New-York tribune., 1876-10-17
ILLEGAL REGISTRATION IN BROOKLYN.

ILLEGAL REGISTRATION IN BROOKLYN.
CLAIMS THAT 5000 NAMES HAVE BEEN FRAUDU-
LENrLY neutrality-suspicious. TO PRE-
VENT REPEATSNG.
As soon as the returns came IN from the
various Offices Of registration in Brooklyn las. Tuesday,
the unprecedented number Onames recorded aroused us
cions al once that this the result of fraud An nyes-
tgation was Immediately begun which confirmed these
spcions and disclosed the fact that the number ile-
gallv registered throughout the city much larger
even than had been supposed. ThereUpOn meeting OF
prominent Republicans, Independents, and slocum
Democrats was held to perfect arrange enis aud organ
za1ons for the purpose Of investigating the matter pre-
venting illegal voting, and bringing to justice those who
had been guilty Of illegal registration. An association
was formed and is at work. asccraning the actual
voters in each house in Brooklyn and comparing the re-
suits with the official lists Of those already registered
This organization includes in its numbers many proini-
uept citizens who have been sworn in, and are now
quietly performing the work allotted TO them.
One Of the first members of the organization we'll
known Republican, explained TO TRIBUNE reporter
yesterday something of the scope Of the work He SAID
that the members had already gone through elgAt wards
and Judging from the number Illegally registered in
those sections. there must be at least 5000 names
Illegally registered in the whole city. In the Seventeenth
Ward there were over 200 fauduleuty recorded in the
Nineteenth, 45O in the Seventh, 3jO Twenly-iirst
PCS; Twenty-hfth $50; Eleventh, 200; IWcnty-tlhrd,
400: Sixteenth, 200 The inquiries were being rapidly
prosecuted in the remainder OF the wards II was found
that from many houses where only three or four voters
lived much larger number registered in some cases
s high rs Ii or Is In other the names Of indi-
vduals in any residence were ascetuued, ana these
names were registered in each Of the districts Of the
ward II alleged that large number OF the street
gangs Of NewYork had been brought over to do tins
work on registration day and would be used again at
the election. "The Democrats" said THE TBIB-
USE's informant "havc become tired of the
method Of colonization because IL is too slow, too
expensive, and brings in too small returns. So they
have gone back to the old method Of repeating, and
unless something is done TO Outwt them will carry on
very extensively this year. he added that organizations
had been formed in each ward 10 act with the General
Vigilance Committee" There general commander
who had The oversight OF he workers In the ward and
in each district there captain, with two lieuteuants
Under each captain 25 men, who between this time
and the day Of election would he engaged in the nvest
cations being carried on, and report TO their officers
At the time OF election they were to be at the polls,
armed ready TO carry out the orders OF their SUI
perOrs No violence TO be exerted but every lawful
would be used TO prevent any repeaers deposit
ng fraudulent ballots escaping the proper punishment
for their crime II expected to have the arrange
ments 50 perfect that as each deposited his vote it
would he known whence lac came and whether it
were legal They proposed to subject this election to
closer inspection than had been the case before
BY another member Of the association 1t was stated
that trustworthy information had been obtained that the
same Illegal registration taking place systematically
IN Buffalo, Albany Troy, Rochester and New-Iork, with
the determination 10 put $4,000 fictitious votes for Til
den into the baot-box election day. II was added
that organizations similar the in Bro. kyn would
be formed soon in all the cities named.