The New York herald., 1878-11-27
NATURALIZATION FRAUDS.

COMMISSIONER DAVENPORT DETAILS HIS METHODS
OF INVESTIGATION AND EXAMINATION.
Testimony was taken yesterday. under the refer
euce of Judge Blatchford, before United States Com
missioner Belts in the Of Peter Coleman, who is
charged with violation Of the election laws Assis-
tan. District Attorney Fero appeared behalf of the
government Mr.. q. Il. Wingate and Mr.. L. 4. Ander-
son for the defendant.
Mr. Anderson served upon Mr.. Davenport . sub
pnna to produce the original minutes of the proceed
ings that were held before him in the of Cole
man. Mr.. Davenport produced slip cut from .
sheet OF foolscap paper which inscribed.
"a Peter Coleman thirty-sx years old, 1860; first
paper 1867 second. 1865; witness, Samuel Holland"
coleman said that he lived at No. l02 James street.
and that he was arrested on morning Of election
day: he was born in Prussia, and had followed the
sea since he was boy twelve years of age he had
sailed in English ships. and he to this country
about 1sG0 and when he about seventeen years
aae the original certificate given to him when he was
natu,alixed is at his house in James street.
Mr. Anderson produced the copy of certificate
made on the Doth inst. Mr. Davenport also pro-
duccd copy of the certificate, and they varied tho
name of james Sweeny, clerk being omitted in Mr.
Davenports. After an argument the Commissioner
admitted that produced by Mr. Anderson.
Witness was then cross-examined as to what took
place when under examination before Commissioner
Davenport
MIR DAvENPoRT's TESTIMONY.
Commissioner Davenport was examined and said
The Coleman case the fourteenth examined on
election morning; ii between half-past six and
seven o'clock in the morning; did not keep any re-
cords Of the Coleman said he got his papers in
1865; asked him what his age and he said he
was over thirtysx that he came to the country in
1850 that he was eighteen when he first came
here and that when he took out his first papers in
1868 he had witness with him named Samuel Hol-
land; entered upon piece Of paper, in a memo
randum of my own, the statement of Coleman;
I told Coleman after referring 10 the inuex
of the Superior Court that lie appeared to have been
naturalized az u minor. and tnat his witness was
named Edward Wayne; 1 told him that the District
Attorney had given full notice OF the fraudulent aud
void character OF the naturalization certificates OF
1868 aud that he should have taken out papers;
he replied that lie thought the papers good
enough and asked hn II he would waive further
exan,ination, and he said he would; committed him
IN default OF $4,000 BALL the witness ready with
his answers; there excitement in his manner
and there we're indications that he or had been
under the influence of drink: II was perfectly light
IN the court room for the gas was lit.
In cross-exauination by Mr. Wingate the witness
said - had been In the Post Office building for two
whole nights ia the election week; the complainant
ia this is named stephen Mo1ier; hc IL special
deputy marshal lac made in the neighDorhood OF four
thousand complaints; 1 referred 10 this III tho
supervisors books III my Office sat ON the bench
until almost nine o'clock ut night decline to pro-
dtre the remainder Of the sheet from which the
Coleman exhibit is taken; arc investigating
the Coleman case.
The Investigation adjourned until this morn.
ing ut eleven o'clock.