The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-06
TIE Florida INVESTIGATION
Potter's subcommittee InauirIng into the
Baker County Fraud.

JACKSONVILLE Fla, June 5.-The Sub
committee began work this afternoon. opening
their investigation with Baker county That
and the other counties will be investigated
while tho commtte are waiting for McLin. Sew
eral witnesses from Columbia county will be
here tomorrow. The sessions will be public.
The first witness called was VIM. b. Bloxham
Secretary OF State. He produced copies Of the
original precinct returns OF Baker county for
the election Of 1876. He testified:
There are four precincts in the county. |
have also the returns of the county canyess
from Baker county. lWitness produced paper
which will be- designated as No. IL This is the
original return or ille in my Office. Witness
produced paper No. p Here Is another re-
turn; this purports TO pea canvass in Baker
to the vote for Presidential electors. Cow
ernor. and Congressmen. - In the first paperlhe
RGtss Rsycs iiS IS ' DREW 2s6 stsarns iIg Fsy
23S: Bisbec. li3. In the second the figures are
ns follows; Tllden, 50; Hayes. 1870; Drew, So;
know when paper No. . was filed BY throw
ing out tho precincts OF Johnsonyllie
sdSdnd s%a PsSs4 dSa have ave obsea mas as
canvassrd by Mr.. T.. Coke. Clerk Of the Circuit
Court, and John Dorman. Justice Of the Ponce.
gers. County judge; Andrew A. Allen. Sheriff
and William Green. Justice of tina Peace.
| know nothing Of the facts bearing on
the canvass of the returns. There IS no
law which makes my Office custodian Of the
precinct returns Tho precinct returns here
purpOrt to be copies certified to by Coke, who
Is now residing "a Jacksonville, but, during
ls7G was clerk Of Baker county had in my
custody the precinct returns Of the elections Of
November. 1876, and made certified copies OF
them.
them as copies OF precinct returns made from
the originals. These are copies OF the only pre-
cnct returns sent 10 my Office. Part Of my duiy
same To the Secretary OF State. | made a return
Of the election ot 1876; and sent one COPY TO the
Governor and one to the Secretary OF STATE
lie was shown paner No. ], and said: That
is the one | made This embraced all the re-
turns of Baker county in making this canvass
The County Judge didnot participate. Accord
ing to law either the County Judge or Sheriff
and a Justice Of the Peace should cooperate
with the clerk. | invited the sheriff to act
and invited th,9 sherin to constitute ,,e =
made duplicate canvass with the same JUS
tice, ACCOMPANYING 1t with certain statcmcnls
and Judge did not cooperate With US. The
return made by mo and Mr.. Dorman
gave the vote according TO the true
returns. OF the precincts. Know nothing about
Paper No. 3 1t was not made in my presence
nor where the returns We're kept me returns
were in my office when Driggrrs canvass was
canvass. No is all right, but two pre-
encts. Saw No, . in Tallahassee first and IN
Circuit Court in 1876. 1t is not that seal on Re-
turn No. 2, but the Probate Judgo's;''
Nln answer 10 questions by Mr.. liiscock. wit
ness said "Thtse precinct returns were not
delivered 70 mo personally after the election
bnl to my deputy. FIRST saw them on lllo in my
tho canvass was made. They remained in my
Office until tho canvass was madc
Took them when | went Ia Tallahassee. and
while was absent the Clerks Office was burn
cd; had possession OF them until | came
To Jacksonville some time alterward and had
them before one of the committees from WASH
ington; know Of no law that would authorizes Il
canvass IN the absence both the County Judge
and the Sheriff"
In answer TO Mr.. Hunton: :" If thero had been
any desire on the part Of Allen and Duggers to
find me, they would have had no trouble in do
ing So"
Tho committee then adjourned until to-mor-
row.
Il is the opinion OF Gen. Hunton tonight