The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-01-01
FRAUDS.


Districts of Baltimore, is going on lively.
A large number of intelligent and reputa-
Bile witnesses have been examined, and they
more than confirm every thing that has
been charged concerning the fraud, intimi-
dation and violence practiced by the ruff
fans of the Ring at the State election. The
following extracts, taken at random from
the testimony Of one day only, will give a
faint idea Of how the thing was done:
JAMES C. MGINNEss
was called and testified: | reside at No 8
McMechen street; served as clerk both at
the municipal and State elections in the
First precinct, Eighteenth ward; there were
iG6 more ballots received than there were
names on the books at the legislative cleo
ton: up to 10 o'clock there was much in
timidation offered; after that hour the Dem
ocrats had things their own way: the vio-
lencc was practiced by the Democrats: the
Democrats were helped up to the window
by the police, and the Reformers often
pushed away; there were two or three per
sons who came into the poll-room during
the voting; the change of the polling place
was very sudden, and | received no pre-
viouS notice of it, but went at first to Sharp
street: the most of the rejected ballots were
handed back to the voters; there no
box for them; at the counting there was no
one present besides the Judges and three
policemen; | have no certain knowledge of
any one applying for admission; do not
think it possible to have had then a full,
fair and impartial expression of the views
aud preferences Of the voters; the police
favored the Democrats in their actions;
when | went to sharp street, where the
polls were usually held, | saw about fifty
men in line awaiting for the opening; l
was afterwards told of the removal and
upon going to the new place | found two
strange men in the room; when the window
was opened the crowd became lively; soon
remarks were made: "Here they Gomez
the crowd then rushed around the corner;
the firing took place soon after, and con-
tinued for about half an hour; there were
only five colored men who voted during the
day, and they did so at t'H r l Of their
lives; they were protected by III. -"
away from the windows as far as the culu
stone, and then they had to run; Mr.. McCub-
bins held the book frequently near the win
dow. and one particular man stood outside
and read names on it, and then went around
the corner and brought men and voted
them; there were four names that | know
to have been voted twice.
NOAH UNDERWOOD,
Reform Judge of the First precinct of the
First ward, was the next witness: Got to
the polls about 5:45 A. NJ; heard the crowd
shout outside: then they commenced to hit
the German voters; there was one voter,
named Henry Buchanan, dragged away by
the crowd; l heard that they beat him very
badly: they did not get his vote in; a man
by the name of Dan Donovan attempted to
vote three times; | went out for commit
ment, but he escaped; there We're but two
colored voters and they voted the Demo
cratic ticket, and they were treated very
well.
MR.. JACOB y. MICHAEL,
(of the firm Of VIM. II. Michael & Sons,
testified that he was Judge of Election, I
second day of November, at the first pre-
ciuct, Fourth Ward; the oath was admins
tered to him by the Police Commissioners;
could not remember the oath verbatim:
arrived at the polls at 5:45 A. Nj; when he !
arrived at the polls there was a crowd drunk /
and disorderly; heard a number of pistol |
shots fired in the neighborhood; there was /
a line Of voters approaching the polls when |
opened; many of these voters were colored /
men; many of the latter had their hats |
knocked off by Democratic roughs; most |
OIL l!GScIlI " I'm
the Democratic roughs; | wanted my col
leagues to appoint challengers, but they
refused: saw Nr. John Buck struck in
front of the polls; ordered the arrest Of the
party who struck him. his name is VIM.
Ahearn; the policeman stood Gnstead of
looking toward the offender talking To me;
the number of the policemen was fifty
nine; the condition of the registry was
such as to promote rather than prevent
fraud; opposite most of the names there
WIS no residence given; detected several
men trying to vote ftaudulently, and Or
dered their arrest: presume they bad Dem
ocratic tickets; there were f(ty-nine more
tickets counted out of the boz than the
clerks books showed to have voted; there
was 4 great many small shinglc or pud-
ding tickets counted out Of the boz; these
were Democratic; some Of the names on
the registry book were, ! know, the names
of dead men, and parties who had removed.
[ The witness read a list of such names
which he said he had got from James NJ.
Waterworthl |. The name Of VIM. Buddy,
which was on this list and not on the regis
try, was voted on; don't know if he is dead:
the namos OF Henry c, Chase and Harmon
w. Chase were on the list, parties attempt
ed to vote on these names and | ordered
their arrest; think Illinois Crowthers was
on the list: this man who had lived next
door to me, died six years ago; think his
name was voted On: Joseph Mason, No. -
East Pratt street, attempted to vote, and
was driven away; there was but one man
arrested at the polls that saw Or knew of;
ordered his arrest for striking colored
men and knocking Off their hats; 4 great
many negroes were intimidated; | believe
that twelve or fifteen colored men voted:
there were sixty or seventy names Of col
,red men on the registry; the majority for
Carroll in this precinct was 235; Latrobe's
ma ority was but Is.
c. EIGENRRAT, IR.,
was sworn, and testified: live on Wilkens
street; | served rs clerk of election on the