New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-24

Galveston indictments amounted 20
nothing; the indictments were quashed; on
election day we began counting the votes
between 8 and 9P. NJ; ended about IL P.
n. next day; there was considerable dis.
turbance outside tho polling place from
ten O'Clock until four O'clock; saw three
men outside have pistols in their pockets; l
was not armed; counting the votes was
very tedious work; there were many
scratched ticket; We were about thirty six
hours counting the votes.
Lewis Backus-l WAs supervisor IN the
eleventh ward; an also health officer, sp-
pointed by the Board of Health; sent notes
day; am . Republican; some of the notes
related to come names of voters that had
been accidentally omitted from the liste;
did not give Hearsev or Kemptcn instruc-
tione; in trying to arrange the tally sheets
60 as to make them agree, Major Burke
made q change of several vOtes-say some.
thing like ten votes; the sheets were then
already signed; Leidig swore that the tally
sheet was correct when he delivered 1t to
me; visited the poll and saw unauthorized
persons keeping the tally lists in poll Nc. 3
of ward clever; did not assent to have
outsiders keep the tally; tally sheet was
delivered to me by one commissioner OF
election, and it was sworn to; l refused to
consolidate that poll in my consolidated re-
turn.
To Mr.. .Townsend-The tally sheet spoken
of sworn to by only one commissioner; two
other commissioners had refused to swear
to it because they had been threatened; the
ten votes that Major Burke changed were
taken off Democrat judge and put on
Republican Judge; do not know the names
of two Unauthorized persons who assisted
in keeping the tally; it had been agreed by
the two political parties to have three men
of each side present at the polls to overlook
the proceedings, but those citizens had no
right to perform any work; inside OF poll
No 6 the Democratic had determination
to do what they pleased; the registration
in the eleventh ward was about BOO; there
were about 725 or 720 black voters; about
forty-five of them voted the Democratic
ticket; there were aoout l36 white men who
voted the Republican ticket; there were
colOred men discharged because they voted
the Republican ticket; c0lOred men were
told before election day that they would
be discharged il they voted the Republican
ticket; have heard Of thirty-one colOred
N en- discharged for 30 voting.
Direct-l meant to cay that only one
commissioner swore to the tally lists; they
all eigned them; Gauthreaux spoke of the
votes being counted 40 Glow; he called it q
trick. and said that if it did not 90 on right
somebody would be killed; jesse X. Bell
had james Smith working for him and
| Smith was discharged; . number, seven OF
eight, of other cOl0red men were discharged
| from the Pelican Cotton Press; think it was
the Pelican Press; know the nance, bni
| have promised not to expose them; would
| like to have about five hours time to see
| the men; will not answer, will not tell the
mems nance; told the men that l would
| not expose their names to the House com
| mittee unless the committee would agree tG
support them the remainder Of their lives
| | know Of three cOlOred men who wert
threatened with discharge if they voted the
Democratic ticket; have been on the police
q sanitary officer, carpenter. tanner and
licenee inspector
To Mr.. Townsend-Had conversation
with the discharged colored men immedi
ately after the election; it bad no reference
to this committee; afterward they askee
me not to make their names public; it is {
| we'll known fact that Republicans are MOI
! liked in this city; if should keep . gro
Gerry and give three-fourths more goods fol
dollar than my Democratic neighbo
would, the people would not purchase from
me because am Republican.
Major Bnrke-The statement made b]
Backers that changed the tally sheet il
! false; now take my oath that l did no
| change single vote.
C. j. Leidig-Heard the testimony o
Hearsey, KemptOn and Backers; theil
statements are untrue; merely told then
| that the work must go on; they took to-
| much time to count the votes.
| l. w. Patton-Voted at poll No. 2
eleventh ward; colored people general.
voted in the rear of the ward; think tina
| the colored men were instructed to vote il
| the rear of the ward; think 90 because
| cav indications that lead me to that belief
The committee adjourned until mex
Tuesday morning, the members respectiDi
| the holy day and the holiday.