Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1876-01-14
CoNTESTIMoNY.
A Brief Synopsis of the Evidence
Taken in the Gray-Bennett
Election Contest.

The contested election case in thi
Assembly District, between JOSEPH
Bennett and Ansley Gray, which ha
been topic of considerable interes
for the past two months, has at las
come to a focus" the testimony Fav
ing been taken at Dodgeville anc
Avoca on last Saturday and Monday
The testimony at Dodgeville wa
taken before Thos. Carkeek, Esq, anc
Mr.. Benefits side of the case was wei
handled by s. w. Reese, assisted
by Judge Wilson, of Minera
Point, J. P. Smoker, of Highland
and A. s. Frost, of Avoca. Mr.. Gray
was represented by Judge Cothren
M. j. Briggs and himself, until Mon
noon, when Judge Cothren, appar
emily disguised with the pettifoggine
course of his colleagues, went home.
For the convenience of the reader
and in order to more readily show
Just what the testimony establishes, We
have placed the evidence on each
point to itself. The cases of illegal
voting were as follows:
NO. l. CHRIS. RUcKEs.
Nick Schiller testified that he keeps
hotel at Mineral Point. That one
Chris. Ruckes had kept bar for him
from the last Mineral Point fair till
Dec, 31st. rs. R1ckes had been living
at Peru, ILL.,, for about nine months
before coming to live with Schiller
He was out of town the day of the last
general election-told Schiller he
was at Highland. Did not tell him he
voted there. Ole day, Ansley Gray
came and talked to Chris. about the
election, and Chris. got little scared
and was going to leave right off. He
asked me (Schillen) whether he
should go away. I told him he was a
very foolish man if he had voted al
Highland, I said to him,why did they
let him vote at Highland, when he did
not live there. Some one who was
present said that he had not voted be-
fore since he lived at Highland Chris
lived with me. My folks did his wash
ing. He is a sihgle man. He had nc
parents or relatives at Highland. In
responce to the question, "What rea
son did Mr.. RJckes give for leaving
the State?" Mr.. Schiller said, "He
was going away this week at any rate
and being told that he was going to be
taken to Avoca3 about the election; he
would leave rather than be hauled
around the country" On cross exami
nation Mr.. Schiller said, "Ruckes did
not tell me that he had previously vo
ted at Highland"
George Bloofh testified: 1 reside al
Mineral Point. Went to Highland
with Chris. Ruckes Nov. 1st, 1875
He told me that he voted there Nov
I'd.
James Cleminson, merchant, resid
ing at Highland testified: [ saw Chris
Ruckes vote at Highland last election
day. Think he voted the clean Reform
ticket, Saw him take it off the table,
roll it up and hand it to the chairman,
I said, Ruckes is not voter here
he lives at Mineral Point. Ruckes
said he hadn't voted anywhere else
since he left Highland. Members Of
the board expressed themselves salts
fed, and a Democrat present said;
"That is right, Chris, vote he'
straight" l did not read his ticket
but saw that il was headed "Reforn
ticket"
NO. 2-JosEPH DAVIES.
Joseph Davies testified; I live in the
town of PULASKI. Voted in that town
at the last general election. Think |
voted for Nj. Gray. From the bes
information | have, l believe I was q
years old on the 10th day of December
1875. Do not know that [ voted fol
anybody but Mr.. Gray. Mr.. Bot
Kinzie led me to think that l voted
for Mr.. Gray. x * X x
got the ticket voted from Mr.. Kinzie
He was election eering for Mr.. Gray that
day. The ticket l voted was printed.
NO. 81 SAMUEL BROWN.
testified: live in Highland Voted fol
Ansley Gray for member of Assembly al
last election. I was born in England
Game to this country in 1854, since which
time have lived in Highland. Was ter
years old when I left England. My father
died six months before left England.
have never declared my intentions of BE-
coming citizen of this country, because
| came over when | was so young | die
not think it was necessary to do so.
NO. 4-SULIUs WINTERS, sR.,
testified: was born in Prussia. Came tC
the United States nearly 81 years ago,and
have lived at Highland ever since. vo
ted at Highland at the last election. Vo'
ted the Democratic ticket, straight.
have never declared my intentions of be-
coming citizen of the United States.
served 81 months in the army during the
late war. Have no papers, except my dis
charge.
NO. 5-fERMAN WINTERS.
I live at Highland. Was born
in Prussia. Am a son of Julius
Winters. VIII be "a years Ola tne
18th of next May. Was years
old when I came to this coun-
try. Did not serve in the army
Never declared my intention to be-
come citizen of the U. S. I voted
at Highland on Nov. I'd, 1875. Voted
for Ansley Gray for member of AS
sembly!
No. 6-JULIUs WINTERS, Ja.
I live in Highland. Was born in
the old country. Came to the U. S.
81 years ago. [ will be % the Isl
of next May. I never declared my
intention to become a citizen Of the