Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-03
THE OREGON FARCE.
That Democratic Fraud
CrOnfn, Around
Washington.
WASHINGTON.

WAsHfNGTON, Dec. 20.
The Senate elections communities.
to-day began taking testimony in the
Oregon case.
Chadwick, Sec. OF State Of Oregon
in answering Morton, chairman. tes.
titled that the first intimation he had
Of Watts being postmaster was after
the election last Nov, when witness
convassed the vote Of the state in
legal manner and nothing was said
that day about Watts being ineliaible
for the Office of presidential elector.-
Witness did not prepare the lists OF
electors voted for with the vote of
each attached and under the seal Of
the state. The Governor prepared
the lists after looking up the law on
that subject, and he, witness, in con.
versation, agreed to comply with tho !
acts of Congress and the statutes Of
Oregon % nearly as possible, In this
matter. In reply to Q question, wit
ness said there was mo- arms nor arm.
ed men in the Capital on the day the
electoral college met. On the sixth
the law Of Oregon requires me to
canvass the vote In presence of the
Governor and other state officers.
The day after the canvass, q point
was raised whether the Governor had
the right to appoint Cronin in place
Of Watts. There was hearing on
this subject before the Governor and
q protest was read from O'Dell
against Cronin's appointment. On
the 9th inst, Mr.. Hodgkins came to
me and gave him certified lists Of
electors voted for, with the vote Of
each attached. The day the electoral
college mel, went at IL o'clock to
the room Of their meeting and handed
the certificates to Cronin, who came
to the door when ] knocked. think
all the republican and democratic
electors were in the room at the time.
ODell testified that the electoral
college met. He went with Cart
wright and Watts. to the Sec Of StataN
to procure certificates Of election.-s
Was referred to the Governor, who
stated that at noon certificates would
be given the electors in their room Of
meeting. At the came time Chad
wick, Sec. of State, handed an envets
ope through the door to Cronin, who
stood nearestit AZ the time. Cronin
took the paper from the envelope and
read that part fit which certified that
Cartwright O'Dell, and Cronin were
eligible, and had been elected presi-
dental electors. Cartwright went to.
wards Cronin, when Cronin returned
the paper to the envelope and put II
in his coat pocket, and upon being
requested by witness and Cartwright
70 read the paper through, he refused.
He also declined to give up the GER
tificates of any of the electors. The
college was then organized, witness
was chosen chairman, and Cartwright
Secretary. As chairman of the Col
lege witness asked Cronin to produce
the certificates of the electors for the
guidance of the College. He declined
to do SO. Watts then rendered his
resignation as elector, and itwas ac-
cepteds Cronin then said tYoNASe-
fuse to recognize me ?" Witness ~
piled, mo, sir; but we want the Ger.
tiffcates; you must. not think we will
not act with you and you must never
60 from here and say that we would
not act with you." Cronin then left
that part fthe room whore the Col
lege was sittlng and tho College then
tASSSSseS~. W C0SS suC vOtcS " uttS U6.
ing elected to fill the vacancy in the
College caused by his own
Witness heard of no
purpose to arrest any one on the day
The Electoral College met. Saw no
armed men, but have since heard e
there were 20 in room near WI
the College met. -.
At this point the committed ~sus~l
journed until tomorrow, when the
examination of O'Dell will be con-
tinned. Chadwick was also notified
to be present. as the committee may
wish to recall him for further exam
nation. The committee al the re-
quest of Senator Herman caused q
subpoena to be issued for Cronin, and
t was served on him this afternoon
n the city.