New-York tribune., 1879-01-07
ELECTION FRAUDS IN ALAB1MA.
TWO TRIALS AND TWO RIGHTEOUS vEPDICTs-BAEE-
FACED CHEATING AT THE POLLS-DEMOCRAIIC
TACTICS BEFORE THE COURT

TWO TRIALS And TWO RIGHTEOUS vEnDIcTs-DAEE-
FACED CHEATING AT TIE POLLS-DEMOCRATIC
TACTICS BEFORE THE COURT.
To me EditOr or The TrtGHHe.
SIR: The agony is over for the time being
and the election cases are continued for tho term
During the present term of the United states Court a
tins place large number OF indictments found
against managers and inspectors at election
precincts for violation OF the United States
election laws. The public have been made famll-
lar through the press with the extent and nature
Of the election frauds in South Carolina and Louo
at the recent Congressional election but have heaId lit
lie or nothing from Alabama on this subject
As the machinery OF the elections iY Alabama was in
the possession Of the Democrats th. Congressional
election Of November. 1876, the traUdI practices to
defeat the will OF the people at tho balptjCX of which
the Democratic party was guilty in South
Carolina and Louisiana at the recent election
tlCy had already commenced throughout Alabama
~ and before that time. Prosecutions oatious OF
the Federal election laws the election 1876
sued in the Circuit Court OF The United States for tins
district. can but give you Idei OF the nature of the
offences committed by describing ;wo which were
tried at the present term OF The Court, and the
other at the term preceding this
At the term before this one s. A. Outlaw and two
others charged IN the iniIc,men' with making
false election return inspectors Of the election. The
election laws OF Alabama require that there should be
shall the ballots af the polls closed and
make statement in writing Of the number OF votes
celycd tor each person, and for what office which
mrnt is sent TO the Sheriff Of the county. From this
statement alone is the result OF the election aseerianed
by the Board Of County Canvassers consisting of the
sheriff. Judge OF Probate and Clerk OF the Circuit
Court The ballots returned with this statement,
and there provision made for testing the
OF the return IN canyaSsug the result These defendants
charged with wilfuIly making false return, III
that they gave the Democratic ticket about sixty
Cn total poll OF about two hundred) which really be-
longcd to the Republicans the inspectors OF the eec
ton all Democrats and the hole through which
the voters required 10 hand their ballots six
feet the ground IT impossible for the voter
what became Of his ballot, and The Democrats had
everything their way. Or they wOuld have had if
had been for simple but effective plan devised
by the negroes 0here were white Republicans IN thar
beat to ascertain and be able TO prove exactly the
Der Of votes which they CASE. A. tAe election
the August previous FOR state officers the
Democratic inspectors had counted all the
votes which were cast as Democratic, al
though the Republicans actually entitled
to Il majority Of about $50. When on tn, November
morning the colored voters appeared ~ the voting
place. and found that the ,clncnts de
fraudins then winch were successful IN August had
been made FOR tins election they at hrs resolved that
it would he than useless t. vote, but after
sultatOn they decided upon the following plan: one
man held all tie Republican tickets: he with
three Others stood where they could plainly
each man as lie handed IN his
vote One voter al a time would receive hi.
ticket and hc careful to hold 1t plainly IN view unit!
it was delivered to the hand which was reached out
from the narrow opening to receive IT, Each L publ.
vote carefully counted as it WAS east. thus
the four VINO the witnesses for he Govern
the trial allie TO prove to tho satisfaction
of the jury exact number OF votes to which the
.fft1..
by the defence TO break down tn, testimony. but the
jury rendered a verdict of guilty"
At this term of the Court the against ThOs J..
Turk tried, aud resulted in conviction OF the
cuscd At Warrior Stand. in Macon Comfy, two white
Democrats and one cOOred Republican appointed
Inspectors conduct the election. The coored
could neither write and evidently ap-
pointed Tor this reason. The Democrats would have
had hc management Of the election entirely under
their control lad tt not been for the appointment
IA q United states supervisor OF a negro Of cons SdcraOe
intelligence. There white DePuty United States
Marshal. hut he forced to withdraw early in the
day. The Republicans, however, had guardian Of
their Interests Ia this cOlored supervisor, who was
worthy of the trust. He watched the proceedings
closely until the polls closed that attempt
made TO defrdud the Republicans Of the 300 majority
received by them, hut the Democrats could not
consent that their opponents should enjoy the
luxury OF Il fair election. The table which
the ballot box SAT was moved close To the WIN.
dow. At the proper time the attention OF the
Republican supervisor and Inspector moment
drawn aWaY the box when the de- fcudant quickly
passed it ou of the window to confederate, who dis
appeared with II. The ballots md not been counted.
return cord Dee made, and the 800 Republican majority
was lost There several negroes quietly standing
by wno Witnessed this act OF the defendant and they
satisfied Tie jIry of his guilt.
The United Stttcs Attorney for this District appeared
be exceed ngy deirous to brn. trial OF the
defendants who indicted the present term OF the
Court violation OF the election laws. Counsel for
the dcfcndaus. comprised the leading members OF
measure which their ingenuity could DEVISE 10 prevent
these trials. Que Of their datory pleas excited the
indignation OF large numbers OF cx-Confederatc
soldiers in this community. Ihey moved 10 quash
the Indictment, on the ground that persons who
had served in the Confederate army MEM
begs OF the Grand Jury, aud that they
di-ouaned by the provisions OF Section $50 Uni
trd states Revised statutes Eleven o, tie Grand Jury
had been Confederate soldiers After ab!r and exhaust
i've arguments by counsel the Court DECIDED that see
tion 80 not part Of the law Of the land tue org
nal act having been repealed before The adoption
o the IcVirrd statutes. There many other pleas
and motions which were successfully resisted by the
United states Attorney AZ last, when every
effort had failed and thc jury about 10 he empaB
cicd tuty objected to the indictment because ofthe un
COustltutOnatN Of the law under Whci II was framed
tut during the of the argument they became
Nnccd that the opinion Of the Court would bu adverse
20 them and made sicnuOus appeal To the judge TO
continue the cases unt the next term OF the Court.
when II WAS supposed that Circuit Judge Woods and
Justice Bradley would he present. The Judge granted
their request aud continued their for the term
The oJes VI many respectable Democrats have been