New-York tribune., 1878-11-26
TlMPERING WITH BALLOEBOXES.

ALLEGED IMPORTANT INFORMATION ~ REFERENCE
TO THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. CONTEST IN BROOK
LYN-KEYs TO BALLOT-BOXEs SAID TO BIZ IN
THE HANDS OF 4 POLICE CONTRACTOR.
The contest for the Kings County Surrogate
ship two years ago was ye-y close between Walter
L. Livingston. the coalition candidate OF the Repubi
cans ana Independent Democrats, and the regular
Democratic candidate. exJudge Abram III. Daley.
Mr. Livingston successful, however, by majority
OF 2ss, and received the certificate Of the County
Canyassers. On January j, 1877, he took hls
seat. Mr. Daley at began quo war
ranto proceedings in the Supreme Court. with
the purpose Oustng Mr.. Livingston from the office.
which Is held by incumbent for six at salary
Of $4,000 YEN The case came on for trial April %,
1877 Mr. Daley claiming that Large number of defect
i've ballots cast for him had been thrown out, aud
that there was conspiracy among the canvassers TO
keep him out Of office II shown by the evidence
that 24O defective ballots for Daley had been thrown
out, and Judge Gilbert held that the canvasscrs had
erred IN not counting them. This still left Livingston
with majority Of 4s. A number OF baOt-bOxes were
counted in the Court although 1t shown that the pO-
lice captains whose charge they were had been
less in their custody OF tue boxes The jury however,
accepted OF the ballots IN Court correct and
Liyngstons majority was entrely wiped out and Daley
ston claimed that the bllotboxes had been tamp red
with and appealed tue case, but the appeal has not
inc Supreme Court. Judgment OF custer was
entered against lblm and Mr. DALEY assumed tho du-
For several weeks rumors have been circulated among
certain classes OF politicians in Brooklyn that Martin
TAYLOR, painter, OF No. 33s DeGraw-st, who formerly
received contracts Tor repairs III the Police Department
mad some Information in reference to the manner In
which Mr. DALEY secured his election. Mysterious
hints weIe given as to Iay0rs information, and it was
SAID that told all he knew there would be sufficient
evidence TO warrant the reOpening Ur the contest
on Saturday afternoon Tayors house visited by an
object who Is said to be exPOhce superintendent John
s. Folk armed with search-warTant. In The back par
lor this officer found bunChlOf keys which were taken
away ana found to tit every ballobOx IN the city
THIS officer acted under the direction the Police Com
missiOners who began an investigation TO determine
how these keys came into Taylors hands they were
the property OF the Police Department. ana must nave
been stolen Taylor wSs appear before the
Commissioners yesterday afternoon but he did do
Taylor said last night that detective or more than
one visited his house Saturday and took away some
keys. He had received subpoena from the Police Com
missioners but had refused to obey It, They could
arrest him il they cnose TO- but he would not saw word
lie admitted that he had keys IN his possession that I'M
locked all the balotboxes IN Brooklyn but declined o
saw how they into his possession or what use he
made OF them lie said thit be had given
in matter and he had Intention of doing
so. Taylor undoubtedly had many opportunities for
obtaining the keys OF his being employed 10
make repairs at staiionhOuses The keys given ont
to the Captains OF Police and set OF keys II is said
will unlock ali the ballOtbOxos In the cty Taylor has
complained OF late that hs services for the party had
not been properly rewarded. His received an nI
pontmcnt In the Department OF Charities hut was gs
charged few weeks ago. Surrogate Daley il il sad
recently gave Taylor employment in serving papers Tor
Mr. Livingston said TO a TRIBUNE reporter last night
that he knew nothing about tho matter except that
during the past two months since he returned from bj
vacation, he had heard that Taylor had told
OF his friends that he had some i'm
porlant information. Personally he did NOT know
who Taylor or what information he possessed
He had never seen Taylor except once, and then
Taylor had tapped him on the shoulder and saId mai
he mad something TO tell hia Tbey did not talk more
than fve minutes t0gcther and Mr. Livingston said fhn
he did not regard the Information as imporant nnr dtd
his friends attach much importance to what hoy had
heard Certainly be had received no Information that
be considered sufficient TO base any motion before the