National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-05
THE FLORIDA Frauds.
Conviction of the Brevard County Canvass.
ing Board.

Conviction of the Brevard County Canvass
ing Board.
In the United States Circuit Court at jack
sonville, Fla, on the goth of January, was COM
menced the trial of J. NJ. Lee, A. J. Wright,
and w. b. Johns, constituting the canvassing
board of Brevard County in the late election,
for fraudulently making false certificate of
election. The testimony of j. III. Allen which
we give below, contains the gst of the evil
dence, and is cOrroborated by number of
Others
J. II. Allen testified: Reside in Orange
County was in Lake View (Brcvard County,
after the election; went for the purpose of
procuring, if possible, majority of 205 for
Hull After my arrival l intimated to Mr..
Lee the object OF my visit; showed Mr.. Lee the
dispatch, and letter of which Twas the bearer; ;
told him what desired told him Mr.. Golden
(the deputy clerk would alter the returns. On
Tuesday the board met and canvassed the vote,
as it appeared from the false returns. My
interview with Mr.. Lee when l arrived
there was as follows | met Mr.. Lee at Mr..
Wright's house early in the morning before
breakfast gave Mr.. Lee the news rs given in
the dispatch which l had from j. A. McRae of
Jacksonville, dated November Z, seven p. M,
TO n. A. Hull, at Sanford. In substance it was
about this Bisbees majority 9i; Orange, Vau-
sin, Brcvard, and Dade to hear from. Witness
then related the contents of n letter, after
which written paper was shown witness, and
he testified that it was q copy of the let
ter. 1t was as follows: Letter Of N. A. Hull
to n. Poyntz, published herctoforc,l l made
this copy of the letter; told Mr.. Lee that if
possible we must have that POP majority, and
that the only way it could be done was to
change the vote Of the precincts; carried $500
chere gave Mr.. Lee the money to use in nc.
al, sr.INs
ity; gave him 500 or more; saw
the returns before and after they
were made; the vote was raised from 100 to
majority for Hull of 279 it was understood
while l was out of the room Golden was to
make the changes, and aided him by pr0cur-
ing names of persons that had not voted that
he might distribute the raised vote throughout
the precincts The agreement was that poll
lists should have names added, and ballots put
in the ballot-bOXes to correspond; and Mon
day night it was decided to destroy the pre-
cinct returns after the canvass. / told Mr..
Lee he could be absent while the work was
being done, and leave Mr. Golden and me I;
and he was absent. had been authorized to
draw for what money l needed. Mr.. Lee
called OH me two or three times for money to
be used by him in accomplishing the purpose'
1t was understood between us that it would be
benefit to him other than a money con-
sideration; he was TO be benefited by
political influence. Subsequently it was un-
derstood that the records were to be put
in q little house belonging to Mr.. Lee, and the
house was to be burned. gavo Mr. Lee $50
to remunerate him for the loss of the house.
| Shown the alleged precinct returns. Have
seen these before at Lake View, the day of
the canvass. They are the ones upon which
the returns were made. Attention called to
returns from Bassvilel The original return
was 10 votes for Hull. This indicates that he
received 81 votes and BisEee none. The change
| was made on Monday. Fort Drum precinct
shows 40 votes-40 for Hull and for Bisbee
| The original return was 10 or 20 votes. The
change in this was made on Monday. Yates
| precinct return shows 80 for Hull and for
| Bisbee. Tho original was each. DON'T re.
collect what the changes are in other precincts
My recollection Is that all was changed but City
Point. Don't know why this was not changed.
Went to Breyard solely on letter and dispatch,
| and tho conversation with Mr.. POyntz, .and
a balance of 81 300 to be paid under the ar
rangement that made. Did not volunteer to
come here and testify; have never been prom
ised immunity from punishment If | would
testify in this case, nor do / ask any; had for q
| time avoided tcstifying In this case, knowing
| there was "a subpoena for me- because l received
| two letters from Mr.. Lee asking me not TO re-
ceived a letter from my father advising me to
come and let the law take its course.
| N. Poyntz testified Placed letter and dis.
patch in the hands of Mr.. Allen about the Sth
or 9th of November received the letter from
| N. A. Hull the morning Of the 9th received
| the dispatch from Governor Hull; received
| IL at Sanford from Governor Hull in person /;
received the letter first aud dispatch afterWard
| from Mr.. Allen destroyed the letter; de-