The New York herald., 1876-12-23
NO FRAUDS.

M T MA " LID.
OFFICIALS OF BOTH PARTIES DECLARE THE
ELECTION TO HAVE BEEN AN HONEST ONE
INFORM ALTON ABOUT NATURALIZATION sPEcI-
ALLY GIVEN TO MI. WELLS.
The committee OF Congress appointed to investigate
into alleged frauds in tho election IN city,
Brooklyn, Jersey City and Philadelphia held fourth
session yesterday at the ST. Nicholas HolcL Nathaniel
Jarvis Jr Clerk Of the Court OF Common Pleas.
tilted that lever persons naturalizcd in that
Court within the past year than for several years pre-
vously, ana that federal officer was constantly
present TO guard agans, fraud. William b. Rankin,
lawyer, or Jersey Guy, knew Of possible frauds
In the late election, unless they were known to
publicans, they holding all tho election machinery.
Matthew Cooper, who edits paper called tho Scnti.
mel at East New York, thought the excessive vote
cast in that town was owing TO the importation OF
voters from Brooklyn; had charged fraud IN mis-
paper, but did 1t upon knowledge obtained IRON a
porter and from Supervisor OF Elections William
Murhcad Chief Supervisor OF Elections Jersey City
did not think that there ever had been faircr ecc
tion IN that community than the last, Patrick Erwin
OF Jersey CITY, saw some boatmen vote IN the First
ward they had no permanent residence, but lived In
thor boats. George II. Farricr who has lived in tho
city for forty years present at tho polls
election day. saw number Of persons around tho
polls who wcro strangers to him; know Of no illegal
voting OF his own knowledge. James A. Donaldson,
OF No. 364 Myrtle avenue, Brooklyn, knew there had
bccn colonization OF voters in that city previous to
the last election, with the purpose OF carrying Aldcr-
manic tickets; both parties co.onzed. Charles ~
Wood, Jersey City lotter carrier, knew nothing
about dccoy letters.
The committee hero a recess for an hour at the
expiration OF which time Corporation Counsel w G.
some fraudulent naturalization papers issued no
thought but in proportion 10 the number OF voters
wo had honcsicr elections in Now YORK than In any
other part OF the country In reply to a question
whether he thought tho system OF espionage intro
duced by Mr. J.. |; Davenport had not the effect TO
produced fair balloting, Mr. Whitney said he bad
observed, as one effect OF the system that II kept
good many men away from tho polls who were en-
ton day. lists of persons who bc registered
illegally; many mistakes occurred In these lists, and
witness knew persons legally entitled 70 vote who
seeing their names these ists preferred losing
their votes to ncufring tho risk Of and other
troubles which might ensue II they should attempt to
deposit their ballots.
LITTLE JoHSSy's TESTIMONY.
John l. Davenport, OF No. 543 East Twenty-seventh
street. called. He testified that he is Chief
pcrvisor OF Elections in the Southern district Of the
state OF New York United States Commissioner aud
that accordance with tho instructions oil the United
States Circuit Court issued in 1872 hc had last fall
pointed supervisors Of registration and election, Sc
lectng them from lists furnished him by the rcpub-
can, tho Tammany and tho anti-Tammany organiza-
tons; al the close Of each day OF registration the
books OF democratic and republican inspectors wero
brought TO Mr.. Davenport, who compared them
witness explained in detail the manner
In which the Inspectors books kept, and left
OF them be inserted the report OF the committee.
The registry books were compared with those of pre-
vious years. and the names OF all except people who
had moved The previous election OF those
who were known 10 witness to be legal voters were
tered upon another book about 90, 0OO names
needing investigation 1t was found that names
registered which had not appeared upon the books BIO
fore since 1872.
The proportion Of population who do not move from
ono election district 10 another is only about yivo
per cent after tho second day OF registration lists OF
the doubtful names wero placed In the hands of men
who went from house 10 house TO verify them; then
copies OF the lists paced In the hands OF second
set Of men, who knew nothing Of tho results
OF the first examination and they, too. wont
from house to house aud reported those whom they
could not find, and those who for anv reason they did
not believe TO DO legally entitled TO vote; the reports
OF these Two sets OF men were compared; In most dis
tr!cts third cxamina ration was made and where the
result Of all three agreed II was thought To be corrcct
witness had, however, gonc still iurher letters were
addressed suspected rartcs they wero sealed and
stamped and sent through the mails In tho regular
way; wherever party cannot he found tho carriers
obliged return upon the back OF the enveiopo
statement that the party cannot be ound or Is dead
or removed the case may be; these letters passed
through TO the Dead Letter Occ and In their passage
witness male transcript OF their Endorsements;
wherc this testimony agreed with that OF the house
visitors warrants we're issued and placed in tho hands
of officers at the polls SO that the men could
bc prevented from voting; there wcro about 1900
warrants issued disposition to register illegally was
discovered but IL confined TO certain localities and
arose entirely from local causes out OF the 500
rants issued only 800 arrests were made, the others
not coming at ALI tnoso arrested In the main
had given wrong numbers or their numbers had boon
mistaken by tho clorks in copying tho registry lists
principally the latter
PAIR BALLOT.
Mr.. Davenport declared from Is knowledge OF tho
population OF the city and tho registration that tho
New York. He could he said. demonstrate II beyond
all possible doubt by the figures and gave statistics
from 1885 up date, showing that In this city during
tho thirty years from 1885 TO 1850 the
annual increase in the voting population had
would give the present voting population as lgS 945 and
Mr. Davenport certain there are that number as
ho of his existence. The actual vote cast on
last election day 179 S3 Then taxing tho ratio OF
votes cast to population he showed that In 1S40 II
So per cent, aud the present year II was 81 70 per
cent being % cent less than In 1864 To account
the heavier oi votes cast 10 tho populaon
the present year compared with 1864 MI Davenport
states that 10 600 persons from tho South who had
settled in tho city since that me and most OF them
being young without families, they added to the
population Mr.. Davenport testified in conclusion that
no had worked In cooperation with the municipal
authorities in securing fair election ana that but for
their aid he could have efficiently carried out his
plans
g. W. Knebel Clerk ofthc City Court OF Brooklyn,
called by Mr. Wells testify about naturalization
that Court There had been about forty papers Issued,
he said and they were all legal SO far as he knew.
Court was called by Mr. Wells for the same purpose.
''Can you tell me tho precise number OF persons
naturazed In Jour Court, sir, IRON tho LIST Of July
until November ~" he asked.
~ think can' was inc reply.
'liow many wero thcrey"
conc, sirn
(Smilcs and adjournmcnt)