Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-04-02
Who Stole the February Election
Ballots from the Borough Box2
Reported By B. +. Sctspsier.


received the same number of votes for the
Office of Justice OF the Peace. They Were
a tie for that office. The question as to
which of the two men should have the Of
Zee of Justice Of the Peace in the borough
vas By the tie vote left undetermined. The
friends of the candidates talked over the
situation, and after good deal of cririna-
tion and recrimination as to legal and illegal
-oting, il was concluded 10 submit the de-
eision of the question as to which of the
Two men should have the office of Justice
Of the Pe1ce TO a new election.
The day fixed for the holding CT the new
election was Saturday, March %, 1879. On
the morning of the day mentioned, Consta-
bic Wilson called on Mr.Musser, Register and
Recorder, for the borough ballot-box. By
an order of CoErt, delivered some years
ago, the ballot-box of the borough, and
the ballot-box ef Fermanagh township were
directed 10 the Office of the Register ana
Recorder for sate-keeping.
When the election board received the
bsllot-bOx, on the morning in question,
namely, the morning of the 22nd of March,
the election board declared that lis seal had
been broken, and the votes that it contain
ed, with the tally sheet, were missing. The
tneit that the board announced created no
little excitement, and the case was talked
over and over, until 4 number of citizens
concluded to begin an investigation of the
charges that the election board made.
Action vas begun before Squire S, B.
LoudOn, by George ". Cribs, Philo D.
Hanllin and John s. Graybill, son a plea of
debt .or penalty" against the election
sosrd, wEo are Howard Woodmansee,
Judge, and J. ". Fasick and Harvey Yeak-
ley, inspectors
Between the hours of 3 and 10 O'Clock
A. ", Oh Friday, March IS. 1879, the ques-
ton Was opened before Squire Loudon.
LAwrERs IN TEE CASE.
For Plaintiff, Parker and Lyons.
For Defendant, D. D. Stone
WITNESSES.
Captain Mcclellan was the first witness.
The plaintiffs cllimed the penalty Of Sl0O
for violation of the election laws. That
is what Lawyer E. D. Parker said.
Captain Mcclellan said-I was clerk at
the February election. The tickets and
election papers, complete set, were put in
the box and handed over 10 the Judge OF
Election. White tape was put lengthwise
over the box One seal was put On each
end, and on the box, on the tape. Yellow
paper was put around the box, sealed with
wax and mucilage. Mr.. Woodmansee re-
ceived the box. That was the last ! saw
OF the box In February. lnext saw the box
ID the hands of Constable Wilson in the
sherIt7s office, on the morning of the 22d
of March. Ireceired it from him. The
paper Was taken of, the tape was cut, the
tare was cut clean, the paper was torr.
Ar. Musser said the box had fallen down.
He brought the township box to show that
il had iallen down. The Register List
was in the borough box the list OF
-nansee and the inspectors were pres
eat The seals were broken. / was clerk
on the I'D. Mr.. Musser said the tapes had
been broken by the falling of the boxes.
That is the way be accounted for the condi-
zion of the boxes. He acknowledged that
they had seen received b. him in good con-
dition. On the night of the February cleo
,ion gaze the box to the Judge; Mr.. Mus
ser was not around that night.
Daniel Psnnebiker was sworn. He said
voted at the February election. | voted
At the March election. On the morning of
,he last election was told by Cloyd Parker
that fellows have a list that proves that you
went back on NY father at the February
election.
Geo. ". Ss,a;ih was sworn. He said
voted on the 18th of February. voted at
the March election. 1 have no knowledge
of any list of voters having been Rsed
There was street talk of 4 list OF voters of
The February election being out in the town.
Jacob Thomas was present when the remark
of a list of votes being out in the town was
made.
James Dunn was sworn. BE said was
not tod of list of voters being in town;
told no such thing; told nay wife of Mr..
Parker going to Mr.. Pannebaker as he did,
sbout what Cloyd Parker told Mr.. Panne-
baker that he, Pannebaker, had not voted
for his father at the February election. l
nm certain did not tell that such list was
out in town. I know nothing OF the box
being opened.
Caleb Parker was sworn. Ee said
heard On the morning OF the March eiec-
sion that the box had been opened. heard
II in the election room; that was the time
and place. 1 had no particular taik with
MusserS he said he did not know how 1t
took place. said that the election board
said the boxes .vn down. do not recol-
loct taking 10 lawyer Parker about it, Mus
ser did not tell that the boxes tel down.
! had no knowledge that list os voters
was out in the town. | have q list OF voters
was returned to the Prothorotary's Of
fee. / do rotknow hO~ the people voted.
have nc knowledge as to how the box was
opened. Robert and / had talk Of how
,uch and such people prcbzbly voted We
had suspicion of how some people voted
Mr.. Musser said be did not know how the
box opened, or was received by him,
and made no reflections on the board.
Captain Mcclellan was recalled. He said
This box is ia the condition in which il
came into NY hands at the March election.
The attorneys here examined the box
The tape is or was cut, Lawyer Lyons said,
the marks of knife blade were clearly visi
BILE.
Samuel Wilson was swcra. He said -
SIN the Constable that attended the March
election Invent to the Registers Office