The Portland daily press., 1880-06-03
One of the !" Vindicated %


One of the Vindicated."
Among the alternates elected to the Cnci a.
natl convention by the Democratic convention
at Bangor, is George w. Drisko of Machias.
Mr.. Drisko is editor of the Machias Union and
has been for many years active in Washington
county politics. Last winter he busted him.
self with the correction of returns from Dem
ocratic towns, in order that the Tabulators
might count out the Republican candidates fair
ly elected. For this and his testimony before the
committee, Mr.. Drisko very naturally asked
for vindcation, and the convention gave him
one by electing him alternate to Cincinnati
Considering the amount of dirty work he did
and the kind Of testimony he gave before the
Hale Committee. it must be confessed that his
vindication is very small one, but then it is
as good as Capt. Chase's.
The following extracts from the testimony
of Mr. Drisko and Hon. James r. Talbot be-
fore the Hale committee, show that Mr..
Drisko was sadly in need of a vindication of
some kind.
TESTIMONY OF GEORGE W. DRISKO.
Q-What shape did they (he Senatorial
blanks) come to you in?
Alt seems to me that James r. Talbot
handed them to me.
Q-WaS he candidate?
Ale was, for Senator.
Q-Where did you receive them from Mr..
Talbot?
AIN my store or office at Machias
Q-What did he tell you he wanted done
with them?
Ale did not speak of any particular OBJ
ject he had in view.
1u 10
A He simply handed them to me and men,
toned some townsSwhere he had heard of err
rors in records and returns
Q-What did he say the defects were.
Ale did not tell me.
By Mr.. Strout:
Q-Where did you get your information in
relation to the defect i'll those returns?
Al do not recollect that any single person
told me about it.
Q-Tell this committee where you got your
Information in relation to those defects?
A-No one person told me anything about it
that l can think of. Information was gathered
from rumOr and gossip.
OWN you tell this committee where you
got the information which you gave to those
two men Merritt and Talbot who have stood
face to face with you and testified that you
gave them tho specific and definite informa-
ton?
Any recollection is, I made that general
statement these mistakes might be so, not pos
tive; might be so.
Q-You will not tell me where you got it?
Al do not remember any single individual
who told me anything about a positive mis-
take of that kind.
Owe give you an opportunity to tell under
oath.
Al have no recollection of any individual
telling me.
TESTIMONY OF JAMES R. TALBOT.
Odd you receive any blanks from an,
person in Augusta, or any election blanks, af.
ter the election and before the first oftJanu-
airy?
Al did.
Q-Tell me from whom you received them?
Al suppose l received them from Mr..
Leavit
Q-What did you do with those three blank
returns and the official envelopes accompany
ing them?
Al sent one to Whiting'and left the other
two at MachiaS
Q-To whom did you send the return at
Wh1ting?a
A-To Mr.. Peavey.
Q-What did you do with the other two
blank returns?
Al gave them to Mr.. Drisko.
Q-What Drisko?
A-George w. Drisko of Machias.
Q-For what purpose?
A-To go and see if they could be corrected.
@ Did you see Mr.. Drisko in person?
Ayes, sir.
Q-What direction did you give him about
them (the blanks?)
Al did not suppose it was nece ssary for me
to give him much direction; supp osed he
knew as much about it as L.
Gle was an old hand at that himself?
Al do not make any charge; but he is edi-
tor of paper and presume he knows some
thing.
Odd you give him any direction about
Al merely told him the defects there were
in the returns.
Q-What did you tell him to do with the
blanks?
Al asked him,if he could get them correct
ed?
Q-What did he tell you?
Ale told me he would.
Q-What two towns were there that he was
to go to get the returns corrected?
Addison and Jonesborough.
Q-What was the defect in the town of Adj
Olson?
Al really cannot tell what was the defect
in Addison.
Q-You told him what it was at the time?
Q-You told him at the time correctly?
Ayes.
Q-From what source did you get your in
formation?
A-The same source / got the other.
Q-From Mr.. Leavitt?
Ayes, sir.
Q-What was the defect from the return in
Jonesborough?
A-The only defect there was, Games R.
Talbot" so many votes, "John T. Wallace,
Jr,' ditto marks; Austin Harris so many
votes, "Alden Bradford ditto marks.
Q-You told Mr.. Drisko what that defect
was?
Ayes, sir.
Q-And told him to go and get it corrected?
Al did not tell him, because did not have
any authority.
Q-You told him what the defect was, and
what you wanted?
Ayes, Or l should not have gone to see
him.
Q-Did you tell him any other defect?
A-That was all the defect / knew.