Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-08-03
The DIaysralty Nomination Frauds.

INVESTIGATION BY THE CITY EXECUTIVE COMMIT
TEE-LARaE PUBLIC observation-disclosures Ex-
AHMED, AND AFFIDAyIrs READ-Box-sIUFFINa
IN THE THIRD AND SECOND WARDS.
The select Committee to investigate the allega
tions Of fraud at the recent Republican nomina-
ton election met at the Headquari ers last even
ing, at o'clock. Mr.. Pickels, Chairman of the
State Committee, presided, and William Silver,
Chairman Of the County Committee, acted as
Secretary. The meeting was public, and the
room was crowded. Tho question whether re-
porters should be admitted was first considered.
MIR. Pickles objected, but the other members OF
the Committee urged that they be admitted,
and il was 20 ordered.
Specifications aud charges, which had been
prepared we're read by Mr.. Silver. They charged
John NJ Dunn, aud G. Wilson Sawyer, with tam
pering with box in the Third ward and placing
therein illegal ballots and with afterward at
| tempting to take possession of the box and
destroy the ballots.
Witnesses were then called in the following
| order w. W. Simmons Il. II. Tazewell, W. II.
Schoen, W. H. Toulson Solomon Hersey. These
were heard to support the allegations of fraud.
/ Mr.. Dunn then presented the athdavits OF q.
| Wilson Sawyer. and d. +. Nandever, and offered
/ as witnesses, CIV. Jackson and James Fletcher
| Tazewell's testimony seemed to give the sub
stance of the affair. He was one Of the four
| Judges authorized by the Committee TO hold the
election, having been selected on the part OF Mr.
| Hayes He came to the polls shortly before IL
o'clock found tho window open saw Slwyer
| and Dunn inside, holding the election demand
ed admission, and upon his threatening to break
in the door was admitted, tine other judges fol-
lowing Sawyer had been receiving the ballots
and Dunn keeping the voters list Dunn said
he aud Sawyer (who took DIR. Nandevers place, J
we're authorized to hold the election and were
going to do it on Tazewells proposition another
organization was effected putting Sawyer out,and
the election proceeded after the ninth ballot,
Tazewell looked into the box aud asked of Dunn
how many names were on the list Dunn replied
nine Tazewell then called attention to the box,
as having more than nine ballots in it and picked
up hammer to break 1t open Dunn objected
to his breaking the box, saying he had no right
to do so the box was then set aside, new one
procured. and the nine persons who had voted
were sent foa six came back and voted again
Dunn proposed to have the ballots in the re-
moved box destroyed said public report of the
occurrence would inlure the party IaZeweu
proposed to count the ballots Dunn objected
S. Hersey was examined in reference to the
allegation that Dunn attempted to carry oil the
box which contained the fraudulent ballots. He
also produced the voters list. The number OF
voters agrees exactly with the aggregate vote
for the candidates. lie had also kept record
during the election, of the names OF persons
who he thought had heretofore voted as Demo
rats. There were iG Of these. He had alsC
a list of "a who were unknown to him, though
some of these lie alterward learned were rest
deuts of the Ward. The Democratic vote was
ii trbuted among three candidates Mr.. Nm
cent, Mr. Hayes and Capt Dougherty, H'
had observed that the large number OF city EN-
poyees in the Street and Water Departments
who live in this ward, many OF whom are Demo
Gratis. yo ed So far as he observed all supported
Mr. Hayes He was of the opinion that the per
csntage Of Democrats voting for Hayes equ illed
aud probably exceeded that for DOuSherty anC
Vincent. No persons were allowed to vote, wh'
did not. on being iuterogated, pledge themselye
to support the successful nominee.
The ailidavts of DR. b Il, Ndndever. and G.
Wilson sawyer set forth the facts OF the case
aa they understood them. Nandeyer states tina
he had procured the ballot box for the IlrC
ward, and that having bunch OF folded
| Dougherty tickets in his possession, he put then
IN the box, intending to take them out agaiI
before the election opened, but being suddenly
called away ont to the country lie forgot TO TAXI
the tickets out before he loft.
8 THE SECOND WARD.
Most of the evening had been taken up Will
the Third Ward inquiry. Relative to the Secon,
Ward, the election officers and others were ex
amined. Their evidence went to SHOW that con
siderable irregularities were practlced in tina
ward. The poll list having been lost, there was
no written evidence Of tho existence OF frauC
there.
The memoranda Of tho clerks. however
showed that the ballots in the box exceeded b,
G) the number of votes poed. 1t was also il
evidence that several persons from other ward
voted in the Second
The hour growing late, the Committee of In
vesugation requested all to leave the room
which was done, when it proceeded to make up
, report to present to the special meeting of tn
/ Cry Republican Executive Committee, to b.
held tins evening.