Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-03
RETURNS.
Evidence before Hale's
Committee.
IMPORTANT TEsrlMoNv.
EDITOR DRlsk0 ma TlsnT PLACE,
His Pitiable Appearance Before
the Committee.

the Committee.
At the meeting of Mr.. Hale's committe
yesterday afternoon, John W. Clark, the towr
clerk of Dayton, York county, was the iirs,
witness called. His testimony brought out
in substance the following facts: One of the
fusion senatorial candidates in York county
was Josiah A. Slower. In making out the
return Mr.. Clark wrote the letter IA so that
it looked much like an HI" this being hi.
style of making the letter. When the re.
turn got into the hands Of the Governor and
Council they saw that the middle letter OF
Mr.. Stover's name was likely TO be taken for
an III" and so they made over the letter SO
that it made letter "a, which could not be
doubted. Mr.. Clark examined the return
showed him by the committee and recognized
it as the one he had made out and forw arded to
the Secretary of State, and also recognized
the fact that the middle letter Of Mr.. Stover's
name had been tempered with so as to make
q perfect letter "a"
The committee then took up the case Of
Jonesboro', in Washington county. lothian
l.. Merritt, selectman of the place, gave
testimony. Saw the return of the town
signed and sealed in open town meeting. In
November. went to the house of Mr.. Trickey,
the town clerk, with a blank election return
and an election envelope. 1t was given to
him by George W. Drisko, editor of
the Machias Union. Mr.. Drisko told him
there was error in the first return and
that they were to make out a new return. A
new return, signed by two of the selectmen
only. was made out. Drisko did not say
where he got the blank return. The witness
voted for Garcelon. Drisko told him that
there was some trouble about the return from
Addison.
Henry Nash, selectman in the town of Ad-
olson, testified regarding the return from his
place, that it was signed and sealed up in
open town meeting, &c. Said that Tabbut,
another selectman of the town, told him in
November that there was an error in the
election return from the place, showed him
. blank Senatorial return, and said he wanted
to correct the return. Tabbut told him the
return came from the Secretary of State.
At another interview he was urged again by
Tabbut to fix up a new return as it would be
legal but he refused. Later he was told by
Tabbut that the blank return came from
Drisko. The witness was a republican.
Gilbert l.. Tabbut selectman of Addison,
was called and testified as to the signing and
sealing of the return. Nov. IA, Drisko
came to his house, said there was an error in
the return of Addison and if it was not cor
rected the place would lose its Senatorial
vote. Drisko gave him a blank return and
said the law would allow them to fill out
new one Drisko did not say he had been to
Augusta; did not say how he knew the return
of Addison was defective; mentioned other
fusion towns where the returns were defective;
did not speak of correcting any returns Of
republican towns. Had known Drisko
. number Of years; he is not a lawyer.
After Drsko left him tried to urge the clerk
of the town, (Mr. Austin) and Mr.. Nash (the
former witness) to sign the new return, but
they refused. The first day the witness had
. talk with Nash and Austin, did not tell them
he got the blank return from Drisko. After
wards the witness had looked the law up
and concluded he had no right to send in new
return.
Evening Session.
The evening session of the committee was
mainly devoted to an examination Of George
w. Drisko, of the Machias Union, the gentle
man referred to in the testimony of the after
noon witnesses. Mr.. Drisko's case was
handled with cOnsummate ability and tact by
Messrs Hale and Strout, SO much so that what
ever character for probity and uprightness he
possessed before was lost by his course before
the committee. The witness expected at first
to evade by stating generalties. saying that
he did not remember, that he might or might
not have done this and that, but gradually the
net was drawn about him. and soon there was
no way of escape.
He was questioned regarding the manner
the blank election returns and envelopes came
into his possession. Thought Mr.. Talbot might
&c - Ill = l. h,,A
didn't know much about them anyway.
Thought they might have come from Augusta
After the blank returns came into his pos
session he went wandering over Washington
county for some purpose or other and struck
upon the fusion town of Addison. Thought
he first went to Austin's (town clerk, re-
publican) Office and found it closed, but could
not say distinctly. Was then cornered as to
the time he called there. He next called up
on Mr.. Tabbert, the greenback selectman,
the rest being republicans. Named over a
half dozen chances to Mr.. T., wherein the
return of the place might be defective, and
gave him a blank return to correct by the
records, to be signed by the town officers and
sent to Augusta. Didn't remember Of telling
Mr.. Tabbert of any particular defect in the
Addison return. Didn't know how many
blanks he had. Had no reason 10 suppose
the return Of the place was defective except
by what he had seen in the papers. or by
reason of rumor. When be returned from
Mr. Tabbert's, called at Austin's Office, saw
the records upon the table, but did not care
to examine them.
In Jonesboro'. Mr.. Drisko stated he saw
Mr.. Merritt, one of the selectmen; gave him
a blank senatorial return, so that any error
might be amended in the original return.
Did not state any special defect in the Jones'
boro' return. Thus, according to Mr..
Drisko's story, he started away from Ma
chias, having returns he knew not where
they came from. and went rambling over
the county without any special purpose, but
happening to leave blank returns in two
greenback towns whose returns were defect
i've.
At this point Mr.. Tabbut. the fusion select
man of Addison with whom a blank re-
turn was left by Drisko, was called before
the committee, and he stated that Drisk0 said
to him there was a fatal defect in the the re-
turn of the town in the way the number OF
ballots had been added up, and that no other
defect Was spoken Of by Drisko. Mr.. Tabbul
was positive on this point, and also stated
that he did not know of the defect till It VA
told him BY Drisko.
Then Mr.. Merritt, democrat, seiectman Of
Gvuldsboro', and one with whom Drisko LEFT
blank return, was called upon by the com
mitteee, and he stated that Drisko told hin
sh.r she rcfuvns of the Mace we're defective