Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1878-07-26
FLORIDA ELECTION FRAUDS.

evidence taken by the Congressiona
Subcommittee, lately in session a
Jacksonville, in raation to the electo
raj fraud perpetrated at Precinct Nc
Ii, Leon county, is as follows:
Testimony was also given of tn,
ballot-box stufiing in Leon county
Florida, at Precinct No. Is. by In
spector Bowes, who holds position
in Washington, D. G. He put in I;
or "A jolly jokers,' and made his coun
to correspond, and boosted that b,
had saved the State for Hayes"
Now, the audacity which enable:
"Thomas w. Lyon, 222 Second street
Washington, D. Co." in the Nation o.
the goth inst, to represent these "jolly
jokers" as Legitimate ballots for the
Presidential election of 1876, cast by
legal voters, and proved to be legiti-
mate at the counting of the ballots, y
is nearly overpowering.
| send one of the "jokers," an exact
presentation of which, # you choose,
you can give to your readers. 1t is a
diminutivo scrap of paper on which
are found the names of four candi-
dates for Presidential electors, one for
governor, one for ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
one for Congress, First Congressional
District, and four Tor the Assembly,
Leon county, eleven names in all, with
the Offices 10 be filled all printed in
full, on the space OF little more than
one aquare inch.
The existence Of these slips of pa.
per was discovered by the Democrats
the evening before the election. Their
purpose was not doubtful, VIZ: to be
folded in tickets of the ordinary size,
thus enabling the Republican voter 10
duplicate his vote. Democratic run
ners were nj once despatched through
ont the county denouncing the con.
fraud. No serious attempt
was therefore made, I believe, to car.
~ ont the scheme at any of the nu
merous voting places except No. -
Richardson's School-house), whore
the inspectors being Bowes and two
negroes, all Republicans, Bowes was
able to work into the ballot-box 70 or
IA of the "jokers"
The proof of the fraud was estab-
ished by overwhelming evidence be-
fore the Congressional Sub Committee
which met at this place short time
after the election, at the head of which
the subcommittee was Mr.. Thomp-
son, of Mass, Gen. Buffers successful
Bowes promptly disap-
oeared, and when next heard of is in
,fiice at Westinghouse why should
he not be, having saved the State for
Iayes2' The Circuit Court for this
Leon) county indicted him for the
rauds, and the sheriff has now in his
lands capias Tor his arrest.
When the ballots were counted, 10
u Il of the little jokers" came out of
he box. Not one was seen to go in,
IS proved 10y Amos Rouss, a white
nan of excellent character who stood
or sat- by, and was closely watch
ne all day, and by S. r. Both (col-
red Repubk can), inspector, who late
Y at Jacksonville testified that che
aw none Of the "A little joker tick
is about the place or voted that day,
nd first knew of them by seeing
hem in the ballot-box on counting the
.otes with Bowcs aud Dent. the 9TH
+ inspectors
The testimony Of Mr.. Charles II. Ed
Yards, County Clerk at the time, now
esiding il Jacksonville. was this:
&C. II Edwards testified: Was
county Clerk III Leon county before,
uring. and after the canvass: was