The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-22
THE BLAINE INVESTIGATION.
TESTIMONY OF WHITE AND CoI.oRED UNITED
STATES SUPERVISORS AS TO THE Tissue BAL
LOTS AND sTUFFING OF THE BOXES.

TESTIMONY OF WHITE AND CoI.oRED UNITED
STATES SUPERVISORS AS TO THE Tissue BAL
LOTS AND sTuFrING OF THE BOXES.
CHARLESTON, s. c., Jan. u. 1879
The Teller Committee, consisting of Sena-
tors Teller Kirkwood. Cameron, Randolph
and Macdonald. began their investigation OF
the late general election to-day. All OF the
witnesses examined residents of Charles
ton county, and it was admitted by both democrats
and republicans that all of the election officers en-
cepting the clerks were appointed upon the recon-
mendation of the democratic committee; thst
of tho three Commissioners of Election for
the county republican: that the man.
ayers of election at the different precincts
were exclusively democrats. and that the United
States supervisors at the different polls not al
lowed have clerk there being provision of law
for such person. 1t also testified that the demo-
cratic supervisors had clerks and that the clerks
of the republican supervisors were excluded from
the polling places by order OF the democratic COM
j. n Gregg (colored) Republican. United States
Supervisor at the Eagle Engine House. was the first
witness. He testified that the election was quiet;
when the polls closed it was found that there
number OF tissue democratic tickets in the box,
and that there 15S votes more than
there were names of persons who voted; the
excessive votes were drawn out as required by law.
by blindfolded manager, and the witness believes
that Inc majority of those withdrawn repub-
lican ballots; he did not any tissue ballots voted
a number of persons were challenged and prevented
from voting as non-residents or minors; the demo-
cratic majority ut the poll 2s3.
Mr.. Hutchinson, the second witness white repub-
hcan) United States Supervisor testified tina. at
poll in st. James. Gocsc Creek Parish. there were 1876
tissue democratic tickets and the same excess over
the number of voters; the excessive ballots were
drawn out u majority of these being republican
votes; not voter challenged, and the election
was quiet. The witness considered all the eoorcd
people republicans and NIL the whites democrats.
81 j. Fife (colorctl republican,, United States SUI
pervisor at the Washington Engine house, testified
that eighty-one voters were turned away by the
managers for different reasons; soon after the count
of the votes began the lights went out and witness
fed through the back window and went home: the
belier OF witness is that the republicans had large
majority ut this poll; nothing has ever been heard
of the ballot box or ballots.
C. G. White. democratic Commissioner or Election.
testified that resolution to appoint none but demo-
Gratis as managers was agreed to by the three Com
missioners. pine of these being republican and the
appointments made unanimously \ the
publicans applied to have their party represented,
but were appointed; the witness was member
of the County Democratic Committee. but did not
act rs such after his appointment Commissioner.
Il. Barker Jones, o democratic Commissioner of
Elections. testified to the same effect; also that he
was member OF the County Democratic Committee
and attended its meetings and then after becom-
ing a Commissioner: he first ;saw the democratic
tissue ballots in the rooms OF the Democratic Com
mittee after election he found in the ballot boxes
number OF tissue republican ballots bearing the
names OF republican candidates. The object OF the
colored people to vote secretly for the democratic
candidates without risk OF molestaton; he did not
know where the democratic tissue tlcReta came from
who distributed them; he heard they were used in
other counties, but did not know by whom they
printed: the democrats expected to get $4,000 coored
votes; there is law requiring managers Of cleo
tons to be OF different parties.
r. X. BUST, democratic county chairman, testified
that no appropriation having been made by the State
the whole expense Of conducting the election fell
the democrats; ~ county committee had
nothing to do with the tissue tickets;
they were intended for colored people
who expected intimidation from the radicals
and did not wish their tickets to be seen; some
might have been irregularly used the witness did
not know who printed the democratic tickets who
distributed them: nor did he any Of them used.
or give any instructions regarding them.
The committee then adjourned until tomorrow.