New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-24
THE KINGSTON ELECTION.

INQUIRING INTO FRAUD AND VIOLENCE.
THE ASSEMBLY INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE Ar
wORK-HOw HONEST MEN WERE KEPT PROM
vOTrNG-THE STORY or DIsGRACEFUL FLrc-
TON.
IRON SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF rHE TRrBuNRI
KINGSTON, n. Y, March 22.-The Assembly
Committee appointed TO investigate the late election
held in the Town OF Kingston arrived here last evening
and began thcir labOr this morning az the Eagle Hotel
parors The members are Glidden, Of Orleans
chairman: Hurj. OF Erie; Prendersas Of Chau-
tauqua; Langbein OF New-York. and Morrison
of Sullivan. Marvin schOOnmakcr and 5. l.. stebbins
Of this city, conducted the examination OF witnesses on
the part OF the Taxpayer VINO turned ont in very large
numbers attend the investigation. The public inter.
est manifested I'm the intense and the city ia
filed with people The subject OF the nyestga was
the aabsorbng topic OF conversation the and
in the The Ring Democracy OF the town began
assemble In small groups the and in
the barrOOms and saloons during the forenoon and by
afternoon they fully represented among the audi
attending the investigation, and listened intently
to the evidence that presented. Such men Luke
Ford, the ring champion; Cutler, the supervisor do
factO DoOan, the auditor TO the ring Squire Humph
rev, tie inspector who couldn't do anything to suppress
the mob. and q host OF other lesser ring lights.
Numerous witnesses were called, men OF the most re-
spectacle character. most OF them old residents OF tho
town. Their evidence Of the same general TENOR
showing thatIt almost impossible for any person
intending vote in opposition % the ring to reach the
polls. summary OF the testimony Of three or four
witnesses viii 10 bring out the facts. p Otcr
Eond one OF the first witnesses called testified In sub
stance as follows: =" u resident Of the town.
have held Office in 1t for years; always
yOtedhe Democratic ticket except at the town elections
since our emDarrassment in town affairs, when voted
the taxpayers tickets. arrived at tho poll at 0ij.
saw it was blocked up. and stood back some distance
waiting chance vote tried to get 20 the window.
but the rush was like OF the sea and drove me
back The persons kept standing there, blocking the
window all the time Those that stuck up their thumbs
with tickets In their bands allowed 10 vote, Others
were not. left about 2:3O; two OF the justices
leave also About IL O'Clock the poll was closed for sew
era minutes. During this time saw all the JUS
tees outside Saw Sheriff BrOjhead there; think
It was little before IL; nc went into
tho crowd. I told him / wanted TO vote,
and followed him toward the window, but was
driven back dl not that he accomplished anything
in clearing passage TO the hall saw Deputy COoncy
there talked with him he said he could do nothing.
the whole thing Illegal didn't succeed In voting at
all The character and appearance of the crowd were
bad and composed mainly OF foreigners. mauy Of them
boys under age. The holding up OF the thumb seemed
to DO preconccrtcd signal with the ring men to gee
tGoir voters up tho window should think tire crowd
numb, red from $50 to 200 saw considerable violence
used; saw Luke Ford strike man am sixy-hye years
old farmer; have held several positions Of trust in
the town for twcnty-!hree years past"
John sOnser came IN crutches and testified: was
present at this election got there about $780, and
NAMED until o'clock was unable to vote; made
several attempts 10 do so am troubled with rheum-
atIsn; did not dare venture in the crowd. 10 was I'M
possible tor any man to get through. The reason
| did not make a more desperate effort to vote
was because OF threats l had heard One Brophy
had said If 1 came to tho poll L would be
cut in two. Patsy Butler, Micky Brophy and
Timothy Dalton the main nngleaders and were
Irishmen. The same crowd Of men blocked the poll
continually. saw Cutler taking NJ his men to vote.
Luke Ford could 90 the poll and TO the window at
any time he desired, right through the crowd. Tho
fourth time attempted to vote he stood there said.
Ford, this election is nothing but farce lie gave
mo shove from behind and. being Joined by Others
was Knocked down. L saw the man strike me- 10 was
Jerry Cribbns Joseph Bracket also assisted Id Tue
assault and william r. an broke my Jaw"
George =. wilson, Justice and one OF the Board OF
Inspectors. testified: 81 presided al me Town meeting
m Marcia last; poll opened aitef O'Clock; OCOhhOr
chairman and took the votes IN I'VE minutes u.s
the poll clogSed; sent messenger 10 ,ue oeIiu
but ne was out OF town spoke TO squire hHmphLey
S Ins Io pse making expeHse to the coubty;
the election was going OF all wen enough;
| repeatedly asked men who bad voted 10 get away
from the poll but they remained where they were. l
finally told tho chairman to stop receiving votes len
the poll about o'clock: did not see the Sheriff there
IL was impossible for taX2aycr to get mp ear enough
10 the poll 10 challenge vote. lhoy were Kept sixteen
The returns OF the election, signed by the two ring
inspecorsnud witnessed by sheriff Webb. were paced IN
evidence William b. Webb Sheriff Of Ulster County,
was sworn and said d" elected by the L mocra,s;
was sent Tor on the 4th OF March last 10 to the cleo
ton poll III the Town Of Kingston; got there about
, O'clock; found quite "a crowd there; could not
cpt mn TO me poll myself; went back mp town,
ordered AduIant Hubert, OF tie 20th Battalion, 20
nave twenty-five thirty men ready. / then went
back and saw further trouble at the poll. said II
this Is illegal better stop voting. They replied they Ead
been voting al along Don't know but that did say
that the election Illegal and there would have to be
a new one | stayed until O'clock when the poll was
closed. Found Humphrey, OCoLnOr and the Town cerb
there. helped count the votes; tley wanted me "a
s,rn the returns as member OF the board. said
could not do tnat tut would sign them rs witness
did not read the returns before signing tueIn
| did not STATE that | was the Sheriff OF the county
wi en- trying to get trough the crowd; after gong Dach
the second iime sent word to the military not 10 come
noticed there but two pcCOrS there Wnen wac
thrlc dd not know that IL WIS Illegal for me 10 ASSIST
in CauyassIng the votes; unlocked the oalot-DONts
and emitted the tickets ont myself was not requested
10 make any arres that day, and none were reported
TO me as made by any VI tue deputies; scY
eral citizens complained 10 me because they c0uld
not vote; / did not detail any men To attend TIE
poll that day. considered tie election illegal knew
as sheriff rad the authority u protect the citizens.
Never had much experience in counting ballots shtIn
webb was closely cOrncred by Dir. Ghdden aud Mr'
Ilngbeu OF the committee, in reference to ms assist
ancr and signature to the canvass ana MS eVdeLce
considered By many be the strongest the taApal ere
have vet adduced. Al $50 o'clock the committee al
journed to meet on Monday morning.