The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-07
STATEN ISLANDS BALLOTS.
PLOT AGAINST RTCHMOND COUN-
TY VOTERS DEFEA rED.
How Zach Chandlcr's Con-pirntors Expected
to Diminish the Democratic Majority on
staten Islnnd-A Police Captain IN n Fix.


flow Zach Chandicr's Con-pirators Expected
to Diminish the Democratic Majority on
staten Island-A Police Captain IN n Fix.
For some days t was known that officers
had been detailed to watch the Democratic
State Com mittee In the Everett House, but what
the object Of the surveillance was could not be
defined. Yesterday James Purcell, messenger
employed by the committee, was sent out with
parcel tontaining Democratic electoral tickets,
Intended for distribution In Richmond Uoun-
~. and addressed to the Hon. Erastus
Brooks, Erpress oHi.e. He had not gone far
from the motel before a police offcer, notng.as
afterward appeared, under the orders Of Capt.
Williams, Of the Thirtietb street police, seized
him, took away his parcel, and told him that the
arrest was made because he was suspected Of
having In bis possession forged United States
bonds. He was taken first to the Fifth Avenue
Hoiel, where both the National and State He-
publican Committees 'have their rooms. and
here II quickly became evident that the story of
the forged bonds was only q ruse. the object OF
the boys capture being to DELAY. or binder II
possible, the Distribution OF the electoral tick-
cts IN Richmond county. MIR. Drake De KY of
the ComptrOllors OH "a soon apuearod and the
messenger was subsequently taken TO the Ihir-
tieth street police station, and Diet lined under
examiuation f-r over an hour. He was then
taken bv the offcer VINO had arrested him to the
ONCE OF Commissioner Duel and there he was
the contents Of tne parcel, la which, m addition
TO the electoral tickets, was circular letter,
were closely scrutiuized.
The hON, however. was not very easily fright
encd, and he employed part OF the time OF his
imprisonment in writing an account Of bis cap
ture to The Hon. ErJstuS Brooks, In whose Office
he had once been employed. MIR. Books AT
at once sent Counsellor Henry = Levy to his as
ST. tance and an imine di tie examin ttlon OF the
charge OF having forged bonds In his possession
demanded. OF course there was not "A
| shadow of evidence up n which the hoy could
lIfk ket mad n
| ly but frutlessly searched for United states
| bonds, he was released.
At about four o'clock a complaint OF illegal
| arrest wis NJ de by Purcell against Capt. VIII
| liams, aud the Police Commissioners not being
/ In the Central Ohlce, Superntendent Walling
| explained to his astonished subordinate that II
Is not any part Of his duty to arrest citizens for
political purposes and without process Of law,
nor 70 steal electoral tickets to prevent their
| distribution.
But Captain Williams is not. apparently, likely
| to get on with mere reprmand Later In the
| evening Mayor Wickham, Superintendent Wal
| ling. Charles Y. NacLenn. counsel to the Police
| Board and Capt. williams met In the Superiu-
tendents Office. The boy Purcell told the story
| OF his arrest, which Superintendent WallnR ad-
mitted was made without any warrant, aud tha
| share taken IN 1t by Mr. Drake DeK " and Capt.
Williams became too evident to admit Of a
The Commissioners could not. Of course. in
vostigate the charge against Williams immsdi-
nieiv, but, in view 81 the gravity u the com
| pi ftnt, they took the bows afidavit at once,
aud PROMISED 10 20 on with the Investigation
| to morrow.
| IuTCtll > tUluaNit u az IollOWS.
| NV name IL James Purcell. am employed by the
pcmSsrse sss no opn,ss a, . , On Mon.
ts5ins electoral tickets given me By s. tsSrsSt ,Se
CLERK of ne ssid commi,trs az iIv.s q to Efs.tn,
there w. al,c ficnmond county written ons ID par.
| eel When belwoen Fourth avenue aud Irving Place 4
oihcisl sh,g ssia - @ ~ .re my prisoncr ! N.nt
DE IA, ssid to ihe oicer Come into tho notel as
snou, ten SlnSies should ,hins From there We ali
went TO the police station In lhriie,h street. We
| Cart Williams. Tue nsr.cl was tasen from me
ing the from my oyercos pocket. Capt williams.
On his srrivs took the parcel into adjoining room.
Once building, and afer waiting there a6eut hour
with having forged bonds OF the Uuted states lie
then oP-nsd The psrcri counted me tickets aad
| which he di charged me.
By the time the above AFFIDAVIT had been
| taken. multitude. every moment mere sing
| had collected outside the door Of the Superin.
| tendent- office, attracted by rumors Of the ex-
| traoriinars means the Republicans had used to
| county.
Mayor wickh'm and Counsellor MacIlean
| clipped away quietly by a sdo door seldom
| u's J, nd, vlultlng actively over locked iron
| gate. escap unquestOned. Capt Williams,
pushing his wag trroush tho thr1ng and refus-
| in9 10 answer any inquiries. went back TO his
| station, sadder II not wiser man.
| Gen. smith. President 81 the Police Commia
| sion. said thai the board would ascertain v Il d
were the persons responsible Tor the Outrage
| and punish them to the utmost limit Of Its
| power.
The Hon. Erastus Brooks evidently looks upon
| " "Drak" DE X ~, R'p., now in the G 'mptrclicr's
| Oni''.' as The one cncnv accountable and saws,
| through the meuium of his journal: "We shall
| pay our respects 10 these gentlemen civilians
and DE Ka Tomorrow"
boNilderlng exclamation OF the illegal ar
| rest Is offered In the otfi'e OF Commissioned
| Duell. II Is pretended that the bov was sus-
| Tected Of having In his uussession large guam
! tues OF fac-smiles OF Republican electoral
| Democratic n. On