National Republican., 1880-03-13
THE MINE CoNspIRAcK
Ex-Governor Garccion ON the wltnes stu

Ex-Governor GarceIon on the Witnes stand.
AUGUSTA ME-, March 12.-Ex. Governor
Garcelon was before the Hale investigating
committee to-day His testimony concerned
chiefly the time when the tabulation of ro.
turns began, which was about the 18th of Mo-
vember, MS near as tho Governor could rcmem-
Der. The subject Of tho matter of tabulation
was agreed upon at that time; up to that time
no outside party had seen or in any way ex.
amined the returns some time during the
session of the Council, beginning that day,
the committee on elections, consisting Of FIVE
Councillors, reported that they bad opened
and tabulated the returns; tho tabulations
and results were In the hands of tho commit.
tee; he knew nothing in regard to the result.
A committee of Republicans waiting upon
him asked to sec the returns. Their request
was respectful and courteous, though ii was
very singular proceeding; did not consent to
shows the returns promlscuously before he and
the council had time to examine them; he
understood they claimed tho right to see
them; he did not understand that to be tho
practice, but the returns In tho Secretary of
States Office were always open for public in
spectlon. lie saw no reason then why the
returns should not be examined and so in
formed the committee. The Council voted
that twenty days should be given for that
purpose, aud that candidate or his counsel
bringing the record of the town should have
access to the returns; they did not intend
that parties should examine the returns
and then go and change the record;
he had not himself seen any of tue returns up
to the 18th of November; on tho 25th of that
month knew nothing of any so-called scheme of
counting out; said he neither knew nor inquired
the politics of persons to whom certificates of
election had been issued; certificates were
brought to him to sign which he supposed
were made out in accordance with the re-
turns; he had no time to examine every case;
did not know that certificates of election had
been issued TO scventy-eight Democrats and
Fusionists and sixty-oue Republicans; the
matter was not discussed In his presence
nothing was said about counting in quorum
of Fusionists; had heard it on the streets re-
ferred to incidentally; he first learned of
tho counting out through the papers,
and was presently surprised at the
result of the certifcating; IL had
beon his rule to decide individual cases
on their merits; if he signed any certificates,
that was wrong, the facts were falsely put be-
fore him. no one was counted out the re-
turns were examined to see if they came up
to tho constitutional requirement Of legal re-
turns he considered that the law made the
Governor and Council judges of the legality of
the returns; had presumed that his council
were honest aud honorable mon, and had COM
piled the tabuations according to law; in
cases where there was any question he would
look into the matter himself; he had acted
honestly; certain rules had been laid down,
which were applied to the returns, regardless
of party; thore had not boen any instance
whore Democrat had been allowed to cor.
rect the returns individual cases wcro taken
up, in some of which the Governor acknowl-
edged there had plainly been erasures and
| interference with tabulations. The exOnina.
| tion will continue tomorrow.