The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-08-01

gro police jury was requested to resign
ON account of the gross financial swim
dies it had perpetrated on the taxpayers
Some of these swindles were exposed
one where 81 $50 had been appropriated
for 500 bridge, and the President and
members of the police jury had divided
the surplus. The killing Of D, A. Weber
was investigated for weeks without the
discovery of clue. Witness thought 1t
was ooCasioned by the publication OF
very violent personal articles IN Weber's
newspaper, and his threat in the next is-
sue to publish the records of certain men
named. This issue never appeared, as
Weber was killed.
Jas. P. McArdle, called by Gov. Cox,
testified that he had assisted in making
affidavits in the Custom House; was en-
gagged in this work three weeks; simply
took down statements made to him. At
present was a laborer in the Custom
House. Was a native of Maine Was
on the Metropolitan Police force in 1876,
and till April 25, 1877, after Packard's
fall. He did not draw police pay while
he was in the Custom House. Was de-
tailed there to assist the Republican com
mittee in the registration and election
Didn't know who detailed him, Some
timee would make ten or twelve OF these
atfidavits a day. Didn't know OF single
colored man who came into the Custom
House and got out without making an
affidavit Forty or fifty men, all told,
were engaged on this affidavit work.
Here Gov Cox made a statement rela-
tive to the subpoenaing of Mrs. D. A.
Weber and ]. Gondrau, and placed AS
sisant Sergeant.at-Arms Dunbar on the
stand. He testified that he bad served
subpoenas on these persons in Donald
sonville. Mrs. D. A. Weber had two
children sick with scarlet fever, and
couldn't come. Gondrau had recently
opened a store, and having no clerk, cod
not well leave.
w. A. Strong Secretary of State, tesd-
fed that he knew Thomas S. Kelly,
Eellogg's messenger in 1876, Mr.. Strong
was shown an important letter from
Kelly, and identified his handwriting.
The following is copy;
Lake Providence, La, June Q, 1873.
Hon. Clarkson N, Potter, Washington D. O.
DEAR SRI am familiar with all the facts ap'
pertaining 10 the forgery Of the certificates OF the
Louisiana electors. Oscar JOffrion's and other
electors names were forged as well as Levises,
and, if / can see the certificates of the electors
will show the forged ones. have marks on
them that will prove 1t beyond any doubt and
will show you the men that forged them.
wrote to the Hon. Montgomery Blair from
Cincinnati last winter in reference TO the above,
but he never replied to my letter. You may sam
mon me before your committee at Washington or
New Orleans If you so desire The mails are slow,
and as l may not get an answer If written, for
eight or ten days, you may telegraph me to Lake
Providence, via Vcksburg and Ben LOmond,
Miss If this letter is answered as soon as receiV-
ed, l will get the reply on Sunday, June l6
My Dear sir, l hope you will not publish this or
make known my name before l am summoned,
as l may not be able to appear, because there are
persons between here and Washington who Wo'd
not hesitate to murder me- am, am, sir very re-
spectfully, THOs. s. KELLY.
p s.-fhere is employed in sergeant-at Arms
department OF the Senate young colOreG man
named James D, Kennedy, and another, | be
lieve, in the House OF Representatives also color
ed, named Alexander Henderson-bo from
New Orleans. Just ask either Of them who am,
and they will tell you I. 8, X.
The contents of this letter is private and conf
dental. will do all say therein on these con.
siderauons, that you do not expose them before ]
am summoned, or, II l am not needed, you Will
return this letter. I. g. KELLY.
Capt. James Kelly then testified that
in the latter part of last month he went
to Lake Providence, sent by the Demo.
cratic State Committee, to see Tom Kel-
ly, whom he had known for some time.
When he reached Lake Providence he
found Tom and asked him to come to
New Orleans and testify. Kelly told
witness he would go down with him the
next day, but was waiting for certain
document. Three boats passed up on
Saturday night. From the second boat
strange colored man and woman land
ed. They were met by Tom Kelly, who
went with the woman up to their quar-
ters; witness lost sight of them, and the
next morning heard that Kelly had left
in the night on the third boat bound up.
On the eve of his departure for Lake
Providence he heard that colored man
had Just arrived who Was about starting
for Lake Providence to get possession of
Kelly. Witness went by rail to get there
first. The man who took Kelly off was
Kennedy, Assistant Doorkeeper of the
Senate. Kennedy was at Lake Provi- |
dence three or four hours on the night |
he reached there; witness was not au-
thorized to offer Kelly anything for his
testimony.
F.O. Minor, a detective, testified that
he had made efforts TO ascertain the
of the two men who left
Lake Providence, and had sent and re-
ceived the following messages by author
from the Chief of Police:
New Orleans, June 20, 1878,
Jas L. Rufin, Cincinnati, Ohio:
Two colored men left Lake Providence Louisi-
ana on the Mary Houston, last trip She left this
city Doth June. One of the men is slight built.
genteel looking, named Kennedy,
The other named Kelley, is tall, bushy haired
has small moustache and goatee, musician play
ing eOrnet in brass band II is important that
.hese two men be quietly shadowed and their
residence known so that they can be certainly
found when wanted. Strictly confidential. Par
.icularly by mail, T, N. BoYLANi
Chief of Police,
Cincinnati, July Q, 1878.
Thomas N. Boylan, Chief of Police:
Parties passed through here for East Sent par.
.iculars by mail. JAS. L. RUFFIN.
RufiD snelbaker & Co., independently
Detective Police Agency,
Cincinnati July l, 1878.
Thomas Boylan:
DEAR SIR-Yours of June 2s to hand to-day;
noted. In reply will say your party ar
rived by boat Saturday, June 20, u midnight
They stayed on the boat till 5 o'clock in the