The New York herald., 1878-02-26
CoNTEsTING POLITICIANS.


TwENrx-THrRD wARD-MoRRIs AND PURDx's
CLAIM.
NJ. Fordham Norris contest for ths seat In she
Legislature now occupied by Mr. Ambrose II. Purdy
from tho Frs Assembly district OF the county Of
weschester continued yesterday before the logIs
Ia,ivs Committee Contested Elections in room 81,
Ashland House. Mr.. Terry, the chairman OF the CON-
mitlse. ana NessrA Granam, Hamilton Fish, JE, and
Str4ck were present and the other shree members
were absent The only important result OF The
days session seemed to be the discovery that
In the Eighth district OF the Twentytnird ward nve
ballots had not been counted which, II they nad
been. would nave sweiisd Mr.. Purdy's vote by Just
that number These, with the Six similarly discov-
cred on Saturday II they shall be recEoned by the
committee In making up totals, will make the contest
closer than 1t has been supposed 10 be, as Mr.
Morris claimed majority will be, II allowed at all re-
duced by about onehalL Mr.. Morris and his counsel,
Assistant Distrc, Attorney HERR ny. and Mr. PuTdy
and his counsel ex-Judge A. J. Ditenhoeer, were
present. and as on saturday Mr. Morris took active
part In u proceedings, while Mr. Purdy fought vror.
ousy every point.
The first witness examined Mr.. Masklin G.
Baker. who OF The inspectors Of election.
Alter he had been sworn The oficia returns IRON
the district were put in evidence and mafAda
Tor Identification Mr. Baker then testified that MIR.
Gchefy tho chairman OF tho Board OF Inspectors In
his dislriot dead. In the returns IRON this dis
tricl l3 that had been cast for Ford
ham Morris that had been rejected by the Board, Tor
the reason that the words "Westchester county"
we're no, endorsed on the ballots; statement Of this
fact was made the and of The l3 ballots
had been attached There was one vote cast Tor
Purdy that was similarly detective and thai had also
been similarly noted on the returns, but tho totals on
the returns had been rsckoned exclusive OF these
haIlA Ia In ha dRfa nj
of the Board on the night oil election Mr.. Bakers
memory at fault, and after s'gniying his nAbii-
ity to answer number ot questions he was allowed
70 step down.
Mr.. william NJ. Bosert, another OF the same Board
Of inspectors as the last witness, testified that he
opened the ballot boxes aitcr Tho election; Two
ualots that folded tightly together mad been ex.
amined by the Board aud cast out; ne couldn't tell
whether they Intentionally folded together. The
witness WAS then examined as 10 his personal choice
In the eecton. and ionced with the question BY say
ing that mad not. mucn interest," In the election
any way: he had been democrat, but did not
think no had been used right by tho party;
he mad Deen looking things Tor good whilo but
had got them other people mad. Al lepeth,
however he SAID he had voted ior Purdy. The two
ballots that we're folded together ana therefore re-
jeoied for Purdy and 1t was found that the poll
came out one short. Alter tho returns had been
made up Tor Assembly he had Iound three
ballots Purdy another box He was not certain
which WAS, but thought 1t was that Tor the AL
dermapic vote. These thrsc ballots he had himself
thrown aside without ultng with the Board tor
that they had nnshed canvafsing the vote
for Assomblyman.
Mr. W. s. Stryker, the other member OF the Board of
Inspectors in the Eighth Election district OF the Twen
lhird ward, testified 70 the throwing out Of the Two
ballots that were olded together He knew nothing,
said Of the rejection OF three other votes by Mr.
Bogert The Two ballots that were folded together
were Purdy ballots but that the Board dd not know
until alter they had dscldod to throw them out.
Two three witnesses were then examined as 10
the routine work Of the election so as TO place that
on The records, and then Mr. s. s. Marshall, OF White
Plains, sworn. He testified that he was Super
Of White Plains, ana In tnst capacity had served
crat and the Board OF County Canvasssrs there
were sixteen who were supposed to be democrats
CANVASS OF the vote had been rejected because Of ir
reguIarities In the headings and Endorsements.
"Was not agreed upon 10 caucus osioren ana that
certain number OF votes should be cast outf" asked
"No, sir" answered the Witness Indignantly. In
reply to further questions he that Ihere had been
caucus OF the democratic members before organz,ng
themselves b0ara oil canvasssrs but In that eau
oay q resolution adopted tina, there should be no
counsel allowed 70 address the Board Of Canvassera
NJ Herring pressed toe questions IN relation 70
nss. sas Ui'I ss,a tnas tnsrs might have been two
or three members who knew what the figures were
out Of small number OF might affect the result,
but that majority OF the msnbors he was sure ala
orsan1za,,on rs thought the subject Of Mr. Purdy's
election defeat was mot mentioned. As a point OF
personal preiersucs he thouaht majority oi the
Board would have favored Mr. Morris rather than Mr..
Purdy, as they had known him personally, whereas
they were acquainted with Mr. Purdy. he thought
the caucus was almost unanimously opposed TO the
hearing OF couusel, Is they looked upon their Juno
t,ons ss purely ministerial and not judicial There
aa ns'' one or lou. sro VINO rsossa
bound by the ACTION OF the caucus In the eau.
Gus they had neard speeches from ex-governor Hoh-
IN u, Mr.. Clarkson N. Potter, ana Mr. Lathers, the
democratic candidate or State Senator, but had not
heard tnem In relation to the issue OF the eectiop
only the question whether counsel should oe al
lowed 70 address the board.
.In thus hearing counsel on ono side only you
heard on the republican side did you ~ said
.'No SIR" said she witness.
.WelI, in nearing one side only In caucus you de-
sired 10 bind shs msmbers without hearing The other
eyes SIR" said the witness. "ths same as you do
me ssasusss 10 the ,.s s9 .n
slt was not 10 the elsction," persisted tho wit
ness. y. was simply on the question of hearing
Beng examined as to the proceedings Of the Board
OF County Canvassers, Mr.. Marshall testified 10 the
were returned from the Eighth district Of Twenty.
third ward irregular. These votes were for Mr.
Morris, but wore detective. not having tho words
Westchester county in the Endorsements Mr. Terry
askeu what law the Board oi CaDvassors mad TO sup
port them In refusing 70 count votes Tor members Of
Assembly on which the name oil the county WAS not
indorsou. he certain thore was NO such law, and
asked II the witness could refer Vol
III cannot Just now, 7" said Mr.. Marshal but II you
10, me go to my office think | can"
"will you do SO tomorrow ?" asked Mr.. Terry.
"pm not acting as counsei IN the case, !" said tho
Witness but at length no SAID he would try TO do
IL turther appeared that one ballot on winch tho
name oil Fordham Morris had been printed, ana that
oil AMBROSE Il. Purdy had been written IN pencil had
been cast the sAmc district and had been rejected.
To Mr.. DittenhOsfer the witness SAID the Board Of
County Canvassers mad simply canvassed the returns
as made by the lower board They had not canvasscd
the regularity oil the ballots IN any case. hey had
not only iaKen the a1vice oil the tnree gentl on
pnm cd on the subject Of hearing counsel. but had
also consulted dozen lawyers including the District
Attoi ney.
In references 10 the proceedings Of the County
uas Mr. Pd "a Understood III
their had boen taken reference 10 the cleo
ton for SENATOR and that he Mr. Purdy) had gone in
as she tail 10 Mr.. Latners' kite.
The committee will sit again to-day.
THE NATIONAL" PARTY.