The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1872-03-02
GOV. WARMOTH AS 4 BALLOT-BON
SUFFER-.
Evidence Of His AccOmpliccs!


The following evidence was adduced
before the Congressional Committee
near the close of its labOrs. AS good
Radical as Mr.. Schoticld is, he could
not refrain from expressing his surprise
at the fact that none Of the persons con-
ccrned in the transaction have as yet
been sent to the penitcntiary
VIM. +. Durham, sworn-This wit
ness was 4 Commissioner of Election at
the election in the fall Of 1870, when
certain State officers, members of the
Legislature, and the Mayor and City
Administration We're elected. 1t would
be tedious to go over tho long eNami-
nation he underwent. He admitted
tacitly, by refusing to answer questions,
lest his answers might eliminate him,
and by indirect evidence signified that
he and Captain Edgeworth of the Me-
tropOlitan Police, had stuffed the ballot
box in his charge at Algiers.
There were two Republican candi-
dates for the House of Representatives
in that District, one named Alexander
and the other Buchanan, both black
men. Governor Warnoth himself,
some ten days before the election, told
witness he would rather have anybody
else elected, no matter who, than Alex
andcr. When the ballots were counted
Alexander was about $50 ahead. Edge
worth and a Mr.. Curry told witness
that Alexander was not to be returned.
At 10 O'Clock at nigh Il note was rcceiv-
ed from the Governor ordering wit
ness box to be brought to the city and
''not to be tempered with.' The box
was accordingly taken by witness,
Capt. IIdgeworth, and several police
men, to the Mechanics Institute.
When the return was made, instead of
Alexander being $50 ahead, Buchanan
was elected by an overwhelming ma
jority. Laughter
Q.-How many do you call over
whel1ning?
A.-Wcll, say two thousand. Re
newed laughter
1t appears from what could be OK
tractcd from tho witness that the box
was not alone stuffed with tickets fo1
Buchanan-thc whole Republican tick
ct for State and city offices was stuffed
into it. Buchanan held his seat in tho
House until Mr.. Carr was put out OF
the spcakcrship and Col. Carter was
elected. When Curry delivered the
| note to- witness, he said to witness anC
EdgcWorth ssTlcrc is Il note from
| the Governor, and you know what to
do" Capt. Miller "a. b. Miller, chic
special officer of Mayor Flandcrs) told
| witness the next day that he and Cur
~ had gone to the Governors and got
that note. Witness took no oath Il,
Commissioner Of Election. Captain
Falgcworth supplied the commissioners
down the coast tho same day with
| l.:
appointment the night before the elcc
ton. EugcWorth was appointed Cap
tain by the Police Board. The Polic
The only promise witness had for wha
he did was that they would take car
of him. Mr.. Cocllrcm, Administrato
of improvements, gave him work il
the street department for Il while. Cap
tain Miller was on" of those who tol,
witness he would be taken care of.
Curry, swOrn-Dn the day of til
election saw the Governor several times
He requested witness to let him know
how the election was gonga the di
fcrcnt polls. Witness was at Algicr
about ) o'clock in the evening and be
came satisfied that Alexander W.,
elected. Returned to tho city and wen
to the Governors house at 10 O'cloc
that night and told him the result. II
said Hthat will not do,' or words t
that effect. lie wrote Il note to Dur
ham and requested witness to take
over. The note did not Indicate tn:
the box was TO be stuffed. 1t Ordcre
the box to be brought over and s'nOt
; be tempered with.' What witnes
+ considered remarkable was that til
Governor should have sent for tn:
box.