New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-18
JOIN L. DAVENPORrS ANSWER.

4 GENERAL DENIAL OF THE CHARGEs-nIs ACTION
"IN THE INTEREST OF PURE AND HONEST
ELECTIONS"
John1. Davenport yesterday filed in the Office of
the Clerk of the United States Circuit Court his
answer to the charges arising out Of his conduct
during the November elections, and preferred
against him as Commissioner of the Court and as
Chief Supervisor of Elections. He denies that he
has been guilty of misfeasance in office. He admits
that in November last he caused over 5000 com
plants for violations Of sections 1924 and 5,42S
of the Revised Statutes, and that Special Deputy
Marshal Stephen MOsher and others filled them up,
but he denies that "they were made not to secure
the punishment of the persons complained of, but
for the purpose of preventing their voting at the
November election" The warrants were issued for
the arrest of persons who III registering themselves
at voters used certificates of citizenship which they
knew had been made unlawfully. These certificates
had been issued to persons in nineteen diff
ferent irregular ways, all of which he
enumerates. Some were issued in blanks
under the seal of the Court, and many
were openly offered for SALE and in some instances
were given to persons who had never renounced
their allegiance to the country of their birth. In
reference to the of Green the police officer who
was brought before him, Mr.. Davenport says that
seeing no was a police officer he offered to discharge
him on his own TecOgnizance, but that Green in
formed him he should return at once to the polls
and vote. ThercupOn he required him 10 give bail,
and upon his discharge he told him he would be
liable TO arrest again If he should vote. In the
Whelan case, when the man was brought before
him il appeared that he had forfeited condition of
his recOgnlZance to another Commissioner, and that
when his bail was fixed at $1,000 the amount was
not excessive as was proved by It's being shortly
offered. Mr.. Davenport denies that he delayed
passing upon the Suficiency OF the surety proposed
by WhaleH. Mr.. Davenport AYERS that Peter Cole.
man, who was arrested and committed to Jail, was
not then and Is not now a citizen OF the United
States. In the case of Arnold Lusbig, he contends
that LusbIg knew that he registered upon a certi-
cate improperly obtained
Concerning the warrants issued In June, 1873,
he admits that over 1000 complaints were made
before him against persons holding certificates Of
naturalization He denies that the prisoners
were not confronted with the complainant, and as
scrts that whenever an examination was demanded
the witnesses were examined under oath.
Mr.. Davenport denies that he has been guilty Of
improper conduct as Chief Supervisor of Elections,
and in his general to the charges says that
the petition and charges are unverlted; that the
petition is signed by some nineteen persons and
the charges are signed only by counsel tor the petit
TONERS; that tine pretended copy of the petition
and charges served upon him is not n copy of the
original; that the action which he took at and
pTIOr to the last election taken solely because
il was directly in the interest of pure and honest
elections, the enforcement OF both the spirit and
the letter of the National laws, and in the best in
tercst of all concerned; hat such action as was
had by him he is prepared to admit 10 stand by
and defend. and To accept all responsibility there
for. lie believes that upon the hearing the issues
will bc narrowed down that the exact facts may
he made 10 appear, and therefore 10 the end that
the charges may be iudiCaly inquired into and
his official action fully passed upon. he prays that
the Circuit Court viii grant HIM hearing at the
earliest practicable date, IN open cOurt