hDr cared rom the County Clerks ONCE. He dtJ
moi Know wno had stolen them. but he knew that
In concluding Mr.. Morris saId:--I ask you that
you VIII carefully, calmly and candidy, rs know
you wiil consider the evidence that we shall offer.
This l. no political question, gentleman. There ~ no
party question about inis There Is politics III
ihs. IL q question which interests every man IN
the foundation OF our government, and II such
frauds as these can be perpctrated aud the perpe-
traitors go unpunisned, tnen our form OF govern.
ment Is a failure. When the people have no right
TO choose their representatives ana when
the ballot ceases 10 be fair exponent OF
public wlll then say that our form OF government
Is failure and 1t would be lar better that we have
monarchy at than that we should DO controlled
by men who would thus prostitute lhe ballot box
am sure you Will appreciate the importance OF this
CASE You, as citizens, have never been called !
upon to discharged more important duty than that
which you are now called upon TO discharge.
THE EvIDENCE-A POLICEMAN VINO WAS AT THE
POLLS ALL DAY AND SAW NOTHING WRONG.
Policeman Boyle was the first witness called by
MI Morris. He said he attended the election In the
First district OF the sixth ward, aud got there be.
fore the opening OF the polls the defendants were
there and witness delivered the poll lists and forms
OF returns; they were tied up and witness delivered
them to the inspectors In that conditions; ne also
had the keys the boxes, which were delivered 10
McGlif before the polls opened; witness remained
there during tue entire day, excepting one hour ior
dinner
q. Do you know
Ausrsr rELNoST2