Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-10-04

wise, and whose misdoings, it is alleged, cannot
be fully brought to light and definitely |
charged until the Cameron ring" is defeated |
and the state offices filed by men of |
another stamp. OF course it is i'm |
possible to refute such vague charges
as these, just as it is impossible to prove them. |
nor do they have much influence in canvass.
They are unfortunately so common a weapon
of political welfare that the voters Of either side
make little account of them; but it is possible
that from Forney, who still claims to be a re-
publican, they may have some effect against the
candidate of his own party. But more definite
and formidable accusation is brought against
General Hartranft. Its history is curious, and
involves the special iniquity Of this Peunsylvan-
ia canvass. Specially iniquitous all agree that
it is, although they differ in assigning the guilt
to one party or the other.
Sometime ago one Yerkes, broker in Phila-
dephia, was indicted for larceny of certain secnr-
tiles belonging TO the city. This trial proceeded
to conviction and sentence, although two Judges
Of the supreme court dissented from the opinion
of the majority, and contended that the evidence
did not prove the commission of any crime pun
ishable by the laws of the state. 1t is not dis
puted, however, that Yerkes obtained the securi-
ties improperly, and made a dishonest use Of
them. After he had been shut up in the peni-
tertiary, an affidavit appeared, purportiug to
have been signed by him before his conviction,
which declared that General Hartranft, while
state auditor, had been in the habit Of speculat-
ing with the funds of the state; that TO conceal
bis misconduct in this respect fictitious accounts
had been kept in Yerkes' books, and other eX-
pedients employed with the same object. Let
tiers of Hartranft to Yerkes were also pro-
duced, which, in themselves, were capable
of bearing auinnocent meaning, but, read in con-
nection with the affidavit, seemed to confirm its
che. ges. This alleged affidavit was photo
graphed and Autographed, and copies of it were
circulated in great numbers all over the state.
Its genuineness was doubted, especially by
many who were familiar with Yerkes' hand
writing, and declared that the signature TO this
| paper did not resemble his. Hartranft's friends
| asserted that some one bad been hired to per-
senate Yerkes in swearing to the affidavit, and
added that this hostile eXpedient was the work
of one Dr. Paine, a notorious person, who was
some time ago detected in selling medical dipIo-
uldSs anu VIII - Stiil W nave ulCltSl III tut
| evans claim" an enormous and apparently
fraudulant demand upon the state, which Hart
ranft as auditor has opposed and probably de-
feated.
Thus the affair stood when, a few days ago,
Governor Geary pardOned Yerkes, who, imme-
diately on his release, made an affidavit declar.
ing that the document purporting to have been
signed and sworn to by him, making these ac-
cusations against Hartranft, was forgery.
This affidavit was accompanied with certificates
from several well known bank officers and bust
ness men testifying that Yerkes' signature had
become familiar TO them in the course Of bust
ness, and that the signature to the former
affidavit did not resemble his, and they did not
believe it could have been made by him. In
connection with Yerkes affidavit there also APP
peared certificate of his assignee in bankrupt
Cyl having the custody of his books, who de-
| cared that they contained no such fictitious
accounts as alleged in the forged affidavit, and
| that the books were in all respects regular and
free from all indications of anything wrong
on the part of General Hartranft. OF
course Hartranft's opponents declared that
the affidavit of Yerkes was the con-
sideraton for his pardon. Those who
were convinced of the truth of the charges
against him, found in the circumstances much
to encourage this belief, and those who only
pretended 10 believe them found pretext for
violent denunciations of what they declared to
be a prostitution of the pardoning power to the
basest uses of political partisanshp. 1t is curl
Gus, however, TO find among the signers of the
petition to the governor for Yerkes' pardon,
not only the judges and district attorney, and
great numbers of prominent business and pro.
iessional men of the highest character, but also
Forney and Mcclure, who are decaiming SO
violently against the Corrupt bargain" The
vindicaton of Haruanft seems to be satisfac-
tory. 1t is noticeable that ex-Gov. Curtin,
whose appearance in the canvass has heen
hailed with such delight by the democrats and
liberals while he denounces the Cameron
ring" with the utmost yehemence, is careful to
say that he has nothing against Hartrauft per-
sonally. He evidently does not believe Forney's
charges.
That Pennsylvania is republican there can be
no doubt. Whatever uncertainty there may be
as to Hartranft's election, is due to the unscru-
pulous warfare waged against him by Colonel
Fomey,. but we believe this will fail of its
object. Private adyices from well informed
persons assure us that the people are indignant
at this display of malignity and reckless abuse;
that it has been foolishly oyerdone, and is re
acting against its authors. We believe that
General Hartran(t will be elected, in spite of
the desperate means used to defeat him, but
probably by smaller majority than that given
to the congressman at large, to be elected on
the same day, and that Grant in November will
carry the state by still larger vote.