The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-26

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THE CONFESSIONS OF Min AND DENNIS
srArxNxxrs OF THE NEGRO VANCE AND
MAJOR sAMEs BELL--ANy KNOWLEDGE OF
FRAUD DENIED.
(Bx IxLxoHAPH TO THE zERALp.l
yssef WASHINGTON, Apsn 25. 1873
Among the persons named having boon con-
earned In the manipulation Of tho Florida election
are Vance. . colored man. formerly = teacher in
Fiertds, now messenger IN the Post Once Depart
mssk In tho Sixth AUDITORS ONCE Vance was one
Of the inspectors at the famous prscincs Archer No.
and 10 charged by Dennis with having been one OF
those who added 2is votes to the poll lists
there. He was found to-day by . HERALD
reporter In the Post once building, where be in
tho quiet discharge OF his very arduous duties.
STATEMENT OF VANCE
Upon being asked for his statement in regard TO the
offence attributed TO him, he said:--
81 have gone out OF politics entirely. and have moth
Ing nov 10 do with the business any more. i, has
been an injury 20 me, and have had good deal or
nghtine, having been placed In postons where had
10 strike back, and this is just such a case. co not
want TO say anything about II one way or another
W,
cause, boing out OF politics, do not care to have
anything 10 do with them one way or another.n
On further reflection however, Mr. Vance added -
II cannot yet say what this confession OF Dennis
win provo TO be- OF course l cannot take as bong
exact and technical what stated in the papers, but
think proper plan 10 to until the actual pa
per arrives, which the called confession OF
Mr. Dennis when will soc what It contains. don't
know what u Is yet l will wait III SEQ It. Mr.
Dennis u very good man he always keeps his word
and acts 10 principle In hts dealings. As long as
| have known him l have had much 10
do with him and always found him correct
and honorable cannot think that he has made any
statement against Ho will DO here In few days
and Will speak for himself If in tho meantime It
should appear necessary, by reason OF any seeming
authenticity IN the statement said to como from Mr.
Dcnns. Ishal prepare q letter Tor my vnd,caton and
defence. So far any wrong doing fraud 10 con-
ccrncd IN the politics OF Fiordr, don't know any
thing about and have not had anything 10 do with
H. OF course, have had 70 do good deal Of rough
work In politics in behalf OF nv people,
but have always tried TO DO right Rather
than got mixed up with any further troubles
such ~ have been in heretofore, would II could
not help u. resign my position. do seem 70 be
much bsttered by all the rough experience have had
but want 10 got along quietly and am deter
mined 70 do So III prepare statement l will fully
defend yseli ard meos any charges brought against
me, but viii wait for tas present and soy nothing
Just now
Asa WHAT MAJOR JAxEs BELL SAYS.
Major james Bell, OF Jefferson county, Fla, who
claims that he has been m,srspresented BY Judge Nc
Lin was called upon by the HHRALDs reporter give
his statsmens In regard to bis connection with tho
Florida campaign and election. The following col.
loquy took place.
'swas there 70 your knowledge any fraudulent or
illegal changing OF votes TO the number loo or any
other number in Jefferson, IN tho preeinct OF wau.
ksnah ~
''rhsrs not OF nv own knowledge, but there
reports that such had done By some Of tho
inspectors, who were represented 10 have added or
changed some votes TO tho extent Of about one hun
dred Recently II had occasion teninvessigate these
reports 40 the accusation now made was iikoly, I
thought 10 bs brought up At any time. and nnd that
the whole thing mere idle brsggadocia on the
part OF some Of the inspectors or their fr,ends
never looked into u before when l heard what
thought nero idle boasts, because could not SEQ how
u coald DO oons."
evil ron please give me your manner Of reasoning
wacrsoy u appsassa 70 you that this was impos-
"weil now, 40 CLERK Of tho election Al that pro.
cinct, wrote down the namc Of every man who voted
the Clerks list did also the democratic super
Tho inspectors Of election also checked on the poll
list the namo OF cvcry man who voted. Whom the
ballots were counted the number OF ballots in the
box exactly Tailed with the number on the ss OF tho
clerk and supervisor and on the poll lists
checked BY tho inspectors which Is worry
unusual Now thorc were 1853 democratic ballots In
tho box, while the democrats could only provo that
tboro l49 democratic voters who voted at that
precinct. Tho democratic Supervisor, Or. Bel,nger
who Is OF tho most intelligent and able men OF his
party In tho State, Of sterling integrity was
allowed ample time to write every voters namo and
examine their qualifications, and he retained this list
aud knew every man who voted az this precinct, and
hence It Was impossible without mis- detecting Il
to have committed the fraud, a. Is alleged, in
adding 100 TO the numl Or OF voters. Whom the
election he declared that the election and
count wero fair as any that were ever had All
these facts DO ascertained by referring 70 mis- ev
dence given before the Select Committee OF the House
the recent election In Florida. This case was thor.
oughly investigated then by that committee and,
with tho exception Of . lew Who u was claimed had
voted being under ago OF non.rosidents particle
OF suspicion rested agsiosI this precinct. Knowing
mis- character Tor honesty and fairness although q
democrat, conceded BY the better judgment Of
DIR. Boineer everything In tho Of voting ar
counting tho ballots, &C. Without exception II was
tho Quis,est and most orderly election have ever
known 10 my ilfc. In fact, crave the most nor.
ough investigation which DO had int the matter
az far Is am concerned, and most positively ccpy
that had anything 10 do with or was privy tn any
frauds In that precinct"
"what has been your expsriepce with the admiuis-
traion In political matters and what Ia your attitude
toward ~"
IL worked hard for the success OF the republican
party, openly. boldly, squareIy aud honestly In my
county Of Jefferson, Florida We got out nearly che
entire colorcd vote, In spss Of the strongest opposi-
ton and Of tho most bitter canvasses In any pars
Of the stase. As u was the homo OF the democratic
Chairman Of the State Executive Committee he made
IL the battle-ground OF tho campaign. We had raised
our msjoritics from about fourteen hundred TO two
thousand, which led to tho erroneous idea
that frauds had been pcrpesratsd. I worked
faithfully not only In the campaigo, bus
IN procuring evidence for the canvassiog
board. and was promised that I would bc we'll nm