The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-03-09

Saturday, Mr.. Hales committee had before
them B. Emery Pratt, the Pennington law
year who went through Franklin preparing af-
fdavits on which to throw out Republican
towns and corrected Fusion returns.
He testified that he was greatly interested in
the September election in his own town and
the other neighboring towns. He also engaged
to some extent in the canvass from the time
the Democratic convention was held. After
the election was held he noticed that both par
ties claimed the victory as theirs, but thought
it was conceded on the face of the returns the
Republicans had elected a majority of the sem
ators and representatives The claims of the
Fusion papers were based on the SuppOStion
that frauds were practiced on the other side.
Franklin county was at first in Doubt and
claims of illegality in the returns were made
soon after the election in the public prints He
did not understand that any one knew what
the returns contained till sometime in Novem-
Der; yet about the fifth of November wrote to
Mr.. Plllsbury upon question of law as to
whether or not the returns would be invali-
dated if the record was not made up in open
town meeting. Mr. Pilsbury wrote in reply
the following letter:
AUGUSTA, Nov. z 1879
BRO. PRATT: Yours received. think if the
clerk does not make his record sin open town meet
that can calculate upon results. Have you found
any other Irregularities?
In haste, E. F. P1LLsBURY
Taking courage from Mr.. Pillsburys opin-
ion as to the fatal condition of the records, he
OF his own accord proceeded to obtain affida-
Wits from tho towns of Rangeley and Jay, and
forwarded them with the following letter,
which has previously been published:
FARsIINGToN Me-, Nov. 10 1879
Hon. Alonzo Garcelon and the Executive Council
Enclosed please find affidavits of clerk of the
towns of Rangeey and Jay, showing that their rec
ord was not made up in open town meeting, as re-
l have consulted E. F. Pillsbury and he is of the
same opinion ''that the clerk must make his record
in open town meeting or it is fatal" 1 shall for
ward other testimony soon as 1 can get it from
Rangeley and Dallas Plantations Please to hold
back on the Franklin county returns until L get in
the remainder of our testimony if possible.
Your obedient servant,
Signed B. EMERY PRATT.
This matter of the making up of the records
is all, he claimed, he had consulted with Mr.
Pillsbury about. His reason for the action
was a little indefinite to the committee. He
would only give it that he considered Mr..
Pillsburys opinion better than his own" Two
days later he forwarded the following letter,
which he claimed has been misconstrued be-
cause OF the careless language he used:
NEW SHARON, Nov IT, 1879.
have been to Dallas Plantation Franklin coun-
ty, and arranged for those returns to be amended
and they will be forwarded as soon as received by me
also expect an affidavit from Clerk of Greenvale
Plantation same as from Rangey-also others
want of testimony, for that you will have.
In haste,
(SigneD B. EMERY PRATT.
The word "return," he said should be 're-
| cord, yet could give no defrite reason for
using the plural Mr.. Pratt went to see the
clerk of Dallas Plantation, but could not find
him. He afterwards made arrangements with
him to take his record down to Mr.. Haley's,
clerk OF Rangely, and there get up and for
ward an affidavit in regard to them, which
| would invalidate the return. Mr.. Pratt testi-
| he'd that he had been town clerk himself, and
knew the difference between 'record'' and
return" yet persisted that his meaning was
| as above, and had no reference to the making
out and forwarding any amended return as
| the letter stated.
Mr.. Pratt stated that he had never entered
into any arrangement with the governor or
| any member of the Council in regard to send
ing these affidavits, but entered into the bust
ness OF his own accord. Moreover, he did not
| know that they would receive any evidence
IN regard to the returns, but inferred that they
would from an affidavit Mr.. Pishon had
| published. He intended to forward this in
formation, and if the returning board did not
| use 1t, to let them turn it over to the Legisla-
| ture.
Mr.; Pratt, during the period subsequent to
the election, had occasionally seen P. A. Saw
| yer when he was passing to and from Phillips
and conversed with him, but did not remem-
Der OF ever conversing upon the matter of the
election returns. During the last days of
September George W. Clark, candidate for
county commissioner, requested to know from
Mr.; Sawyer whether or not he was elected,
ana directed that the vote should be sent to
MIR. Pratt. In reply Sawyer sent the following
letter, inclosing tabulation of the votes cast
for all the candidates in Franklin county, in
GLIDING Senators and Representatives:
AUGUSTA, Oct. 2, 1879.
| BRO, PRATT:-Herewith hand you vote for the
several candidates in Franklin county at last cleo
ton as requested by General Clark Hope they will
| a0VantaTe nd
to discover some fraud or looseness that will work
| to Our advantage. In great haste,
| Yours truly
! P. A. SAWYER,