The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-07-30
QUAKER CITY ELECTION FRAUDS.
A Big Fight for q Seat in the Assembly-Al-
legged Wholesale Counting Out and
Changing of Election Returns
Tho Way They Do II.

PHILADELPHIA, July Is, 1878.
The event in political circles this afternoon has
been The examination OF witnesses in the cele-
brated election fraud case Of O'Neill vs.. Ovens. At
the last republican primary election held IN TINS
city Tor the selection Of nominees 20 represent the
Fourth Legislative district OF this city William u
ovens and Harry O'Neill were IN the hed. Al mid
night of the day Of election O'Nei claims mat after
thorough canvas Of the different precincts Of tne
district he won the nomination by majority Of 500
votes, but that by the returns, upon being mani
pulated py the poll clerks and Judges Ovens was de-
clared the victor by over thousand majority and
received the election certificate The defeated candi
date thereupon contested the same and discovered
glaring frauds in almost every precinct. The
Republican Executive Committee appointed seven
of its members to investigate the charges, and they
have held one or two slttings during which crowds
OF witnesses have been examined, and they all sus
tanned the plaintiff, and showed up to the life the
monster system OF fraud that Is In vogue over here
during election times.
ADDITION AND SILENCE.
Some OF the curiosties OF the evidence Of fraud
produced on sworn testimony, Is as follows I'm one
precinct where there were So votes polled-26 for
O'Neill and II for Ovens-1 was placed before
the IL, and, like magic, there were 112 votes
counted for Mr. Ovens. In another instance
where there so votes polled 60 Tor O'Neil and
20 for owens, another al" was "interjected'
in the same way and counted accordingly. Other
cases showed that more votes were counted for
ovens than there were voters in the precincts and
the returns in many instances were so blurred and
ds6gured by the judges and clerks in their en-
deavor to erase and put down additional numbers,
that they were curosIues TO look upon, ana cast
the Brooklyn returns OF last election completely IN
the shade.
RIOT THREATENED.
The examination this afternoon was held in the
club room at the northeast corner OF Broad and
Race streets. Both Oevns and O'Neill were pres
ent with their counsel, while political lights of
every shade and age occupied seats, watching
with intense interest the proceedings ! asst night
1t had been rumored that riot would ensue and
the police were IN readiness TO quel II at any mo-
ment. Besides considerable wrangling, the exami.
nation OF witnesses for the defence proceeded, and
no disturbance was created. Ovens witnesses,
correctness Of the returns and at i've
give in their verdict either tonight or Tomorrow
This IS considered OF great Importance as the
district has been represented heretofore by some
OF the best men of the CITY. Ovens 1t is said if
defeated, will mold his election certificate at all
hazards, and as nomination is equivalent to an
election lively times VIII follow.
THE CONTESTANTS
In this most extraordinary case are well known to
the citizens OF Philadelphia, the great majority OF
whom feel deeply the disgrace which the suit re-
fleets upon the good name OF the city, showing
as it plainly does that the cry OF fraud
ana DallOJ DOX SGulIlng III JhlS CITY raised
by the opposition press after the last elections,
was not enti ely myth 1t is being brought home
to them every day, and the respectable portion OF
the voting population, republicans as we'll as
democrats ufe how realizing what it is to be
REPRESENTED in the Legislative halls by men who
resort to every fraud known in and out of pSlftcs
to secure their election. ONeil is considered the
most respectable Of the two and it is Thought by
many that his motives have been prompted by
sense OF injustice rendered him by the judges of
election In the interest Of Ovens Others better
acquainted with the man, say that he is sailing in
the same boat with Ovens as regards
fraud, and that it is "diamond cut
diamond. He IS but a little beyond thirty
years OF age and is the proprietor OF cigar store
During the greater portion of the war he served in
Penn yivana regiment, and at the close returned
home ranking as lieu lenant. Both he and Ovens
heretofO e have been great chums, but his desire
to represent the Fourth district in the Assembly
interfered with the latter's cherished plans and
two, rendered the more intense owing to the flank
movement OF ovens. O'Nel is backed by the
mOneyed men OF what Is known over here as the
estate House Ring" and claims as his friends such
men as City Treasurer Widner and Bill Kemble
Ovens is recognized as q second edition OF the
"Reddy the Blacksmith" type OF politicians. He
is connected with the leading summarizes of both
the democratic and republican organizations, and
for years Is said to have worked on both sides in
his own peculiar way During the session OF the
Legislature he was appointed 10 an Office in that
body through the influence Of ASsemDyman Elliott,
now the candidate for the Office OF Sheriff or Phia-
delphla county, and who mahifestS a audable
desire to suck by his friend and prOteg6,