Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-10
The Connection. Fraud Exposed.

The connecticut legislature Te-asSembles to-
day, after a weeks vacation, to hear and act
upon the report of the committee appointed to
investigate the governor vote. AS the con-
stitution requires that, in case there is no cleo
ton by the people, the legislature shall elect G
governor in the second day of the session, tbs
business must, we suppose, be concluded to-day
The evidence of fraud, abundant enough at the
beginning, accumulates, until now it is impOs
sible for a reasonable man to doubt. The
number of votes cast for Mr.. Jewell in the
fourth ward of New Haven, according 10 the
original count, was $40; but only 479 bal
lots were found by the committee in the box.
There are, however, $50 persons who make oath
before the committee, that they voted for Mr..
Jewell. Among the witnesses before the COM
mittee on Monday, was a detective officer,
democrat, who was, as he testified, present at
the count as spectator, watching the interests
of the democratic party" A little time before
he had learned the state of the poll from demo-
Gratis, who told him that the democrats were
then eight or ten ahead. He said further:
81 saw the republican votes counted; they
were put up in packages of one hundred; l
haven't the least doubt that the packages con-
tanned one hundred; Jewell had five full pack
ages, aud there was an odd package OF sixty-two,
and sixteen scattering; that making 57S; hare
no doubt that that WdS the tally"
The republican counters swore positively that
they were sure all of the packages except the
odd ones, contained one hundred ballots, and
that there could be no possibility of mistake.
One of them testified that when they began the
count he insisted that the crowd should be kept
off. Among those who retired was Patsey Shep-
ard, pugilist and democratic runner. 1t was a
significant fact also that when the state ballot
box was wanted it was found on the floor, and
one BILLY Brown the keeper OF liquor store,
was sitting on it. Perhaps "Bily' or Patsey
could tell how it happened that the box con-
tanned one hundred more ballots than were hon
estly voted.
This evidence now collected is regarded as
conclusive, and sufficient to authorize the COM
mittee to declare Mr. Jewell elected. Some Of
the democratic papers have been so foolish as to
announce that Mr.. English would net yield the
Office, but will rely upon the horse guards, who
unfortunately for lis purpose, are said to be in.
telligent men, TO maintain him in the governors
chair and perhaps TO disperSe the Legislature. He
will probably change his mind to-day, if indeed
he has entertained such valorous intentions
The situation has been difficult one for the
legislature, but there was no other course for
them, but either to submit to an obvious fraud
or to obtain all the evidence accessible, and then
act upon it without fear under full sense of
their responsibility to the people. The tal5
about submitting the question to the courts, with
winch the democratic papers in and out of Con-
nectlcut have amused themselves, and sought
to mislead their readers, is folly. The constitu-
tion imposes the duty upon the legislature of
declaring who is legally elected, and that BODY
has no right, even if it had the power, to shirk
that duty.