New-York tribune., 1876-12-02
FLORIDA.
FRAUDS AT THE ELECTION


IMPORTANT REPUBLICAN TESTIMONY As TO ALA
CHUA NASSAU, AND DUyAL CoUNTIES-DEho-
CRATIC CHARGES.
TALLAHASSEE Fla, Dec. 1.-The board met at 10
o'clock to-day. The Republicans introduced VIII
pesses in the Alachua case Mr.. Vance (col0red the
clerk at Archer Precinct, swOre that the election
was fair and regular. and that go votes were
poled; that the certificates were made out to show
this number of votes and were regularly signed by
Moore and Dukes the inspectors. He described
with great particularly the method OF
conducting the election and count. Upon
being crOss-examined he swOTe that he was employed
as clerk By the County Commissioners about one
month before the election in the Office of Mr. Dennis,
and that a tally-sheet was kept. He don't know
what became Of the sheet. He testified that the
balotbox was taken to his (Vancesl house on cleo
ton night and kept there until morning when 1t was
taken in a basket TO the C0Ourt-house. The wltness
was horn in Canada and educated Buffalo, NY,
public school.
p. II. Black. co ored, was introduced. He testified
that he was Inspector Of election OF Archer ana tha
535 votes were cast counted and put in the certih
cate regularly.
The Democrats then fled objections to the vote OF
Duyal County on the ground that 53 non-registered
men voted that 33 men voted twice; that 10 under
penal conviction voted that 13 inmates OF the
County Jail voted and that the registration list was
padded and packed, the only Democratic member of
the Board Of County Commissioners being removed
inst before the election to make for the fraud
there
The Republicans filed objections TO % votes IN
Nassau and % in Duyal. on the ground that two
payuasters Of railroads gave Democratic tickets
marked with certain numbers to negro employees,
and told them they would be discharged if those
numbers were not found in the box; that these ne
proes through fear did vote the numbered tickets,
and on various other grounds of intimidation and
violence.
The Republicans objected 10 Jackson County on
thc general charge of intimidation, violence and
aud The specifications assert that the Demo-
catc inspectors drove the Republican inspectors
....gv from tue pos and then refused TO receive
..yeu Republican votes; that the ballot Ger
titicate WAS signed by inspectors; that they
did not announce the vote 70 the crowd
OF 10 any one else rs 316 votes that the baot-boX
was taken 70 Yances house, and that party OF
Democrats came and endeav0red TO induce him TO
take it TO some other place but he refused to do so;
that he did not put Illegal votes in the boxes; that
no one else did. The witness was born IN Pmladel-
phia and educated in Edinburgh.
Ex-Congrcss,uan Walls coored) was introduced
and testified that he didn offer Dukes S25 any
other sum 90 sign the affidavit introduced by the
Republicans that he did go to Dukes house with
Bolton to persuade DUc 10 sign 1t, and that Dukes
said he would sign them in town; when they
reached town Belton and Dukes retired TO Belton's
office; Relton came out after while, saying,
Dukes hat touched the pen and signed; Dukes
cannot write his name he touches the pen aud
mark is made for him.'
Major McCaue was introduced and 5wOre that he
was in Bclton's Office On the 18Th and saw Dukes
put his mark % an affidavit that was read TO hun;
il was something about the Archer box being placed
on a low bench where voters could not see IT. that
one inspector took handful of tickets out of the
box and put them in his vest pocket; that all the
Republican votes were taken from the box at one
precinct during dinner hour, when 1t was left open
and I'M guarded.
The board then adjourned for the day The papers
in the other counties viii be filed tomorrow which
is the last day for filing papers.