The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-06-13
Subcommittee i'm Florida.

On June 6, in Jacksonville, before the
House Committee, A. A. Allen testified ::
In November, 1876, was Sheriff of Baker
County; made a canvass with the County
Judge and Justice of the election; was in.
vited to participate with Coke, the Clerk,
but declined.
On the 10th Driggers came to see me, and
said, "We're beat if we don't do some
thing" Iasked him what we could do. He
said we could make a canvass. | said we
had no Justice of the Peace. He said he had
one all right, named Bill Green; | told him
1 would canvass with him and Green. Met
them after dark in the Clerks Office, and
to throw away two precincts, Barby-
vile and louisville, at the sug-
gesion of Driggers, the reason given being
that intimidation had been practiced at one
and illegal voting at the other. The intimid-
alton consisted In refusing to let man vote.
There was no evidence before us in the
Johnsvil Precincs. 1t was charged that
three or four men didn't live in the county
thai had voted. Their names had been
added to the registration list; we had no
witnesses before us. That is all the reason
l know of for throwing out the precincts,
and, of course, the object was to have the
Repub' leans beat if possible. | suggested
that we should have some affidavits, that
Driggers said we had authority to throw out
the returns. No irregularity was pointed
out on the face of the returns. The pre-
cincts thrown out changed the result in the
whole county. In making the change it
gave the Republicans the majority. Coke
and Justice had possession of the Clerk S
Office all day, and staid till dark. We got
in by Driggers having a key. Coke was not
there.
In answer to Mr.. Hiscock, the witness
said; Gone J. w. Barnett, a Democrat,
asked me to sign Co1e's canvass. l said l
wouldn't. He said If I would there was
some money for me. Asked him how much.
He said $125, ard if would come with him
he would show ME the man that had the
money; took me to Paris's store and saw
John E. HartrIdge, a Democraf Of Jackson
vile, and he said il l would sign the return
that COxe made out he would compensate
me for my trouble. told him l couldn't
it looked too 1luch like bribe. He said
it wasn't for a bribe, only to pay me for my
trouble"
Samuel D. McLin, ex-Secretary of State
and late President of the Board of Can
vassers, was before the Florida Committee
on the Sth, and in answer to questions by
the chairman of the subcommittee, he
stated that VIM. E. Chandler, Hon. E. F.
Noyes and General Lew Wallace were the
most active in the management of the Re
publican count, and that while he didn't
designated as the leader, Governor Noyes
was looked upon as such.
He understood from these gentlemen that
if Hayes was counted in the members of the
Returning Board would be taken care of
and that Governor Noyes represented Mr..
Hayes, and spoke for him. William e.
Chandler said to McLin that he didn't like
to promise, but that he would promise, and
at the same time would speak for General
Wallace, that if the State was canvassed fol-
Hayes, at least the majority of the Canvass
ing Board should be taken care of.
Witness continued that he presented the
return that appeared to be the most fOrma
and most favorable to Hayes; did not pre-
sent the other two until called for by the
Democrats; had seen them before; knew
they gave larger vote to Tilden than the
Drigger's returns; didn't recollect that be
ever saw the certificate by Coke giving
reasons why his return was not signed by
three officers. Canvassed Drigger's return
from Baker County, instead of Cexe's re
| turn, which was canvassed the first time
took Drigger's return because it was signeC
by the County Judge, Sheriff and Justice
of the Peace, and because the other wa
| signed only by the County Clerk anl
Justice; Duval County return, which wa
counted on the second canvass, was ais,
signed only by the Clerk and Justice, but i
wos in evidence that the. County Judge wa
present at the canvass if Clay and Bake
| Counties had been cF.nvassed a second tim
as at first, it would have given the State t.
| Tilden.
| Witness stated that he gave Hayes 800 o
900 majority by throwing out several IRE
cincts. A great many affidavits made befor
the Board were er parte on both sides. TIL
second canvass showed about 211 majorit
for Hayes, arrived at by throwing out Cla
County entirely. The return was neithe
regular nor proper upon its face, and coul
not be understood. Irregularity consiste
in statement ON scrap of paper attache
to the returns, that seventy-four votes ha
been cast at one precinct for Tilden an
Hendricks each, and that the Board coul
not decide whether those votes were il
cluded in the regular return of votes fo
elections. In the first canvass the Boar
included returns from Clay County.