The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-05-27

Spencers Handwriting, ana IleSe letleIs
are written and signed by him, and bear
the impress ofthis seal and motto, 'Dleu
Delende lie Droit The expression rela-
tive to arrests in Randolph and other
counties refers to letter received by me
from Randolph county, in which 1t was
stated that if troops could be sent INTO
the counties named to make few arrests
enough voters could be run out Of them
to secure the election of the Republican
candidates for lhe Legislat'
Informed Spencer of these facts, and
this is what that part of his letter relates
to. As Assistant Secretary ofthe Repub-
lican State Executive Committee, | was
familiar with the plan of Spencer and
the Republican party. }. j. Hinds was
Spencer's confidential man, and repre-,
sented him in every particular. lie had
control of every movement. Z. G, Sheets,
Colonel w. ii. Belts, D. G, Whiting, J.J,
Kinds, Charles Pelham, United States
Marshal A. r. Baker and had special
management of Spencer's election. |
was informed that all the money needed
to secure Spencer's election was provided,
and in the hands of Kinds, 1t was said
that the Lowndes county delegation, ex-
cept Major Hunter, were disatfected
This would defeat Spencer's election
We were informed that $1,000 had been
deposited subject to the order of Senator
Jones. This we afterward found to be
untrue, but not knowingany better then,
| was instructed to say to Senator Jones
that he had $1,000 subject to his order
conditioned on his holding the Lowndes
county delegation in the Courtroom AS
sembly.
Learning that Jones was attending a
colored ball, sent j. N. Beach to inter
view him and report. Sandy Bynum,
John G. Hendrix and myself were Sc
lected to watch the Lowndes county rep
sentatives, except Hunter, all night,
Just before day Assistant Sergeant-at-
arms Dan Norwood came out of the house
where they were staying, and gave him
FIVE dollars to return and wake them,
and tell them | wanted to see them.
They came out, and we went to the
Madison House, where Spencer had or
dered breakfast for their special bene.
fit. | then went to Spencer's room and
informed him that had them. Hetold
me to conduct them to his room, which
| did ! told them that Spencer had
made up his mind to give each of them
an appointment, and Spencer, who was
present, promised them route agencies
During the night left Barnum on watch
and went to Spencer's room to suggest
the propriety Of sending to Lowndes
county for Bryant Bryant arrived next
day and, as understood, received three
thousand dollars from Kinds This tlen
seemed to fix the Lowndes county dele
cation all right
The Legislature convened that morn
ing. The Lowndes county delegation
were present and voted for Spencer
NJ my members from other counties were
promised offices. ! was authorized by
Spencer to promise members as many
Offices as | might think necessary to Sc
cure their support. 1t was understood
that Calvin Goodloe was to get Federal
appointment, and that at a proper time
he was to join the Courtroom Legisla.
ture and vote for Spencer. Meanwhile
he was to remain in a position to have
access to and the confidence of the Capt. |
tol Assembly until his vote was neces-
sary at the Courtroom Legislature to
elect Spencer. Ae ascertained all that he |
could of their movements by going to |
the rooms of members of that body and |
leading them into conversation, and re-
ported to Spencer. We tried constantly |
to defeat quorum Of the Capitol Legis-
leture, and | was given to understand |
thnt III, ~ ,Nln,, hnI cttptAalal hNy IIca tn1t- |
ing two members and drugging another
to insensibility. This was the night be-
fore the day fixed by law for the election
of United States Senator when the Capt.
tol Assembly would proceed to elect. On |
that day | learned that the drugged |
member was still lying insensible.
Witness then proceeded to detail how
Baker and Chisholm, two men from dis
tant counties, generally known to have
been not elected, were sent for and in
duced by the promise of Office to enter
the Courtroom Legislature as Repre-
sentatives of their respective counties,
and proceeded as follows:
Baker was appointed Clerk of the
House Committee on Internal Improve
ments by General Duslou, the Chairman.
He told me that he had also been prom
ised Federal appointment and was af
terward appointed U. S. Marshal for the
Northern District of Alabama. After the
consolidation of the two Legislatures
Chisholm was appointed to position in
the Custom House in Mobile. Witness
further testified that pending the cam
paign Internal Revenue Assessor Low
H. Mayer wrote him the detailed plan Of
a campaign with the troops, which he
communicated to Spencer, and which was
finally adopted. The troops were to be
sent wherever needed, ostensibly for the
purpose of protecting revenue offiCersa and
breaking up illicit distilleries, but really