The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-02-03
THE VERNON PARTsH FRAUD.
What Mr.. Meade's sub-C ommtttee viii Re-
port about the Transfer of votes.

What Mr.. Meade's subcommittee Will He
port about the Transfer of votes.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2-Thc report OF Repre-
sentative Meadc's subcommittee on Louisiana
affairs. which was submitted before tho tcsti-
mony was taken in Washington regarding YER
non parish. embraces the following:
This subcommittee left New Orleans before
any public information had been received ns TO
any votes having been thrown out or changed in
Vernon parish by the Returning Board. In;
deed the Chairman of this Committee received
from Slr Anderson. ono of the Returning
Board, a statement, which he now retains, in
among other things. that no changes whatever
had been made by the Returning Board In the
original returns received from this parish Of
Vernon. 1t may be, added that this statement
was made out IN the presence OF MIR. Wells,
President Of said board. 4 rumor to the eject
the returns from this parish 10y the Returning
Board induced your committee To send for the
clerk OF the district court OF that parish the
supervisor of registration. IA well as the clerk
OF the supervisor of registration.
Thomas Frankln. supervisor of registration.
n venerable gentleman testified that he made
out complied statements in duplicate. one Of
which he furnished the Returning Board. and
IN" other the clerk of the court, and that he
made no protest whatever, and that no protests
or remarks. criticisms or objections, were made
10y the Commissioners OF the Election at the
several polls in the parish. He has spent life
time there and IL well acquainted with the poo
PIE OF the parish. and testified that throughout
l tn" registration and the election everything was
peaccnhlr. md that no intimidation or bribery
was thought Of. and that i was imrgssibc To
Cypress any colOred Republicans. for the reason
/ there were mono in the parish; that only two
/ Republican votes were east in the parish for the
electoral ticket. and that they were deposited AT
poll 4. while Gi7 were cast for the Democratic
/ electoral ticket. The witness also testified that
the consolidated statement produced by the
clerk is the duplicate. and an exact one OF the
one sent TO the Returning Board and that he
swore TO- the same before the deputy clerk Of
the parish.
John Franklin. q clerk to Thomas Franklin.
| had assisted the latter IN making up the com
Republican votes on the electoral ticket in that
parish. Was not aware that i had ever occurred
before that Rnpublican votes had been cast there.
The clrc ton WINS entirely ,peaccable and quiet;
The vote has always been Democratic. white and
black voting one way.
Of Vernon parish. produced the returns OF the
Commissioners Of Election Of all polls in that
par.-h for the election Of 1876 rs well ns a dupli-
cate copy Of the consolidated statement of the
supervisors OF registration. These returns
correspond with The testimony OF Franklin
showing that no protest had ever been made by
either OF tho Commissioners OF Election or tho
supervisors Of registration: The statement OF
the supervisor was shown TO be made in due
form. the signature of the clerk and seal OF thu,
parish attached. The witness further testified
That the ee ton throughout the parish was
feao"ahc and quiet: that the Republicans here
tDiore received only one vote; that this year
theyhad received two on the eetor,ltickct :anl
that no informaltics appeared on the returns OF
til. Comm-sioners OF Ecfion.
After these Witnesses from Vernon parish had
returned 10 their home. the cummit"" r. Q we'd
through the general committee at New orleans
copies of three ailidavits purporting to have
boon filed with the Returning Board some time
about the llth Of November 1876. signed respec-
lively 10y Sam Collins. Tom Moon. and sam Car
ter. each with his mark. and claiming that an
undu" influence or intimidation had been prac-
ticed toward colorcl Kepuhli ans Mt polls ono
sven and ten IN ,hi. parish. Each Of !hes'
nnianis diselnimed being a registered voter o.
/ the parish. sam Carter admits 10 have been a
resident ~ Saint Augustine in tho State o
/ TeNns. The other two claim that they are rcsi
dents only of the parish Of Vernon, wthou
specifying any particular poll or ward. lomi
committee have since the receipt Of these AM
/ daNit- diligently cndeaNored 10 obtain in.orna
/ ton respecting the mak"rs of the same. hu
without AVAIL and tn" suspicion j. cntertnine'
thatthoy have mo- actual eN istcnce. The afidavt
b. j. IT, Jdnw Shor ths 70 un t sa ,.' commis
-ioner at New Orleans. They We're made Hp
ptrcntly three days before tho returns from
, Vernon were received at New Orleans. havinl
been nude on the l4Ll and the returns received
Commissioner Jewott testified that he had NJ
recollection whatever Of ever having heard q
either OF the ailidnvit-. and Wells Of the Return
ing Board also testified that he did not kngN
the atlantis. and furthermore did not know VIII
presented the nildavts To- u" hoard. II is o
such ilm-y prctnns" as this that the Roiurnin
Board absolutely transferred 10 votes cast 10
the DDwn' ratio candidates over to and in invo
of the republican candidates making diner
cnee altogether Of $40 votes in favor VI the H.
publican ticket. t. wit:
.. Pol lilo Democratic transferred to Ii6 Re-
publican.
Poll 20 Democratic transferred to % Re
Poll lo-37 Democratic transferred to 81 r.
, Taking altogether tho circumstances rcaiin
1 t. this parish, the conclusion Is irresistible tia
u fraud which admits of no excuse or paia
4 I ton Whatever WIS pr"mculthtiNrlN pnrp'frair
1 hy the Returning Board ia the chang, II mad
That 81 n change was not necessary for IN
I purpose Of deciding the qu' stion Of Pros ld"f
= tinl electors is apparent. but we find that cri
, tain members 81 the Legislature and 9th,
| local officers could only be- declared elected l.
the assistance Of the change or transposltion.