Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-09-09
How about another Little Money
Transaction

peration and the weakness Of their cause by their
arraignment CT one of our citizens, on the charge
Of attempting to buy votes for the republican cause
| W. (. Percival was yesterday brought before the
municipal court, on complaint of Reuben McKcn-
ncy, charged with an unlawful attempt to lnHu-
ence the votes OF George F. Austin and Charles
Z n. Williams, charging that on the 2Sih Of Au.
gust, Percival offered each Of these ten dollars to
| vote the republican ticket Austin and Williams
are young men, but are both bard looking ci-
zens the latter having had considerable experience
in jail. For these poor unfortunates whose rights
as free and Independent citizens it is claimed that
Peicival attempted to infringe abridge,
L. F. Pllsbury, Esq, and J. W. Bradbury, Esq,
| appeared as counsel, although clearly that place
! belonged 10 the county attorney. They did no t
dare to commit their cause TO his hands, but want
cd justice admin i,tered according to the democrat
| ic gospel Of st. PillsbuIy. That nice little
thing-Pillsbury personating the county attorney.
| Baker < Baker appeared as counsel for PEREZ
| val.
Williams on beng sworn, testified that nc lived
| in Augusta, married, although his wife had
| left him, and that showed her good judgment.
Percival had approached him while he was at work
| for him in hayng asking him how he going
| to vote Told him he was undecided. Perciyal
| offered him $40 if he would vote the republican
| ticket the approaching election Asked him if he
couldn't do better. Said he woull give him SO
| if he would use his "infuencel" Reckoning the
| vote at $40 and the influence at So The wit
ness couldn't exactly explain wha was meant by
| "iniluence". This same talk was repeated when
ne met Peioival at the dam, two weeks ago last
Friday and Saturday. Witness in company
| with Austin and rode Percival team. PEREZ
| val made the same talk with Austin, offering him
| SIS ioi vote and "influencc." Perciyal said he
| would give him more, ''if be in til. market"
| In the cross examination he said ,hst he had the
first conversation with Pcrciyal in July in the
| haying field; no one else was present. Wanted to
know how he was going to vote; told him he
| hadn't made up his nind he then made the offer,
| repeated above. Was not influenced by his offer
| The same conversation was made on Friday and
| Sat rday precisely the same. The counsel for
t e accused here remarked that it was very con-
venicut conversation, fitted to every day in the
we X. On friday Percival gave him 50 to bind
the bargain, as he supposed, and was going to
pay the rest Saturday night before the election.
| T Id him if he could find any other good fellow
that wanted to sell his vote, that would not "go
| back on him, to bring him along. Then, at the
| opFortuhe hoWeh'' as II seems oy LIS own SNOW"
| ing, be dragged Austin forth from his hiding
place, and presented him to Percival as fit sub
ect to be "pelsuaded' that the principles of the
| republican party are altogether wrong and that
| he ought to vote the republican ticket. Witness
testified that at the last interview with Percval he
| told him that he had not made ND his mind how
| he should vote. ,bouph he had already receiy ed
50 to bind the bargan!'
Austin sworn and testified that he had lived
| had como 10 An@usta in lime but he had found
| out t,om Mr.. White, with whom be boarded. that
ne came in Auc,st Tins me lied away two months
| rom Austin's legal life, and thus me tied away
one name that the democrat, hoped to get on the
| voting Lists. Innocent Austin. how couiGest
hon?
| W. f. Pcrciyul. the accused, testified that Will
| iiams had worked for him in having ten and one
| half DAYS. nave order for his fun WAGES 10 Row
man of the Farmers Hotel. While at work on
| his farm havirg. Williams said he wanted TO vote
he repfbcan ticket Told him that she had
| ome m here 10 work having MOTTO talk politics.
| DiJ not f.r hmm anv money in ANY shane Nev-
| er saw Austin till a week ago last Saturday.
| When driving nm tn the mill he saw Williams and
| TOLD him that he was glad tie see him. for he want
| d that 50 IS. which he lent him last Tuesday en-
| he promise of having il returned the ne xt day
| Sa d he would get the money at Wateryillc of
| nan who owed him Sll. Williams got on my
| team and we rode along Said he wanted to vote
or the republican party. Ireplied 81 amt I'D for
| flee aad | don't want to buy" Then a man
came out, and Williams said, 'Here is the man
that wants to vote the republican ticket" l said
| Let him." Williams said, but we want some
| money!" Then iokiuqv said GLOW much do
YOU W ant I" Five dollars" Five dollars why,
| | can buy one-half the democrats in town for
| twenty five cents apiece" | never saw Austin
| before, and didn't look at him or speak to him
| his occas ion Told Nf,li6ms was going to do
| my own honest voting. 34ne whole transaction
| did not commune over Fl 4 minutes. Didn't look
| Al Austin, Because | did't want a man who will
| sell his vote he is only fit for a democrat.
| Thought such man would be a damage to the
| republican party
An adjournment was had to afternoon, when
| Mr. Baker reviewed briefly the case, showing that
Austin is not voter here, so that the only
har. that can be brought must be by Williams.
| The bare evidence of Mr. Williams, uncorroborat-
ed. as it is is not sufficient to convict The testi-
mony of Williams is fatty contradicted by the ties
| imony of Austin The statements that Williams
| alleee, had been made we're The sane at three
different tim, :. and seem to have been all that
| had been drilled into him. The whole thing had
| been slammed As fal.e bv their own witnesses.
But 20 bevond into the defence, and the denial,
Il