The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-12-07
Radical Frauds IN Florida.

Radical Frauds IN Florida.
The Democratic managers in Flori-
da have succeeded in unearthing
frauds which even rival in infamy
those detected in Louisiana. At the
session of the Returning Board on the
2Sth the second county called was Ba-
ker. The Secretary read the returns,
showing a result favorable TO the Re
publicans. The Democrats had ma
jority of % in that county, and it was
apparent that a fraud had been perpe-
trated by the Secretary Of the Board.
No notice had been given that Baker
was in the list of contested counties.
By a vigorous application of the
thumb. screws The Secretary was
forced to acknowledge that he had
suppressed the regular returns from
Baker on account of some informally
in the certitication. With the regular
returns admitted from Baker the Til
den electors have majority of l3o in
the State. Upon this bogus return
Hayes would have q majority of 46.
The object OF the trick yesterday was
to change the face Of the returns early
and give Hayes q claim oh the State.
Soon after the discovery of the fraud
the Board adjourned to attend the
funeral of q man who was already
buried.
But this was not the end Of the de-
velopments of Radical rascality. The
proceedings before the Board on the
29th revealed q fraud which should
bring the blush to the face of every
Republican who makes the least pre-
tension to honesty and fair dealing. 1t
developed the system Of frauds, per-
juries and ballot-box stuffing to which
the carpct-baggers have resorted in
order to defeat the will of the people.
The circumstances Of this disgraceiul
affair and it's exposure by the Demo
cratic managers are related by the
special correspondent of the Cincin.
natl Enquirer. IN dispatch dated the
Both ult;
"They proved by one
witness that The Republicans had paid
him 500 for signing the paper That
they presented on yesterday. aud by
another witness that after having Of
fered him S25 il he would sign a sim
liar, and received his indignant refusal
deliberately forged his name TO the
paper and presented it yesterday in
evidence. The effect produced by the
sudden appearance before the Board
Of these two witnesses, who were sup
posed TO be 200 miles away, was sim
ply stunning. The first witness, Green
Moore, an Inspector in the Archer
Precinct, in Alachua, where the return
was raised 2l9 votes, made several
positive and public statements de-
nouncing the fraud, and explaining
how it was done. On the 18th he
made all affidavit, reciting the facts.
On the 10th he was visited by the lte-
publican Shiriff of the county,, who
offered him 800 if he would sign II
paper retract.ng the statements made
In his affidavit. Being assured shat
he would not have to swear to it, he
took the money and signed the paper.
On the 23i he made a new affidavit,
tIlC 6uus Va ehS ossihos IVA
suffers, and to-day came before the
Board and ackno wledged taking the
bribe, and again reiterated the state
ments of fraud at the precinct. lie
swore that he voted the Republican
ticket, and gave his influence to the
Republicans.
s'FlOvd Dukes, a: shrewd aud cute
old darkey, Inspector al the same pre-
cinct, also made statements that 2IJ
votes were traudulently added 10 the
returns from Alachua. lie made aff-
davit to this fact on the 18th, reciting
that he made that affidavit under du-
ress. He appeared to-day before the
Board aud swore that he had never
signed such o paper, and that II was
a forgery on the part OF the man who
signed his name to ii, and perjury Oh
the part of the man who swOre to his
signature. On last Saturday Walls,
colored EX- X-Congressman, came to his
house with Justice OF the Peace, and
offered him S25 if he would sign the
paper. He declined indignantly, and
they left.
He then awkwardly, but with di.
rectness aud sincerity, made state
ment of the whole fraud at the pre-
cinct, showing that the retnrn WIS
raised 2l9 votes after the ballOt.bOx
was closed. The effect of the testimo-
ny cannot be described; it actually
paralyzed the Republicans. The DEM
Ocrats followed it up, however, by an
attack all down the line. They forced
the fighting at every point, and proved
that the return from Baker county, so
arbitrarily suppressed by the Chair
man on the first day, leaving out cer-
tain Democratic precincts and chang
ing l35 votes, was bogus, and was
never seen or heard OF in the county,
and signed by Justice OF the Peace
who had been appointed since the
election. There being no Justice in
the county who would sign the bogus
return, the Governor appointed new
Justice, who, ii appears, has signed
i.."
lican managers resort to perpetuate
the power of the most corrupt and
tyrranous administration that has ever
cursed the country. But their wicked
schemes will not avail them for even
the honest masses of that party will
not sanction the commission of such O
stupendous crime.
A Fair Count.