New-York tribune., 1880-02-07
INVESTIGATING ELECTION ARRESTS.

A SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE IN THE CITY >QUiRING
INTO THE ELECTION EVENTS OF 1873.
Senators Wallace, of Pennsylvania, Garland of
Arkansas Mcdonald, of Indiana, Hoar, OF Massa-
chusctts and Blair of New-Hampshire, met yester-
day in the Post Office Building. a subcommittee
of the Senate Committee of which Senator Teller
was formerly chairman. The purpose of the pres
ent visit the committee to this city was stated by
the chairman to be to investigate the
arrests made on election day in 1873, and
determine whether or not they were made
in accordance with law. The committee
will hold only one more session to-day before re-
turning to Washington. Fifteen witnesses were
examined during the day. most of the evidence IN
troduced being similar to that given year ago be-
fore the Congressional Committee of which Mr.
Lynde was chairman.
Henry f. Lppold testified that he bad been en-
Moved as counsel for Tammany Hall TO defend those
persons who were arrested in the Tenth Assembly
District on election day. The important point of
his testimony that he had seen some OF the aii,
dayits on which warrant nad Ieen S tbd 1ssGed ae
ant had not, he thought, received the sigma
ture of the commssioner before whom they
counsel for fifteen twenty persons. and they were
al discharged by Commissioner Shields
Senators Hoar and Blair crOSs-eXaIn ned the wit
ness at considerable length. He said tGat if com
plaint had been signed by the person making IL and
been dated and sworn to, he Thought warrant
without the signature of the commissioner before
whom the oath had been taken. .
Seven witnesses were examined by the committee
who had been arrested on election day and brought
before various commissioners and discharged ON
bail OF on their recognizance. One OF them
had commenced suit against Commissioner john
l. Davenport for 81 900 damages.
George 7. Langbein one of the Iammany
Hall counsel. Under crosse examination by Senator
Flair ne said that it was generally understood that
arrests were be made election day of all those
who held papers issued in 1865. His own opinion
was that there were perhaps 10000 irregular pa
pers of that date, but not more than 5000 OF
these were, he thought, obtained through direct
fraud on the part of those who obtained them. he
Thought the number Of such irregular papers had
greatly decreased, and was inclined to believe that
some Of the decrease might be due 10 the arrests
that were made but more perhaps, III bis mind, TO
party. John Kelly and Samuel j. TIlden were In
stauced. OF the six persons who We're arrested In
his election district in 1873 two were Republicans
and four Democrats. The witness was questioned
by ali the members of the committee as TO the opln-
ions that were held 10y the people of New York City
In regard 10 the action taken against naturalization
papers OF 1858.
Edward Grady. another witness, saw United
States Marshal hand ballots to some one who was
about 10 vote. and endeavored to make him vote
that ticket under threat of arrest. Richard Deg
nan Thomas Bryson. DIedrich TOoney, Abraham
Woolman and Frederick Darmstadt had all voted
mr. attempted TO vote 1858 papers, and been ar
rested On CROSSE Examination, II was proved by
The sI sIateents of the last named witness and by his
stiidoyit on beiug Daturalzed that he had taken
ont his papers before having reached the age Of
twenty-onc. The examination is TO be continued
to-day at 10 O'Clock.