Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-02-06
HOUSE.
LOUISIANA.

THE RETURNING BOARD PERSECUTION.
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 30.-In the An
derson trial to-day Clerk Smart. Of
Vernon Parish Court, testified to the
identity of the election returns and
his signature. Mr.. Ray, counsel for
defense, objected, that this document
was not the one set forth in the
charge and was not properly before
the court.
The court, however, decided that
this was technical objection.
A bill of exceptions was filed.
The counsel said that the document
produced by the prosecution was a
forgery, and consequently the indict-
ment was null and void.
The information was. after some
discussion, amended in few partic-
ulars and the trial proceeded.
At the evening session Thomas
Franklin, supervisor of registration
for Vernon Parish, testified, after
identifying the returns shown~him,
that the alteration was made af-
ter he had signed them. That only
at poll No. 8 there were not any re-
publican votes cast, and there were
only two for some Of the Hayes elec-
tors. Several of them received none
at all. Looking over the returns
from poll No. 2 the votes were altered
to give each Hayes elector 81 votes
while they had received none; at
poll No. 8, eighty lone votes were Civ
en- the Hayes electors, while they had
received none. This after he had
signed the returns in the consolidat-
ed return of all the votes cast in the
parish, where the republican electors
had received two votes; lis were
given to Kellogg, Burch and Joseph,
and $50 to Marks, Sheldon, Jeffrion,
Brewster and Leyissee The demo-
cratic electors had received CAT votes,
which was altered to 469 votes.
The question that the returns for
other officials had been altered was
opposed by the defense, as the charge
was only as to electors for President
and Vice-president. Objection over
ruled and bill of exceptions taken.
At 8 o'clock the court adjourned un-
til tomorrow.
No news of Ex-Governor Wells.
Terrible shipWreck-i5o o Iives:Lo ost
NORFOLK, Feb. 1.-The Metropolis
had heavy weather from the time she
left the Cape of Delaware. On
Wednesday night she commenced
making water fast and labored heavi-
ly. The Captain kept away for the
capes of Virginia, intending to make
Hampton Roads. The weather being
thick and stormy he fell to the lee
ward and on Thursday morning was
compelled to beach the vessel, the
leak having put out the fires. When
the vessel struck panic ensued cre-
ating CONSERVATION of the widest
character. All order and discipline
was at an end. Many were drowned
by the seas washing them overheard
The signal operators were up all
night gathering information. The
vessel Is completely broken up, no
piece Of the wreck being visible ex-
cept what strews the beach. The
steamer Cygnet, with the survivors,
is expected here at o'clock.
| WAsHINGToN, Feb. 1.-The signal
service station al the wreck of the
steamer Metropolis reports as fol-
lows:
Five O'Clock A. M.-Total number
Of passengers 26O, Of whom about l6O
are drowned, the remainder saved
Steam mer is total wreck. Nothing il
left above water. There are no bod.
les aboard the steamer.
The wreck was caused by the ycsse
being unseaworthy. She sprang ,
leak about midnight and sank at Z A
NJ, Jan. 3lst. The only way of saving
life was by running ashore, as tn.
vessel was In sinking condition.
This is the statement Of Lon McQuil
Ian, one of the saved.
| Eight o'clock.-The state of affair.
this morning is terrible. Dead bod.
les are lying along the beach for a
distance Of two miles. They are all
being placed in proper position back
from the beach. The living are being
cared for. The two saloon women
are known to be dead with their hus-
bands. Eight out of Ia fore firemeu
are known to be dead. The men
saved are destitute of clothing
Nine o'clock.-Travelers along the
beach are picking up the living and
the dead. The latter constitute abou,
one third Of all recovered.
| At II 80 p. m. the Life Saving Ser
vice made their appearance, but cam,