New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-17
DEMOCRATIC FRAUDS.
CITIZENSHIP AT WHOLESALE.

|
MADE 1890 DEMOCRATIC CITIZENS IN ONE DA'
$4,000 CERTIFICATES IN 1S6S-ExIENDiN'
THE FRAUDS TO OTHER STATES.
John /. Davenport testified before the Wal
lace Committee yesterday and produced fact
and figures showing the amazing extent
OF Democratic naturalization frauds in New
York. The largest frauds were in 1868, wher
$4,000 fraudulent certificates of citizenship
were issued including 10000 not even re-
corded. Details of the system were given
which caused much astOnishment and reused
Senator Mcdonald to inconsistent objections.
Citizens were manufactured even for New-Jer-
sey and Connecticut. Mr.. Davenport also told
how he tried to have Mr.. Kelly assist in cor
recting these frauds, and showed how Tam
many Hall took exactly the opposite course.
HOW THE WICKED WORK WAS DONE.
BEGINNING OF THE FRAUDs-How THE EVIDENCE
WAS CoLLECTED-ACTIONs OF JUDGES NC CUM,
| BARNARD AND OTHERs-AMAZING PERJURY
| At the investigation Of the Wallace Committee
yesterday, in the Post Office Building. in regard to
the conduct Of Chief Supervisor John |. Davenport
during the election in November. 1878, Senators
Wallace Mcdonald. Hoar and Blair were present.
Mr.. Davenport was the only witness examined. He
was self-possessed, and gave his facts and figures
rapidly, clearly and with effect. His eyes twinkled
as he rolled up the testimony of Democratic corrup-
tion especially when he noted any signs of disap-
proval on the part of the Democratic members. He
| held cigar in his mouth most OF tho
| time, but allowed 1t to 90 out frequently
when on an interesting line of testimony. The
questioning was mostly conducted by Senator Blair,
| Senator Mcdonald occasionally cross-questioning.
| The details Of the working of the Democratic
citizen mill were given clearly, and were fortified
| with documentary evidence Obtained from the
court records by Mr.. Davenport or his deputies.
| / am United States Commissioner. said Mr.,
Davenport, quietly, and Supervisor Of Elections.
| In 1875 issued number of warrants for the ar
rest of persons using fraudulent naturalization pa
pers. In 1868 was employed as counsel for the
Union League Club to investigate the frauds that
had been and were still going on, and to prepare
proof and to secure witnesses. sIfted the mass Of
evidence obtained. and laid it before the
committee known as the Lawrence Commit
tee and following that came their report
At the first election after was appointed Chief
Supervisor gave notice to all persons having
turazatlon papers issued in 1868 10 be careful in
their use and proceeded to accumulate additional
evidence to reach those who had committed the
frauds. found that there were persons who acted
as witnesses for hundreds and thousands of people,
and accumulated information relative to the con-
duct of naturalization proceedings in that year, and
in 1866 and 1867 alsO
HOW THE FRAUDS BEGAN.
These wholesale naturalization proceedings began
in 1866 before Judge Cardozo, in the Court of Com
mon Pleas In 1867 they were transferred to the
Superior Court. before Judge McCunn. The Court
of Common Pleas had done the bulk of the natural
ization business until it was stopped by Mr. Jarvis
the clerk of the court, a Democrat but man of
strict integrity. have here mass of applications
(exht ting pile of papersl on which tie clerk ut
terly refused to offer certificates
In 1868 the Court of Common Pleas was ne
elected, and only issued 3,145 certificates. while
the Superior Court issued 10000. and the Supreme
Court, for the first time in its history, opened
for purposes of naturalization. In the Superior
Court there were issued in December 1868. 26 226;
IN January, 1869, the deputy clerk of the Court
issned 81 s97. In October alone 1912 certificates
were gwen out.
In the Superior Court, before one Judge, there
were issued in fifteen days of October, 1865 ac-
cording to the files of the Court 1887 certificates.
There was, as nearly as can be asceItained, an adj
dtiona issue of 10000 in the two Courts, of which
no records appear the books In 1868. there
were 81 900 such naturalization papers manufac-
tured in these Courts.
WORK IN THE SUPREME COURT.
In the Supreme Court, before Judge Barnard
there were 1884. In the Superior Court
during October, five judges took part in the pro-
ceedings Judge Barber naturaIized 70 , Anthony
NJ Robinson the same number; Samuel jones' 900
From seven to eight-tenths of the number were be-
fore Judge McCunn. and Judge Garvin had tie re-
mainder All except Judges Garyin and McCunn
attended to their ordinary duties during the
~ oft tba Jo;D
Chamber business occasionally.
This total of 1924 III the Supreme Court is
s.754 more than appears on the files of the Court
for 1869, rs learn from testimony other than that
given by N. Plum.
Here diversion occurred; before the witness put
his statement in the concise form above given,
Judpe Mcdonald, OF the Democratic side objected
to hearsay evidence Mr. Blair defended Mr. Dav-
enport and thought he should not be limited by
the ordinary rules for witnesses. The objection
was settled by Mr. Davenports statement that he
had his evidence independent of hearsay.
MR. DAVENPORT BEGINS THE FIGHT
In 1872 and 1874 he continued, instructions were
piyen to regard those specific where informa-
ton was obtained relative to fraudulent naturaliza-
ton papers. In 1876. l issued notice to the
Supervisors to challenge peremptorily every person
who appeared for the purpose OF registering on the
1868 certificate. l had obtained SO much informa-
ton that it was my desire to give each person no.
tice that his right 70 the possession OF
such certificate would be contested. and to
place him on his guard as to their
use BY 1873. had obtained additional facts
rs desired to sustain myself but not to act hastily
believed that a large number of those holding
such certificates had been imposed upon. / sought
Mr.. Kelly and proposed to him the appointment of
a Joint committee of Republicans and Democrats,
and said that If they would work with me l would
sit during the evening in order allow the labor
ing men more facilities for appearing than they |
would have during the daytime. And proposed |
that the committee from IammaDy Hall should aid |
me in having the holders of '6S papers appear be-
fore me in the Spring and Summer of 1873; that |
these fraudulent papers should be taken up and the
holders be permitted to declare their Intentions |