The New York herald., 1877-11-20
THE VOTE IN THE SEVENTH.

CONTROVERSY OVER THE FIGURES IN cRoKEI's
ELECTION DIsTRIcr-IsDIcTMENTs THREAT
ESED-AN EXPLANATION Fgoa ALDERMAN
PuRRoY-PowERs or THE cANvAssERs.
The peculiar action OF the Board OF Canvassers IN
counting The votes for schell and Morrissey the
Twentyth election district OF the Eighteenth Assem-
bly, district was the occasion OF good deal Of discuss
around the CITY Hall yesterday Ii is not apparently
o seasonabe time Tor officials TO give the smallest
ground for Suspicion that the purity Of the ballot box
Is being interfered with For several days previous
10 the canvass OF the Eighteenth district II was ru
mored around the City Hall that Irregular tactics
Intended IN counting the figures or that
locality. These rumors came principally from
the republican side Of the Aldcrmanic Board.
Under a resolution passed by the canvasse-s on tho
day Of their sessions II ordered that three
Aldermen would constitute quorum ior tho nero
routine OF calling off and entering the figures
When the Twenty-hrd Election district Of tho Eish.
tcenth Assembly District was reached the follow.
ing Aldermen present:-Tammany democrats,
Messrs Purroy, Keenan,, sauer. Tuomey, Lewis and
Joyce; anti-Idmmany democrat, Mr.. Bryan Reilly;
republicans, Messrs Rowland, Morris, Pinckney aud
SImonson In taking the vote upon Alderman
Purroy's motion TO accept the figures l77 as Schels
in the Twenty third DISTRICT the "yeas' ana
nays" were not taken although called for The vote
then rendered riud voce, Alderman Saucr acting
as chairman al the time. Aldermen Lewis aud Reilly,
It is claimed, were In q corner of the room, In close
conversation, aLd did not pay any attention to
what gong In relation to tho
matter They, therefore, did not on
Mr.. Purroy's motion. In fact, the question
speedily settled by the Char that It
possible to tell who actually voted for against the
proposition Ono fact was perfectly clear that Mossrs
Howand Pinckney and Morris aid all they could to
prevent the figures being canvassed at "i77r instead
OF "l37 as appeared the County Clerks and police
returns aud also written the Supervisors
turns, which was read off by Alderman Keonan.
Alderman Howland looked the County Clerks
and Supervisors returns, yesterday vouched Tor
the authenticity OF the statement to their exnct
condition. Aldermen Pnckncy and Morris sat beside
Bernard G. Ryan, the clerk, who entered the figures
called of by Mr.. Keenan,. Alderman Simonson,
another republican, also looked at tho Supervisors
return OF this vote.
When the canvassers assembled yesterday this was
the condition OF affairs, tho numerals am standing
the sheets prepared by Ryan IN entering the votes
for Schcll and Morrssey the contested district Ia
the afternoon exAssembyman Thomas Costgan
visited the Aldermanlc chamber In tho interest or
Senator Morrissey and hsld snort conversation with
Aldermen Sauer aud Keenan,. He stated privately
that Mr.. Nelson J. Waterbury had been retained
counsel for Mr. Morrlssey, and that this gentleman
then engaged IN preparing afldavits to be pro.
sented TO the District Attorney, with view Of having
the guilty parties indicted by the Grand Jury THIS
statement carried around the chamber from
mouth TO mouth, and caused considerable excitement
II was understood that Senator Morr.ssey hal also
teographcd directions to his friends 10 engage
SCI in order that his rights might be protected IN The
canvass.
REcTFyIxG THE ''cLxRIcAL ERROR"
A few minutes after Mr.. Costlgan entered Alderman
Purroy came into the room accompanied by Coroner
Croker. The President OF tho Board OF Aldermen
then addressed the canvassers and said that certain
Aldermen, VINO were fond OF making capital for them
selves even at the expense OF thoir associates, had
started rumor IN relation to the counting OF the
votes in tho Twentythrd Election district OF tna
Eighteenth Assembly district which made II appear
that tho vote had been gwen to Mr.. scheIl
Tor the purpose OF enabnng Coroner Croker
ana other gentlemen to win bets. 81 am author
ized TO say,n continued Mr. Purroy, shat neither
Coroner Croker nor OF the gentlemen named made
bet On inc result in that district, aud that they DO
know OF any bets having been made that dis
trct or on the election district IL which John Kelly
lives. II would be absurd 10 bet ON these districts
Tney arc republican DISTRICTS ana were carried against
Governor Iiden and Governor Robinson" Mr. Pur.
roy then explained how the vote OF the district was
canvassed He admitted that the County Clerk's re.
turn gave Sche 1877 votes but that The Supervisors
turn showed III IN figures, while l37 was written
Tho Aldermen had exercised their right the
votes by either returns They consequently had gwen
1T votes SchcL He desired to move that the
spectors tho distric DC for aud asked
ton cast. that the count OF the Board
might DO corrected Il wrong and corroDorated II right
THIS motion carried.
The inspectors Will probably come before the Boaro
to-day.
WHAT MIR. WATERBURY, SAYS
II was rumored about the City Hall yesterday that
aldavlls beng prepared by Mr. Ncison j. Water
bury the matter OF tho disputed Mo- rissey scheI
Coroner Crukers district-wth the OF present
,ng said alidavits TO Tho Grand jury Mr.. Waterbury
called upon by HERALD reporter during the
afternoon questioned regarding tue rumor. While
ii was apparent tnat Mr. Waterbury had yet tascr
no steps tho matter he sad that tho alleged chang
ing OF the hgures so as to gvo hr Sche til. greater
number oil votes IN that district, WAS un ioubtedly
gross swndie. The Icrpciration OF tho iraud Ia
evidence sufficient TO convince tho community thai
Mr.. Morrisscy had beaten Mr. Schcl IN that district
The supervisors act, however, merely gralui,ou-,
and could have any possible bearing upon wagcrs.
No one will give up money upon any such decision
tnat OF the superv and II snoso that were really
the losers not compelled by their sense OF bonvr
10 pay, why, that euds IT, The courts Will have
nothing do with such cases Tho only ad
vantage bo gained by the lrauu which patent
every body, that Mr.. Waterbury could see, Was the
prctcxt gives Coroner Croker TO refuse pay
lam alleged wagcrs lost by him.
suGcEsrIvE POINTS IN rmE ELECTION LAW.
During The CANVASS frequent complaints have been
made as to gross rregulirities practscu by the IN
spectors OF election preparing ana sending their
statements ana returns. ln view vi the trouble
which has occurred in canvassng tho Croker district
the following section oil the Election laws oil this city
will be iound of interest,"
56rhe said inspectors shall make triplicate
,a,s eash of III ths s,strmaot snsn a"atsiu a rsa,,"n
stating the day on which aud the number OF The election dis
to which such statement shall be made and tbs tmci
IL shall also contain statemeat showing tn, whole NUN.
ser Of y,.ss given tor each psssoa % te .s
ten or partly written aud partly pfialed In words al
Is in ali respects. which certificate and each
sEsst Of papsr forming par. 9 the 'hi SUB
poll clerk shall decline to sign any return ia
shall his therefor In writing.
thereof signed by him. shah be enclosed with
Each o the ehail be enclosed
envelope which shalt thcn be securely sealed with
OF the inspectors ana each OF the poll clerks
shall write his name every tod which the
yeopc could opened ana the seals
thereon tho envelopes shah lie directed
outs dc IT, o the Board 81 Supervisors another
to Clerk ana the thtrd to the chief oi
guranu Elections. Zach set taes shall also be
closed seae and signed Ia Ike manner aud
Of shall be directed the outsiee tho
chief OF Buresu u Elections aud the other
Mayor. the outside OF every envelope shall In
whether u contains the statement the tAie aud
for what election and Assembly district.
TIE WORKINGMEN JUBILANT.