Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-15

nothing on de 1rst psee to indicate ftou
whence d was sent; bat, accoapaning h
signatures Of the sesectmen, the word Buck
Aeld'' Is written. This vord is in diaereu
handwriting from that of any Of the select
men or toun o6Rcers- Never authorized any
body to doctor return. Ii such thing ~.
done. il was done without my consent
knowledge, or suspicion. Buckheld is I
strong fusion town Think there 10 not Z
man in the State who knows SO little about
the political complexioU oftcwns, and mem
bess Of legislature ~ myself
In the town Of Hebron the name Of Henry
G. Walker appears to hare been originally
written Henry c. Walker; but somebody
evidently added a tail TO the &C." making .
&C. out oft. This fraud is very easily de-
tected, ~ the ink is of a different tint from
that nsed in the first place. Had no
knowledge Of this alteration. 1t was
Cheat and . Forgery
by whoever done. The motive in making
this change is very obvious. As from the re-
turn the town was overwhelmingly fusion.
Would call such proceeding gross and in
excusable violation Of every principle of Law
and right.
Parties had very free access to these re-
turns for several weeks. A great many
availed themselves of this privilege.
The Council Lied q him.
On one occasion put the question to my
Council as to whether, on their honor, they
were tabulating the returns honestly, and
they assured me that they were; that every
thing was being done honestly and accurate
~.
The Governor examined the senatorial re-
turns from the town Of Wells, and stated that
the name of Mr. Slower, who was one Of the
fusion candidates for senator of York county,
was originally written Josiah Slower. Some
one inserted the letter "a" between the
given and the surname. The ink with
which this is done is blacker than the original.
Attached to the return is sworn copy Of
page OF the town record in which Mr.. Stovers
name is written without the middle letter.
Had no knowledge that blank returns were
sent out to the officials of towns, to be filed
up by them and returned to the Secretary Of
States Office. Should regard such action as
wrong and illegal. l supposed that no one
had seen the inside of the returns. Didn't
beiive that such thing was possible. The
Council stated to me that such was the fact
that it would be impossible for any one to
have access to them. Believed up to Now
ember 18th no one had seen the returns but
the committee. Ifthe returns were examined
by outside parties, the fault rests upon the
of the Election committee. The
Of the Governor and Council, Mark
Harden, had free access to the room where
the Election committee was in session. Mr..
Harden was employed in clerical work in
connection with the returns.
Three sheets of paper, containing list of
the names Of towns rejected in the various
counties, and the reasons for the reflections
were shown witness, which he identified as a
made by himself, in order to
rcfute newspaper statements that no fusion
,own had heen rejected The list was made
nm tom Connects renresentat;ons Don't
Lrovr or pever have hoard Of any instance
where tbrov;nu ont Of fusion towns ;eonard.
;zed the election of a fusion candidate.
r.,.,. =. 49,. . ,,..,. .,,.-,,.~ :. .. .n.
-.
Became aware about the middle of NOvem-
Der, that there was great public excitement
all over the State. Consulted with A. =.
Gouia, bion brauo.iy anu olners' as 70 what
the constitution anu Ia" requiIeu, anu esPec-
iaiiy III regara 10 tIe law vi 100 Iney
were unanimous IN tnei, opinion that 'ne law
was clearly ana eeciuediy uheons,itutlona,'
Inc law OF 1915, IL VIII De rememoereo' al
lowed the Governor ana Counch 10 receive
evidence IN contested cases.
Ac.ed aceoiaine 10 my o~. S lucas IN s1 Tl.
ting the questions 10 tue ouPrenie Court.