Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1874-09-03
Radical Banot-stnmng.

How Arkansas Was Carried for
Grant and Baxter in Es73.
REPORT of Evidence taken By the Congress
iOnal Investigating Committee in Little
ROck.l
M. G. Berdell, Sheriff of Van
Buren County (now Brooksite) +,
was next placed on the stand.
He started that he had charge of
the polls in Griggs precinct (Clin-
tom on the day of the election.
There we're many Irregularities in
the conduct of the election and
some ballots stuffed. ] fixed up
the tickets for them, and they car
Iried out my instructions. When
| Brooks tickets were handed 10
the Judges they would change
them before putting in the box
by substituting Baxter tickets.
The voter could not see where
their ballots went after handing
them to the Judges. The Judge
would tear up or put the Brooks
tleketsi in his pocket. About half
the Brooks tickets were thrown
out in this way. He had figured
| up before hand, and knew how
the vote would stand. Brooks
had majority in the township.
really had a majority in nearly
every township. but the vote of
only seven precincts were return
ed. Eleven were thrown out by
the Clerk on account of ALLEGED ir-
regularities. One township (Un-
inn) was thrown out because one
man voted on affidavit; another
(Red River) because one or twu
voted on affidavit; another because
they used an open ballot-box. l
did not deliver the ballot box to
the judges of the township, be-
cause | wanted an excuse to throw
out tue vote if it went against us.
Ii tue vote in all the precincts
had been counted. it wouA have
shown 49l for Brooks, 202 for
Baxter. One township was
thrown out because the Judges
counted the vote at three O'Clock
IN the evening. although every
body had voted. Enough votes
were rejected to give Baxter ma.
jOrity Of two in the county. At
the close OF registration about one
hundred names were stricken of.
because they were Brooks men.
They knew nothing of this until
went to vote. | sent TO Pope
County TO Stewart for fraudulent
certificates, which were to be used
In the Mountain Township. No
election was held in that township,
| made up the returns from 1t
with the fraudulent certificates,
but never used them, because it
was not necessary, inasmuch as
we had a majority by throwing
out the other townships.
CiOss- examined-I was q can
didate for Sheriff, and was declar-
ed elected by the fraudulent con-
duet OF myself aud others. Ididn't
commit many Of the frauds, but
knew of them. Miles Mount,
j Judge Of Election in Griggs Town
ship, dill most OF the stufing.
There were never over fifty men
in county legally DISTINGUISHED.
Question by WilsLiFe-Didn't
20 know you were perpetrating
II fraud?
Answer-Yes, but such men as
you were with me. | talked with
a great many as to the manner in .
which we were to carry the cleo
iion-you (Wilshire) among the
Wilshire-Not with me, you
didn't.
Berdell-I talked with nearly
every man of any standing in our
party in the county. The couh-
" was in the First Congressional
District. Hodges and Cause were
candidates for Congress. Ny con-
luct was Influenced by my inter-
,st in the success of the State
icket more than my own election.
but Republicans partici-
,ated in the frauds. Cause was
damaged about the same as Brooks.
t has been customary since recon-
truction to throw out Couserya-
i've votes. but not to such an ex.
ent as II. Was a Blxterite in
Y. During the recent troubles
vas for Brooks; offered hun my
erviees il a military capicity.
Detroit Free Press, "Last
March Il man named Emory
OpatfIa n mocbiniSf i'm tho or,,