The Van Buren press., 1872-04-30
Tho Whole Story.

In 1870 Sheriff Oliver was one OF the
strongest Brindle Tails in the county.
He assisted Brooks, Hodges, Rice d
Co. " to run the machine. He consented
to the taking @! forcibls possession Of
the polls in various precincts, by send
ing cut poll books and appointing depu-
ties for that purpose. But soon after
the election the sheriff turned over to the
Minstrs s. He has been to Washington,
and there told what he knew in reference
to the effort Of Brooks, Hodges, Rice
Il Co. to geta fraudulent registration
Here is his story as taken from the
Washington correspondence in Thurs
days Republican. Notice how innocent
the sheriff appears in this statement:
On last Saturday Col Oliver testified
before the Clayton Investigating com
mttee. He testified that Hodges and
McDisrmid came to him and wanted him
to see Fitch, the registrar, and get two
thousand fraudulent certificates. He
said they also asked him to see Judge
Mcclure, and see if the judge would not
use his influence with Fitch to issue two
thousand fraudulent certificates. Judge
Mcclure declined to see Hodges and
McDiarmid on the subject. They then
asked Oliver to see Mcclure, and see if
he McClure) would have an interview
with Senator Rice on that subject Sen
ator Rice came to Mcclure in person
McDiarmid going to his house after
him) and urged him to prevail upon
Fitch to issue the two thousand fraudu-
lent certificates, which Mcclure positive
lv declined to do. Senator Rice, failing
in this, then urged Mcclure to see Fitch
and prevail upon him to give the Brin-
die Tails the appointment of all the
judges of election for Pulaski county,
stating that the Brindie Tails had pro-
cured an over-registration of between
seven hundred and u thousand votes (by
double registration), and that these Ger
tlicates could not be voted unless they
had friendly judges. Failing to get
control of the appointment of the judges
they then formed plan to seize the vot
ing places, ignore the presence Of the
regular judges, and select others who
would do their bidding in relation to the
reception of the votes of those holding
fraudulent certificates referred to above.
1t will be observed that the sheriff, who
is responsible for permitting this plan to
be carried out, is entirely ignored. We
undertake to supply the omission. First,
as to those two thousand certificates.
Mr. James V. Fitch the registrar, in his
evidence before the Senate investigating
committee of the last legislature, depos-
ed as follows (page 6S):
During the session of the board of re-
view, on Thursday, was approached by
w. S Oliver, stating that he came from
those parties (who he gave me to under
S tand were Brooks, Hodges-& Co say
in g they were pleading for mercy. l
to Id him had no mercy to give. He
aid "You can have the city" l said ::
THE city is all right. He then said
their ticket must be elected, referring to
the Brooks ticket said the rcgistra,
ton would elect them if White county
did their duty. He said they did not
think so, and to make it sure they must
have two thousand extra registration
certificates, and the selection of the
judges of election, and if they could get
them they would give up the city to me,
and insure my election as clerk OF the
house of representatives, which would be
worth $4,000 to me. replied that
was not for sale. A list Of names was
handed to me to DO placed upon the reg
istration as extra, by w. S, Oliver ....'
Fun ther evidence shows that the sher
iff had men stationed in the court room
the night previous to tho election; that
q justice Of the peace went in about A
O'Clock in the morning and sworc them
in as judges; that when the regular
judges appeared the sheriff refused to
have them admitted, and they only Sc
cured access to tho room by forcing
their way through the door.
The above is part Of the story the
sheriff failed to tell, and we now supply
the omission that the public may have
Al. q. Al.