Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-04-27
THE ELECTION FRAUD INyESTI-
CATION.
MI. John Il. Davenport Before the


Tee on expenditures Oh the department OF
Justice. In the absence of Mr.. Caulfeld
Mr.. Chandler, of Georgia, presided, and pro-
ceeCed TO question the witness.
Be was ssRt d as to money received from
the Attorney General in 1871, and was pro-
cee0ing 10 say that in that year he had ex-
perded $1,000 OF his own money, and for this
he had no vouchers.
Mr.. Cochrane, Iuterrupting. said he de.
sired witness 10 confine himself TO the ques-
ton asked.
Witness replied that the statement as to
MS 5000 expended was necessary as prelim-
mary to what was to follow, because the
s., 600 might turn up afterwards, ard some
question might be raised In reference to it,
lie then went on TO explain that in 1871 he
received in all a, 900 from the Attorney Gen.
eral, the first payment of e, 600 having been
made In August of that year. In 1872 he re-
ceived SO, 600; In 1873, Sc 600, and in 1874,
So 0O0, making in all the sum of S3I ,OOO and
for the expenditure of which he had receipts
Witness was asked what he had done previ-
Gus To August, Il, |, 10 authorize him To- re-
ceive the money then sent him. He reptile
by exhibiting series OF books which he had
prepared for the purpose of
DETECTING FRAUDS
ore series was what he called block books:
Others were complete lists OF registration
arranged so that any name could be readily
reached, and another series was maps of the
city, Indicating every house; for which IL
was occupied; how many stories high each
house was, and how many males it could
possibly accommodate. Before receiving
the first amount OF 1000 he had spent sums
OF money ont of his own pocket. This was
expended for books, paper, and labor of a
clerical character. Money was also expend-
ed In the detection of frauds, as for instance
he discovered where large number of
FRAUDULENT STANDARDIZATION PAPERS
were secTeted, and money had to be used to
secure them.
By Mr. COnger.-As understand YOU then
you had Incurred large expenses prior to
ing on you, you went to Long Branch TO see
the President to ask him if part OF the fund
could not be used to continue the work?
Witness.-That is il exactly.
BY Mr.. ChaDdler-Did you at any time in
form the President that this expense had
Teen incurred.
matter TO the President He took the books
and papers TO Long Branch with him TO show
the President the class OF work he was
doing. The money that was given to him
was, therefore, TO pay expenses that had
been incurred in the past and such as would
be incurred in the future. The money was
To pay for work actually done, and not for
Information. Whatever was paid for in
formation was paid out Of witness own
pocket.
BY Mr.. Cochranc:-DId you always inif-
cate on your checks the purpose for VIII ch il
was given?
Answer did not, sir.
Question: find here a cheek paid to q
Mr.. Pavey. Who is AIr. Pavey?
Answer.-He was a clerk IN my office. The
check to him was to pay the clerks under
him in his room. Witness employed all
clerks, but, as they were under Paveys di-
rection; the check for their pay was given 10
him in bulk.
HOW THE PRESIDENT UNDERSTOOD 1T.
BY Mr.. COnger-Did the President at the
time Of Your conversation with him at Long
Branch, or at any time thereafter, in any
shape or manner, state that any portion OF
this money was 10 be used for political pur-
poses?
Answer.-He did not. He understood that
II was To be used in the detection OF frauds at
election. and 10 result in faithful execution
of the laws. When the plan was explained
TO Gov. Fish he said he had examined the
plans 10 prevent frauds in Paris and he
thought MIR. Davenport's plan was better
tran any plan he had seen.
BY MI. COcbTane-WaS this extra work
done by you under any authority OF the acts
Of I'll or 1872, or any other law.
Witness replied that after an examination
he found that in order detection of frand ii
was necessary that one man should devote
his whole attention to the subject for the
purpose OF detecting fraud, especially as
three or four men were devoting all their
time 10 the deportation or fraud. He found
il necessary to DO this extra work, for the
law directed the detection of frauds; but did
not lay down the plan.
Que Stion. You admit, then, that in this
extra work YOU went beyond the laws OF 1871
and 1-l2,
Answer. / admit that the preparation OF
these books aud the other extra work was
not specifically contemplated by these acts.
z. Was the work contemplated by any
act of Congress"
a. No sir. But ii grew out of the neceSsi-
ties of the case; / deemed all those books
book on which had recorded the names OF
all convicts; the time they served in the pen
itentiary, and other matters by which they
were presented from voting. In the case OF
Terrence Quinn, for Instance, it was found
that he was convict.
Mr.. Durham unterruptihg) objected to
witness going into that matter again in de-
tail. He had already told the committee OF
luinn's case.
swerlng in proper way. he regretted the
tendency to stop the witness whenever he
was going on 10 show how he exposed frauds.
Mr.. Durham thought that remark was un-
fair. He (Mr. Durham) was as fair as any
man, but he would stop the witness when
ever he wandered off from the question.
The witness produced what he called his
convict book and described IL.
By Mr.. COchrane: Is there any act OF Con-
gress authorizing that book?
Witness No, sir.
Question. Then IT is your own idea, and
you got il up because you thought II neces-
sary?
Witness replied that he knew Of no law
which in precise terms directs the making
of such book; but he found 1t necessary TO
prevent frauds. He had also book in which
he recorded the deaths of males in New
York. This was also TO prevent fraud.
Question. Was there any law authorizing
that book?
Witness said he discovered that large
number of persons registered and voted IN
the names OF Qedl men. IL was tII0ieiDTC q
necessity, but he knew OF no statute that
specifically authorized 1t.
Question. Do you know OF any statute
that implicitly authorizes 1t?
Witness knew OF no authority except that
clause OF the law which makes II the duty of
the com missioners TO use all posi- BILE means
in the detection and prevention OF election
frauds.
Question. Do you know of any statute
that gives a commissioner discretion TO
prepare books like these and do extra work.
Witness knew OF no such law except such
as was implied. But the President, the At
torney General and the witness after a full
consultation thought that this extra work
was necessary.
BY Mr.. Conger:-Was not the appropria-
tion ont OF which this money was paid made
TO detect frauds in elections, leaving its dis
bursements to the discretion of the Attorney
General?
Witness replied that that was it, and it
was because OF this discretion that the Pre-
sident aud The Attorney General authorized
1t.
In reply TO Mr.. Wait, witness further said
that his books had accomplished the object
at " hich be aimed, and democrats as well as
republicans conceded that fact.
Mr.. Durha m wanted witness to name any
democrats who had approved of his mode of
detecting the frauds, and witness nam ed
Colonel John r. Fellows. Isaac Slerm an