The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-05
ELECTION FRAUDS IN MAINE.
HOW TIE ZINE TREE STATE WAS CARRIED by
REPUBLICANS THE PRICE OF voTERs-THE
MONEY FURNISHED AND WHO PAID IT OUT

REPUBLICANS THE PRICE OF NOTES.-THE
INTIMIDATION IN LEWISTON.
Boston, Nov. l. 1879.
The second nstament of the Globes investiga-
ton into the alleged frauds in the election
ia Maine shows first the manner in which ii
is claimed that the towns of Boothbay and
Southport, in Lincoln county, were carried
and. briefly told, the story is foliows-In Booth
bay Thomas Boyd. chairman of the Republican Com
mittee. said that he had handled the money in his
district. and that. with the exception Of few dol
lars--not over s12-he invested the money in buying
voters. He stated that there was 500 used in his
district in all; but that mad $40 and another
SIS which Mr.. Boyd thought was not expended as
udciously as it might have been had he had the
handling of it. On the day of election and just prior
he bought votes for from fifty cents to dollar.
and he could have bought very many on the after
of election day at very low prices.
because there were many who were not only
willing but anxious to sell. His money
had run out, and he saw Mr. s. s. Marble of Waldo
boro, personally, and wrote to Mr. James G. Blaine.
but both of these gentlemen thought that he had
better try to get along with what money he had
Mr. Boyd said that by the purchase Of votes the re-
publican majority Of Boothbay had been increased
to eighysix against six of last year, and that
could have been increased to fully $50 he had had
all the money he wanted.
AN INFAMOUS SCHEME.
One scheme, which it represented was usea
in Doothbay for the purpose OF carrying the cleo
tion was to hire the captains Of those fishing YES
sells who carried q democratic majority in their crew
to remain outside at sea- and by this means deprive
their crews of a chance to vote. Mr.. Boyd
stated that he had made such an arrange
ment with the masters OF three vessels
but that day being stormy only one of them was
far enough port to furnish any excuse for re-
ma II n outside. Mr.. Boyd on being asked particu-
la-ly the price which votes brought this year,
stated that the value of days work was about the
average price, although very many had been obtained
for fifty cents Mr.. Boyd also admitted that he had
bought votes in the town house. although he
thought that that was rather too risky as rule.
democrat residing in Hodgdons Mills stated that
Thomas Boyd's son told him on the forenoon of
election day that his father had $50 with which to
buy votes and that then although it was quite
early in the morning. he had purchased good many
This same gentleman declares that he saw Boyd pass
roll of bills slyly in the town house to Willard
Merry. and that that gentleman. although he had
always voted the democratic ticket, cast republican
vote at that time. The same informant is ready to
swear that Thomas Boyd paid Thomas Webster. Of
East Boothbay. fifty cents for his vote. and he
Asa Decker and another man by the name of Decker
were bought by William Boyd. Also that party by
the name of Hough living at what is known as 'the
Nlrrows." sold lis vote Boyd. Afidavlts of these
said to be at the Globe Office The Globe re-
porter then willard Merry. and he states that
Merry told him that Boyd admitted having money
for he purpose of buying votes. and that he knew
of his having purchased the vote of q man by the
name Of Elwell for q barrel OF -four. He did not
state whether he HAD sold his own vote. and the
Globe reporter did not press the matter.
Mr.. Martin Z. Beals. OF Southport, Postmaster Of
the town and chairman Of the Republican Commit
tee, the next seen by the Globe reporter
1t is stated by the reporter that Mr.. Beals said he
had written orders from the State Committee to see
every man in his town. find out how he was going
to vote. and, il against the republican party.
whether money would induce them to vote the
other way.
LETTER FROM Mr.. BLAINE.
Mr.. Beals also claimed to have q letter from Mr.
James G. Blaine to the following effect
every in your district, and find out how he IL
going vote II he is republican ana weak knecd see
What will strengthen him Il he is democrat or green
up statement OF the amount of money which you will
hss' '0' Ill SAp'"''' anu '0'" JAMES j. G. BLAINE.
1t is claimed that Beals stated that he had had
money during the last campaign for the purpose OF
"gcttng votes" thereby increasing the republican
vote of that town and causing one of the largest
ballots ever poled in Southport. On October IL
another Globe reporter went to Southport and Mr..
Beals told him that man had been there to try. as
he believed, to fud out about the election. Beals
said that he had put any letters he had out of the
way While this second reporter in the store
Thomas Boyd entered and began to talk to Mr. Beals
about the first reporter who had been there, say
ing:-"we were alone. and my word is as good as
his" Beals also admitted to this second Globe re-
porter that there had been money spent on the
as during the last election but that he did not
consider 1t as buying vote when he paid man for
his time spent III going to the polls.
The next gentleman seen by the Globe reporter was
L. X Hall. of Nobleboro. auctioneer and Represent
atiyo elect of the clsssed towns of Nobeboro and
New Castle. Mr.. Hall said that he did Use money III
deprecated the custom OF buying votes but said lie
could other way to do it and carry the cleo
ton. He said that he had bought votes where he
could do without running too great risk and
wnrre lie couldn't get them any other way. Mr..
Hall thought that good many votes had been
bought in the state, but had come to the con-
clusion that il they had been pur-
chased they would have counted on the other
side. A few days after some of the gentlemen IN
Nobleboro went to magistrate for the purpose OF
having Mr.. Hall arrested the charge OF bribery,
which they substantisted by aidavits to show that
Hall had bought the vote of Eden Sidelnger, of
tine Back Meadows;" had paid Warren Waltz 81 for
his vote. had promised money to simon Sidejinger
for the purpose, and had also openly tried to
buy the OF George Hammond, Of DamarIscotta
Mills The Globe reporter claims that he advised
the gentlemen from Nobleboro to mold over their
charges against the Representative elect until after
the investigation had been concluded, aud that they
acted upon his advice.
Another gentleman visited by the reporter was
Mr. William Herbert, of Bristol Falls, chairman Of
the Republican Committee III his district. 1t Is
claimed. that Herbert admitted that great deal OF
money had beon used in his district and that he had
had the handling of it. Herbert stated that lie saw
Blaine personally, aud told by him to every
man in his district and find out how he was going
to vote--f he a republican and weak kneed, to
see what would strengthen him; If he a demo-
crat or greenbacker. see what would induce him to
vote the republican ticket and then to make up o
statement OF the amount of money which lie needed
fNr NIL laNn and ar T. hort