The Portland daily press., 1880-09-08

The above is fac smile of the name of the
Fusion candidate for commissioner in Oxford
county last fall as it now appears on the return
from the town of Hebron. 1t is evident that
the middle initial of Mr. Walkers name has
been changed from G to G.. The alteration
is so clumsily made that it is obvious to the
most casual inspection. The question arises
therefore who made the change? Was the al
teration made before the returns reached Au-
gusta or was it made subsequently? And In
determining this point let us look first at the re-
turn itself. In the original return it can be
plainly seen that the line which is added to the
G to form the is in different colored ink. VI
course it is impossible to make this difference
apparent in newspaper printing. but it is plain
enough in the original return. Had the change
been made by the clerk or the selectmen
would such have been the case? Certainly
not for the return was sealed up in open town
meeting and of course had any alteration been
made it would have been made in the same
ink in which the return was made Select
mems desks at town meetings are not furnish
ed with several different shades of ink. This
one fact alone would be conclusive proof that
the change was not made by the clerk or any
body else who had the right to make it. But
this fact does not stand alone. There is con-
elusive and unimpeachable testimony from a
person who saw the return soon after it was
opened by the Tabulators that it was then
a clear and distinct G with no part of the line
comes from the Hon. E. G.. Harrington of
Fyreburg. When before the Hale committee
in answer to questions he testified as follows:
Q-When you examined that return-exam-
lining the name of Henry G.. Withdrawing
your attention particularly to that-at that
time how did you find it written?
Al found it written "Henry G. Walker"
By Mr.. Ingalls,:
Q-Dec. 9Th?
Ayes; the evening Of Dec. Sth.
BIZ Mr.. ,Stroat:
Odd you make memorandum at the
time?
Yes.
Q-And you know the party perfectly?
Ayes
A-"Henry G. Walker" it would be called,
1 should think.
Q-Has or not the .sC'' been changed to sc"
by adding line to it?
Alt has.
Q-Whether or not you find the original
SGlll upOu bu0 paper, ~ ~ Cdu p0 CtcdIly
seen and identified without the aid of q
glass?
Alt looks so to me.
Q-How was it changed?
Al should suppose it was changed by max
ing an additional pen mark down.
Q-Does it not appear upon its face clearly?
Alt does.
Q-Whether or not you communicated this
fact (of the error in the middle initiaD to any
person or to the "Oxford Democrat"
Al sent it to the Oxford Democrat.
Dread to the committee the article in that
paper which refer to the name of Henry c.
Walker?
A-"The town of Hebron gives Henry G.
Walker candidate for commissioner, 70 votes,
instead of Henry G. Walker
CT understand you to say you called the
attention of John B. Foster, one of the Coun-
csl, to the condition of the return at that
time?
Al did.
Odd he make any remark about it that
you remember?
Ale asked me whether it was the Repub-
lican or Fusion candidate, saying that he had
not examined the returns and did not know
the parties.
Q-Did you tell him?
Al told him that it was for the Fusion
candidate-that he was the Fusion candidate.
Csc the fact was understood after that by
him?